Today’s scripture: Mark 6:14-29 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message)
As you read, consider: What might God be saying to me? Summarize your thoughts in a sentence or two.
My thoughts (Carla Peck):
We interrupt this Gospel of Mark to bring you this breaking news!
Today’s story about the beheading of John the Baptist seems like it could have been from the National Enquirer or one of the 24-hour news channels, instead of the Bible.
John the Baptist was the first person we encountered in our study of Mark. Herod reacts to Jesus with fear — believing him to be a resurrected John the Baptist. John’s story seems to be told almost as a flashback:
King Herod had illicitly married his brother’s wife, Herodias, and John the Baptist criticized Herod for this action. As a prophet, John believed it was his duty, and he did not mince words. Herod had John arrested but was afraid to execute him. But Herodias was simmering with rage against John, and apparently was looking for an opportunity for revenge.
Herod held a banquet for his birthday, where Herodias’ daughter (Herod’s stepdaughter) danced, and it pleased Herod and his dinner guests. So much so that Herod said, in front of his guests, that he would give her anything she wanted, up to half the amount of his kingdom. How odd — this dance and the following promise. Perhaps Herod was playfully exaggerating with the young girl when he made his promise. It’s hard to believe that Herod was actually offering half his kingdom in appreciation for a dance. His words have an air of being puffed up bravado in front of his guests and perhaps were not to be taken literally.
The stepdaughter flipped the banquet on its head (no pun intended) when she consulted with her mother and Herodias prompted her daughter to ask for John’s head. This was the opportunity Herodias was waiting for. She would shame Herod in front of his friends into killing John the Baptist. Shame works most effectively when others are present, and Herod had fallen into the trap. He was distressed, yet out of regard for his promise in front of his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her request. Herod felt he “had to” honor his bravado and the grant the young woman’s request. Herod was swept along in the moment and it was more important for him to not be ridiculed in front of his friends than it was to do what was right. Herod then ordered the beheading of John.
It is interesting how these experiences of being swept along and either making a bad decision or not standing up and doing the right thing can be haunting. I had one of these experiences a few years ago.
My Dad was very ill and was living in a nursing home at the time. He proudly announced one day that a woman from our home town was his nurse that day and how good it was to see someone from our home town and how much he enjoyed her presence. When he told me her name I felt shivers run down my spine, my knees weakened and sudden nausea commenced. But I was glad to hear joy in my Dad’s voice — a rush of varying emotions all in one moment. Probably similar to how Herod felt when he saw Jesus and thought he was John’s ghost. Dad’s nurse had been a rival of my peer group in junior high. We had picked on her, been picked on by her, mistreated each other in numerous child-like ways during junior high. Ugh. . . how people and events can come full circle over thirty years later.
Thought for the day: When I feel like I am being swept along and allowing other people and circumstances to influence me, will my actions be like those of Herod? Or will I seek another path to help me make better decisions — like prayer or counsel with a spiritual mentor.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.