They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
It’s Elijah, It’s John the Baptizer… These comments jump out at me as the crowd try to figure out who/what Jesus is, and by what power he does his mighty works. When I was a child, I remember the phrase, “look, up in the air, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Superman!” It seems to me that the folks that are gathered around are acting just like this. They don’t know what they have confronted, so they apply it to what they already know.
Today we get the back story of the horrific beheading of John the baptizer. This is in the context of people trying to figure out who Jesus is. When Herod hears of Jesus, he thinks that John has been raised, because he regarded John as a righteous and holy man. The scripture says that Herod feared John and had him bound and arrested because John spoke out about Herod’s marriage to his brother Phillip’s wife Herodias. Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to kill him.
Mark’s gospel story in the New Revised Standard Version is confusing when it comes to the birthday banquet. The NRSV calls the woman who danced “his daughter Herodias.” We know from other sources that her name is Salome (Josephus). Salome is Herod’s step-daughter/niece (she is the daughter of Herodias and Phillip). Regardless of the relationship, her dance gave her the opportunity to fulfill the desires of her mother against John. To fulfill his promise and save face in front of his guests, Herod had John beheaded and brought his head on a platter to Salome. She in turn gave it to her mother.
Within the hideous account of John’s murder, the call that I hear is perseverance. As disciples and followers of Christ, and as people that have faith and belief in the One, true, loving, and living God, we are all called to persevere. Things happen throughout our ministry as we seek to do the things that God has given us to do (as we heal the sick and cast out demons of all sorts). We may come across challenges and distractions, and within them we are called to persevere and stay strong. I could offer a bad pun and say that we are called to keep our head about us, or better yet, not loose our head within the challenges and distractions.
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