Mark 8:11-26 (NRSV)

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him.  And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation."  And he left them, and getting into the boat again, he went across to the other side.  Now the disciples had forgotten to bring any bread; and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.  And he cautioned them, saying, "Watch out beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."  They said to one another, "It is because we have no bread."  And becoming aware of it, Jesus said to them, "Why are you talking about having no bread?  Do you still not perceive or understand?  Are your hearts hardened?  Do you have eyes, and fail to see?  Do you have ears, and fail to hear?  And do you not remember?  When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?"  They said to him, "Twelve."  "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you collect?" And they said to him, "Seven."  Then he said to them, "Do you not yet understand?"  They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him.  He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Can you see anything?"  And the man looked up and said, "I can see people, but they look like trees, walking."  Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.  Then he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even go into the village.”

The phrase that jumps out today is when Jesus says, “Why does this generation ask for a sign?  Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”  A few days ago, I made a remark about the Pharisees and Scribes wanting Jesus to perform a “dog and pony” show to prove that he is who he says he is.  People seem to want to be entertained by the wondrous power and works of God.

Today, the Pharisees confront Jesus to test him and ask for a sign.  He doesn’t give them one and goes from that place and gets into a boat with the twelve.  They didn’t bring with them any bread with them in the boat and that spawns a conversation about bread.  Jesus cautions them about the influence of Herod and the Pharisees and calls it “yeast.”

Yeast causes bread to “rise.”  The Pharisees and Herod were rising up against Jesus and trying to influence others not to believe in him and what he taught.  The disciples still don’t understand.  Jesus then explains that the answer is in plain sight by their experience of the feeding of the 5000 and 4000.  They gathered leftovers, proving that the true word which comes from him is the true bread which gives life to the world.  When they arrive in Bethsaida, Jesus heals a blind man and makes him see clearly.  I still don’t think the disciples are seeing very clearly.

The call that I hear today is to pay attention what is plain sight.  To let Jesus bring us into focus, so we can see the whole forest, and not just concentrate on the trees.  We wonder around sometimes with tunnel vision, unable to see what God is trying to do around us.  If we focus on the big picture, we can get a better vision of where Jesus might be leading us.

Mark 6:13-29 (NRSV)

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.