DEATH AND GLORY
Opening Prayer
Mighty God, today I come before You with a quiet spirit. Speak to me, Lord, in the stillness.
Read MARK 6:14–29
14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
15 Others said, “He is Elijah.”
And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you” (2 Cor. 4:12). Those who engage in costly ministries can be a source of blessing and encouragement to us.
Think Further
At first sight, it seems odd for Mark to have included this long account of John the Baptist’s death here; Matthew and Luke are again much shorter (Matt 14:1,2; Luke 9:9). However, it tells us some important things about both John and Jesus.
The “Herod” in this story is Herod Antipas, one of the three sons of Herod the Great, who slaughtered the innocents (Matt. 2:16–18). He has heard of Jesus, not just from popular acclaim but from his own servants; his household steward’s wife was a follower of Jesus (Luke 8:3), and he talked to his servants about him (Matt. 4:2). John had preached about the kingdom of God and called for repentance, but he had not performed the miracles, or “signs,” which were so characteristic of Jesus’ ministry (John 10:41). Herod expresses the common understanding of bodily resurrection from the dead as the hope of the righteous—a resurrected John would be recognizable, but would now have supernatural powers.
John’s ministry and imprisonment were clearly significant for Jesus. Mark has already told us that Jesus’ public ministry began “after John was put in prison,”(Mark 1:14) and that even in the early stages of this ministry Jesus has provoked the Pharisees (seeking religious reformation) and Herodians (seeking political power) to plot against him. Jesus threatens both religious and political interests enough to drive these enemies into an alliance against him. Just as John’s imprisonment has anticipated opposition to Jesus, so his death anticipates what Jesus will go through—unjust confinement, a failure of justice and summary execution. As the twelve return from their mission (30), Jesus is confronted with the paradox of his ministry: triumph and blessing for others, but at the ultimate cost to himself. No wonder he sought solitude (31).
Apply
Where do you see this paradox of the cost and yet the triumph of discipleship in your own life? How well do you hold these two things together?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, I thank and praise You for Your willingness to lose Your life that I might be saved. May Your example challenge me to live a life of sacrifice, that others might live.
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