Mark 6:19-29
Introduction
In the last study we began looking at Mark’s text about the beheading of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas. On that occasion, we looked at verses 14 to 18 of chapter 6. And we saw how Herod mistook Jesus for John the Baptist even though John had been beheaded.
In the verses that we are looking at in this study we will see what led to John being beheaded.
Bear all of this in mind as we make our way through today’s passage.
Background
Just before we go through the passage, I would like to give you some more information about King Herod, otherwise known as Herod Antipas. Herod wielded great power in Galilee. He was a man of unrestrained wickedness. And he was sexually promiscuous and very cruel. This is the kind of man that John the Baptist came up against.
Verse 19
In our last study we learnt that Herodias was the illegitimate wife of King Herod. We also learnt that John had rebuked Herod over this illegitimate marriage.
In this verse we see that Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to put him to death. Can you think of another wife of a king in the Old Testament who is similar to Herodias? Remember Jezabel who was married to Ahab.
Verse 20
In this verse we learn about the relationship between Herod and John from Herod’s point of view. The first thing that we learn about Herod’s relationship with John is that he was afraid of John. Herod was afraid of John because John was a righteous and holy man. Herod on the other hand was far from being a righteous and holy man. Herod was afraid of John because John was exposing him as a wicked man.
At the end of the first sentence of this verse Mark tells us about what Herod did with John. He kept him safe. But how safe was John really?
Mark tells us that Herod had conversations with John in prison. Herod enjoyed listening to John even though he was perplexed. Although Herod enjoyed listening to John, he didn’t really understand him. This shows the conflict in Herod’s mind because he had a conscience even though he was a wicked man.
The conscience is that part of the human mind that enables us to tell right from wrong. Let me explain some things about the conscience. We find it in the New Testament. It comes from the Greek word ‘suneidesis’ which means moral conscience. Here are some examples:
1 Timothy 1:5
1 Peter 3:16
Romans 9:1
Every human being has a conscience. It is a God-given capacity in all of us. We can have a good conscience or a bad conscience depending on what we do. We can suppress our conscience through sin. The more we sin the duller our conscience becomes. The Bible calls this a seared conscience. A seared conscience leads us into wickedness and that’s what was happening with Herod. However, no matter what we do we cannot eradicate our conscience and so Herod still had a conscience. I believe this explains what was happening in verse 20.
Verses 21 to 23
Now we come to that fateful day for John. It was Herod’s birthday and he had a banquet to which he invited all of the elites of Galilee. And the special guest was Herod’s step daughter, the daughter of Herodias. According to Josephus, the historian of that time, she was called Salome. However, the bible doesn’t actually tell us what her name was.
The kind of dance that Salome did was almost certainly an erotic one. Mark tells us that when Salome danced, she please Herod and his guests. And this led to Herod losing his head so to speak.
In verse 23 we see Herod make an oath to Salome. Bear in mind that the words ‘up to half of my kingdom’ is an idiom. It should not be taken literally. An idiom is a saying that is not to be taken literally. e.g. I’m over the moon.
Verses 24 to 25
Because Herod has lost his head figuratively speaking, John will lose his head literally.
Herodias now has the opportunity she has been waiting for and out of her wicked heart she gets revenge on John. What do you think about the behaviour of Herodias?
Verses 26 to 29
Even though Herod was supposed to be keeping John safe, he reluctantly carries out the wishes of Herodias. Herod gave Herodias what she wanted because of his oath and because of his dinner guests.
At this point I think it is worth looking at the subject of oaths. An oath is a solemn promise and is not to be taken lightly. From God’s perspective there are lawful oaths and there are unlawful oaths. An unlawful oath is one that we should not be making. An unlawful oath leads to harm being done and a lawful oath leads to good being done.
The oath that Herod made was unlawful. He should not have made it. If you make a lawful oath, you should keep it, but if you make an unlawful oath, you should not keep it. Herod should not have kept his oath. He should not have killed John. Have you ever made an oath, a solemn promise?
Ultimately what was it that really forced Herod to keep his oath? It was the circumstances in which he made the oath. Herod made the oath in front of his elite guests. It was his reputation that Herod was most concerned about.
And finally, I would like to draw your attention to the way John’s head was brought to the banquet on a platter. This was a display of utter barbarity. Think about that.