Mark 6:14–29

¹⁴King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” ¹⁵But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” ¹⁷For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. ¹⁸For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, ²⁰for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

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²¹But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²²For when Herodias’s daughter 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 to you.” ²³And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. ²⁷And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison ²⁸and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

We teach our confirmands “the answer to the question is always, Jesus.” Even though a Bible text may not seem to be regarding Jesus, it is all about Jesus. Mark shows us the true King, “Jesus” who embodies the values of the reign of God and is the opposite of King Herod. Herod wants to conform to the Roman culture he admires. Unconcerned with the God’s Law, he serves his own worldly desires, wielding his power for his own ends and concern. To satisfy his pride and honor, he caved to the pressure of his stepdaughter and “sent an executioner” (27) and beheaded the Lord’s preacher of repentance. 

However, Jesus lived in humble and perfect obedience to the Law of God. Moved by compassion Jesus associated with sinners, teaching “many things” (Mark 6:34), and there was “miraculous power at work in Him” (cf. 14). Instead of using His immense divine power, Jesus submitted to death, sacrificing His life so that all sinners, might be bought out of this present evil age and be made heirs of His eternal kingdom under the reign of God.

As Christians we are called to follow King Jesus and conform to the values of the reign of God. Sure, that means following the Ten Commandments, but it also means for the love of sinners we are to declare God’s Law and proclaim the grace of God given to the world through His Son, Christ Jesus. Following the reign of God is to follow the way of the cross, as Jesus says in chapter 8: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (34).

To follow the way of the cross is to heed the Lord’s persistent call to repentance. The Word of God calls you to turn from anything that might hinder you from living under the reign of God. Ignoring Jesus’ call to repentance is to reject the clear, revealed Word and will of God, and to stand with Herod against the reign and rule of God Himself. It means forfeiting a place in that blessed kingdom. Everyone who follows the way of the cross: repenting of sin and trusting in Jesus, will on the last day be found “holy and blameless before Him” (Ephesians 1:4) and will share His life forever and ever under the fullness of His kingdom.

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