About Mark: In today's story Mark draws attention to Herod's crazy promise to Herodias by repeating it. "The king said to the girl, 'Ask me 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'."
Such a promise was obviously immoderate and ridiculous. Mark shows us here what he thinks about a later request made to Jesus in very similar terms, when in a moment of rash ambition James and John said, "Teacher we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you .... Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory" (Mark 10:35-37).
It sounds like they were each asking for a half of the kingdom, as Herod was promising Herodias. Jesus rebukes them there. Mark knows it is very hard, even for aspiring disciples, to transform the values of the heart to conform to the teaching of Jesus. But this is not a trivial matter.
The story below is a graphic and disgusting portrayal of what can happen when people jettison morality. It shows how rampant immorality collides with God and godliness.
14 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." 15 But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."
17 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. 18 For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 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. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22 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." 23 And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24 She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." 25 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." 26 The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
Comment: WAS IT A WASTED LIFE?
Herods had upheld Roman values in Judaism since Herod the Great (died 4 BC). He was the butcher of the Bethlehem baby boys, reported in Matthew's Gospel. His ablest son was Herod Antipas, whom Mark here calls "King" though he governed only Galilee and Perea. John the Baptist calls him "that fox" (Luke 13:32). A Jewish party favouring Herod's dynasty, the Herodians, conspired with the Pharisees (Mark 3:6, 12:13) to eliminate Jesus. The backdrop of the times was the Temple. Its rebuilding was commenced by Herod the Great, and continued by this Antipas with the support of the Priests. These eventually manage the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. Another Herod will later have the apostle James killed (Acts 12). Mark's story here graphically portrays the conflict between Christian and worldly values.
Offence
John upheld the biblical values of marriage. He offended the new Mr & Mrs Herod, who did not. Expediency, grudge, and political power are arrayed against morality to suppress it. In his sober moments Herod had respect for John (6:20), and "protected" him from Mrs Herod who was looking for an opportunity (21). When opportunity came, it is described to show the immoral
slide which led to Herod's mad promise (23, a phrase Mark will use elsewhere with similar connotations of madness). Herod is trapped before his guests byhis own pride and the fear of losing "face". Moral constraint is abandoned, and the great John the Baptist is killed by an act of frivolous madness.
Rumours of resurrection
Mark is leading towards another story of death. The same dynamics that produced the death of John, would also lead to the death of Jesus.
Discipleship today: Putting this in today’s setting, the account highlights the conflict between the commonly-held values and God's values. God values human life, so the butchery of the Bethlehem babies by Herod the Great cannot pass without divine outrage, and eventual judgement. And for the same reason, the marriage habits of the Herod dynasty might be common to the aristocracy and to the modern soap opera or TV play, but such habits are abominable in the sight of God. God values people. A wife must not be regarded as property, disposable when past the bloom of youth. The Jews' history of rejecting and killing the prophets was abhorrent to God. In this case, the magnificent Herodian temple would be destroyed with Jerusalem in retribution for rejecting Jesus (Mark 13:1-2; Luke 13:31-35). God is the source of human morality. If you come to God, you will be confronted with the conflict between common immorality and Christian morality.
You must decide where you will stand. A similar conflict occurs around the issue of life itself. What to you is more important? Is it keeping your life for yourself, or giving your life up to God?
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