Mark 6:14-29
14 And King Herod heard about it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.”
15 But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”
16 But when Herod heard about it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”
17 For Herod himself had sent men and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.
18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19 And Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death, and could not do so;
20 for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he had been protecting him. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; and yet he used to enjoy listening to him.
21 An opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, and the leading people of Galilee;
22 and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom.”
24 And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
25 Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26 And although the king was very sorry, because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.
27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
29 When his disciples heard about this, they came and carried away his body, and laid it in a tomb.
Herod Antipas’ Fear
The reason for fear
Usually, people rejoice when hearing rumors about Jesus. However, when you are harboring sin within, it doesn’t bring you joy. Instead, it instills you with fear. Herod Antipas (the ruler of the region) was one such person. He was the son of Herod the Great’s fourth wife. He became the ruler of Galilee and Perea after his father’s death. He inherited a portion of Herod the Great’s territory, hence the title “ruler” instead of “king.” He was in a relationship with Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Herod Philip, and later married her. John the Baptist condemned this act as sinful. Not only divorce but also marrying a brother’s wife was unlawful. Furthermore, this marriage constituted incest between an uncle and his niece (Herodias was the granddaughter of Herod the Great), which was strictly prohibited under the Mosaic Law (ref. Levi. 18 and 20). Herod Antipas, in an attempt to safeguard his position, imprisoned John, but was having wavering feelings. On the other hand, Herodias, now his wife, resented John and had desired to kill him when the opportunity arose. Eventually, the worst happened at Herod’s birthday celebration. Due to a rash vow Herod made to Herodias’ daughter Salome, he was forced to behead John the Baptist. In this tragedy is an illustration of how one sin can lead to another, ultimately ending in destruction.
Result of the execution
This execution planted an unerasable anxiety in Herod’s heart. When rumors about Jesus reached his ears, he was seized by an inexplicable fear. Various rumors circulated about Jesus, such as him being John the Baptist raised from the dead, or return of Elijah, or “a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” Herod himself concluded that John the Baptist has been risen from the dead. It was his guilt that he had that driven him to this point. Herod was someone who could have had anything he desired, yet he was far from being happy and satisfied. Let’s take a moment today to meditate on what true happiness is. “How blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust, and has not turned to the proud, nor to those who become involved in falsehood” (Ps. 40:4).
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, may I continue to walk today, trusting only in You. Help me to make choices that please You. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.