Mark 6:14-29

Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread,

and people were saying,

“John the Baptist has been raised from the dead;

that is why mighty powers are at work in him.”

Others were saying, “He is Elijah”;

still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.”

But when Herod learned of it, he said,

“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.”

Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison

on account of Herodias, 

the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.

John had said to Herod,

“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Herodias harbored a grudge against him

and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.

Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,

and kept him in custody.

When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,

yet he liked to listen to him.

Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,

gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers,

and the leading men of Galilee.

His own daughter came in and performed a dance

that delighted Herod and his guests.

The king said to the girl,

“Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” 

He even swore many things to her,

“I will grant you whatever you ask of me,

even to half of my kingdom.”

She went out and said to her mother,

“What shall I ask for?”

Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”

The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request,

“I want you to give me at once on a platter

the head of John the Baptist.”

The king was deeply distressed,

but because of his oaths and the guests

he did not wish to break his word to her.

So he promptly dispatched an executioner

with orders to bring back his head.

He went off and beheaded him in the prison.

He brought in the head on a platter

and gave it to the girl.

The girl in turn gave it to her mother.

When his disciples heard about it,

they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, as I contemplate the martyrdom of John the Baptist, inspire me to be fearless in proclaiming the truth of the Gospel to all those I encounter. Do not let me put the light of Christ within me under a bushel basket. Move me to let the light shine forth in all I do and say today.

Encountering the Word of God

1. John the Baptist: The Gospel of Mark began with the figure of John the Baptist. And now, Mark brings the story of John the Baptist to its conclusion. The reason why Mark tells the story of the martyrdom of John the Baptist while the Apostles are out on mission is to anticipate the end of his Gospel, which narrates the passion of Jesus and the sending out of the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel to the entire world. John’s death foreshadows Jesus’ death. “With this parallel Mark suggests that John’s self-offering shares, in a hidden way, in the spiritual fruitfulness of the sacrifice of Christ” (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 118).

2. Parallel Passions: Mark deliberately parallels the passion of John with the passion of Jesus. When Jesus asks at Caesarea Phillipi, “Who do men say that I am?”, the disciples say that some people think he is John the Baptist (Mark 8:27-30). Here, Herod even identifies Jesus with John (Mark 6:16). In this way, the narrative of John’s death (6:17-29) anticipates Jesus’s first Passion prediction (Mark 8:31). Herod was a weak-willed king who didn’t want to execute John, but ultimately did. In like manner, Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but chose to release Barabbas, and have Jesus scourged and crucified (Mark 15:15). John dies alone, just like Jesus will in Mark’s Gospel. There is even a parallel between the two banquets that happen right before the executions of John and Jesus. At Herod’s banquet, John’s head was put on a platter almost as if it were one of the meal’s courses. And, at the Last Supper, Jesus gives his own Body and Blood as a sacrificial meal. “Finally, while John and Jesus suffer deaths of extreme indignity, they both enjoy dignified burials. ‘When [John’s] disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb’ (6:29), just as Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus’s crucified body in a tomb (15:46)” (Huizenga, Loosing the Lion, 162).

3. Death Brings Life: The reason why Mark tells the story of John’s death here is to suggest that death brings life. After John’s death, the disciples of Jesus relate the healing signs and wonders that advanced the kingdom. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the healings, the signs, and the wonders will continue and advance the Kingdom of God throughout the world. The physical healings and exorcisms are signs of greater spiritual healings. This is seen especially in the Gospel of John, which is sometimes called the “Sacramental Gospel.” The signs of turning water into wine and multiplying the bread point to the greater sign of the Eucharistic blood and body of Jesus. The sign of the healing of the paralytic looks forward to the Sacraments, which raise us to new life and restore us. The Sacraments give us life and are rooted in the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you conquered the sting of death by dying for us. Your passion redeems the world and pays the debt of our sin. You were obedient unto death and truly victorious. Bring me to share in your passion and victory over sin and death!

Living the Word of God: What sacrifices and sufferings am I called to unite to the sacrifice of Christ?