I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter

And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." Others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets." But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!"

For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom." So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" Immediately she came in 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." And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

- Mark 6:13-29

Yesterday, we read about Jesus' travels to His home country, in which people who knew Him as He grew could not accept His present identity as healer and teacher. They were offended at Him! They said, "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary?" They rejected Him, and He could do no great works among them because of their unbelief. Then, Jesus sent out the Twelve Apostles on their first missions; they were to take no great preparation for the journey--no bread, no extra tunic, nor monies. They were to stay wherever they were first offered lodging, and only to shake the dust from under their feet in rebuke of those who refused to hear them. He gave them power over unclean spirits, sharing and spreading the kingdom. See A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.

And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. The first verse of today's reading was also included in yesterday's. It reminds us of the apostles' first mission, and the success with which they are spreading the kingdom, and the authority invested in them by Jesus. Jesus' fame is already widespread, and so powerful that crowds threaten to crush Him wherever He preached. Now the kingdom is spreading through the apostles, who have gone out on their first mission, two by two. My study bible notes, "God gives His power, His energy, to human beings and through human beings -- to and through those who repent. He shares with us by grace what is His by nature. The disciples anointed with oil as part of the act of healing, for by the Incarnation of Christ creation is renewed: oil and water become instruments of healing and renewal for the human race."

Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." Others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets." But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!" A reminder of worldly power comes to us in the gospel, just as the apostles have gone out on their first successful mission, vested with authority of a spiritual, heavenly kingdom. Herod is full of fears, having had John beheaded, when He hears all about Jesus. He is Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great (who rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem, and also ordered the massacre of The Holy Innocents).

For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. John the Baptist forms a very powerful figure in these Gospels; but we should also understand the towering figure he was when he lived. He was much respected throughout the Jewish world, seen as a holy man and prophet during his lifetime. Such is John's image and reputation that we are told, "Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him." The power of this just and holy man reaches even this king, son of one of the most bloodthirsty rulers in history -- Herod the Great was widely known for his violence, even to his own family members. Here we are told even that Herod Antipas is happy to hear John; we can imagine him sending for John from the prison, to hear him speak and teach. This is despite John the Baptist's condemnation of his marriage. We might understand that a man of political power in a dynasty such as Herod's, representing Rome, would be used to brushing off criticism (especially from the realm of the religious) so long as it did not threaten his position, even if it stings his wife. There is, in the Gospels, hints of Herod Antipas' curiosity about these holy men and what they have to teach. He also wants to hear Jesus.

Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom." So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" Immediately she came in 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." Herod's court is a court of political and "secular" power as opposed to the powerful parties of the temple, such as the Pharisees. A great and lavish feast for his birthday would be an important event, a great signal to the world of his largesse and his power. In front of all the powerful of his kingdom, he makes an extravagant promise to his wife's daughter. What a family this is -- commanded or "advised" by her mother, she asks for something even the son of Herod the Great couldn't have imagined, the head of John the Baptist, on a platter. Such is the taste of worldly power (that is of the "prince of this world") we are given here in Mark's Gospel, in contrast to the humble mission of the apostles in yesterday's reading. Vengeance, and political power and expediency, is everything and determines all acts of manipulation and coercion. This is slavery to sin, to the "powers" that oppose the kingdom.

And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. The king feels he cannot refuse this horrific request, having made his great promise in front of all those in his court at this birthday celebration. Appearance is everything, image is all and the sort of power that goes with it is the substance of his life. Despite his sorrow, he cannot refuse. The gruesome gift of John's head on a platter is hers - and she gives it to her mother. This family relationship teaches us something about power as an expedient use of coercion - and vengeance as a part of that mix. Once we begin down that road, where do we draw the line? Even mother and daughter are caught in this "worldly" reality, their relationship one of perverse delight in acts of sadistic power over even righteous enemies. It tells us about the women who populate this Gospel - who form some of Jesus' greatest supporters and those who benefit by His healing touch, and in this story, are examples of the greatest depravity. Even Herod feels sorrow and regret, but his wife Herodias is ruthless, even in the use of her own daughter.

When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb. It's a poignant statement here, left as it is without sign of lamenting and grief. One gets the sense of John's disciples accepting in sadness and humility the events of this world, the great conflict between spiritual and worldly power, and the martyrdom of John, considered a great prophet by all the people. They bury their beloved teacher. This story is juxtaposed with the first mission of Jesus' apostles because the sequence is important: many of John's disciples would become followers of Jesus; several of the Twelve were first disciples of John. John is also, of course, the image of a martyr. My study bible says, "Early Christians regarded John the Baptist with utmost esteem. Here, Mark shows John's fearlessness in telling the truth." It goes on about the relationship of John and Herod, "What a comment on the righteousness of John the Baptist: the king feared John! The royally clad Herod was frightened of a man clothed in camel's hair, a servant of God who lived out in the desert."

I am intrigued by the picture of John's disciples, taking him for burial, doing what must be done. In all of these Gospels, martyrdom is met with acceptance. In our "results-driven" world, in which image forms so much of importance, we are unlikely to live without lamenting what may be seen as failure. But religious truths stand and remain. What does it mean to be a righteous man? These towering figures in the Gospels must form for us a sense of religious, ethical, spiritual duty and understanding. John the Baptist speaks the truth to the power of Herod; it doesn't matter what their circumstance, he teaches. Even Herod, we are told, heard him gladly. To be faithful to a spiritual kingdom is to live in that truth -- and where it meets the world (and the "ruler" of this world) we are to follow in faith, even to an apparent loss, and a seeming "victory" for the ruthless who love coercive power. We understand the humility of those who may simply accept and carry on and do what they need to do in that faith. How do you live your life in the face of the ruthless expediency we may encounter in our world? Does the word of Christ come into play in your daily life, and the truth of His love, His grace, His investment in us? How can we accept in humility, an apparent defeat? Let us understand what it is to live for image, and what it is to find that truth in humility, in that kingdom He seeks for us to bring and to share in us, among us. Where does it lead you? What do you put first, and how do you find it for yourself? Remember John's courage, and the acceptance of the holy and just, and the leadership of John's disciples who will follow Christ and continue to build the kingdom that is to come. Jesus will teach again and again that this kingdom and its truth transcends all image and appearance. Can we live in acceptance of that, and the hope it teaches? Christ's power makes all things new; we must see with the eyes grace gives us in order to live this life.