Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter." And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

- Matthew 14:1-12

In yesterday's reading, we read of Jesus' visit to His hometown. He is in Nazareth, the town in which He was raised. Visiting the synagogue, He taught, and all of His former neighbors were amazed. They wondered, "Where did this man get these things?" Don't we know this family? Aren't these His brothers and sisters here with us? Don't we know His mother, Mary? The gospel tells us that they were offended at Him, for all the wisdom He showed, and the power in the works He'd done. Jesus said, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." And for their lack of faith and receptivity, He did not do many "mighty works" there.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." We hear something of the fear in Herod here, because of what he has done. We know that Herod was intrigued by John, and later by Jesus -- which we've read about in the accounts of the Passion. But this shows his mind, and the gospel goes on to explain to us why he fears that John has returned.

For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. Here are the circumstances, a flashback in time, to tell us what happened with John the Baptist. Widely revered as a prophet and holy man, John's word held great sway with the public. And even a ruler like Herod Antipas must anticipate the reaction of the people.

But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head hereon a platter." And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. It's quite interesting, in some respect, that this story immediately follows upon the story of Jesus in His hometown of Nazareth. His former neighbors simply could not overcome their accepted vision of social status, in order to receive Jesus with His wisdom and power in the great works He did. Here, we have another story of rank and hierarchy, and how it leads Herod to do something he was sorry to do. Furthermore, it is reinforced by the fact that Herod swore an oath -- in front of "those who sat with him," high-ranking nobles and members of his court, no doubt -- to give whatever the girl asked of him. He is wide open to manipulation by the woman for whom he's received scathing criticism from John the Baptist. We're also reminded of Jesus' words about oaths (here), and His teaching that our "Yes" should be "Yes" and our "No," "No." More than these, He said, is from the evil one. And we can see where his swearing of an oath has led Herod. No wonder he feared the return of John the Baptist, in his righteousness, when He heard the report about Jesus.

And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus. We know that many of Jesus' disciples were first John's disciples. My study bible has a note that adds to this picture: "The beheading of John the Baptist is permitted by God. In a world of shameful wickedness, the righteous are afflicted and suffer death, though they are great in the eyes of God. Through John's martyrdom the coming of the Savior is announced to souls in Hades, for John is considered to be a forerunner of Jesus there as well as on earth."

And we do see, in this story, the world of shameful wickedness, into which the righteous come, bearing the kingdom of heaven. Jesus has said to His apostles that He sends them out as sheep in the midst of wolves. The gospel is giving us an ever-more defining picture of what it is for this kingdom to break through into the world, the suffering of the holy ones, the martyrdom (or "witnessing") of those who bear its good news into the world. Here the structures of power and might, the foolishness of an oath sworn before his peers and those of high status, teach us about the trap in which Herod the tetrarch binds himself, and leads him to commit acts of greater unspeakable cruelty than even he had anticipated. It is a kind of slippery slope, into which the kingdom comes announcing the great news of salvation -- that at any point, we can turn around. We can practice repentance, and "change our minds." Or, we can continue down that slope. Let us consider today what it is to be bound by our own bindings, our own oaths, our own slavery to a set of values and hierarchies, and notions of power and control -- and how they lead to manipulation, and may take us where we do not want to go, digging us in deeper to the pit of our own destructive choices. At what point do we turn around? And where in this is the work of the Kingdom, the great plea for salvation for which God has sent His Son? Jesus dined with tax collectors (like Herod Antipas, those who worked for Rome) and sinners. He offered them the choice to turn around. When do we take it? How deeply do we get in before we feel we can't turn back? Today's gruesome and grim scene reminds us what it is to slide into deeper horror and cruelty.