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 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

Yesterday we read that when Jesus had finished giving the parables (we've read in chapter 13), He departed from Capernaum.  When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, "Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?  Is this not the carpenter's son?  Is not His mother called Mary?  And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  And His sisters, are they not all with us?  Where then did this Man get all these things?"  So they were offended at Him.  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house."  Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

 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 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.  Here Matthew gives us the story of the beheading of John the Baptist.  My study bible notes that John is viewed by the Church as part of God's plan of salvation.  Having been the Forerunner of Jesus' ministry, preparing people for the Messiah, he does the same in Hades, announcing Christ to all souls there as well as in the world.  He's further remembered for obedience to the Law and as defender of marriage in particular, in condemning Herod's unlawful marriage to his brother's wife.  Under the law, she should not have been married to Herod while his brother (her former husband) was still living.  Ultimately, this is the reason the ambitious Herodias wanted him dead, and took advantage of her opportunity to have him beheaded. 

In yesterday's reading, and other recent readings, we noted the increasing hostility and rejection Jesus is facing.  His ministry in the world is not something that will be universally accepted.  The open hostility of the leadership is leading to their eventual plan to destroy Him.  At this point in Matthew's Gospel, yet another note of rejection and hostility is interjected into the text, with the horrible death of John the Baptist.  It's a truly gruesome scene, worthy of any horror film, in which a queen asks for a man's head on a platter to be served at the king's birthday party.   We note something about Herod:  he's sorry to put John to death.  Not only is it important that the people consider John to be a true holy man, but Herod rather delights in curiosity about the holy (Mark 6:20).  He will also seek to be "entertained" by Christ when He is in Herod's custody, hoping to see a miracle done by Him.  But Jesus' failure to respond will result in further cruelty and condemnation (Luke 23:8-11).  Here in the text is martyrdom, but it is given in a flashback.  For now Herod's fears, after the horrific beheading of John the Baptist, lead him to suspect that perhaps Jesus is John returned from the dead.  There is an element of paranoia here that tells us about guilt and power -- the abuse of manipulative power used against the holy.  Herod Antipas is not truly a believer.  He is a Roman king, but nominally Jewish because he rules over the Jewish territory of Galilee.  His curiosity about the holy resembles a collector of entertaining objects, or unusual animals that might be kept in cages for amusement.   It is purely material in nature, and is not inspired by faith.  This materialist perspective goes hand in hand with ruling power, with a life led by manipulation and what can be grasped.  Herod's father, Herod the Great, was known not only for his ambitions and tremendous building projects (he remodeled the temple in Jerusalem and turned it into one of the architectural marvels of the world) -- but also for his extreme cruelty even in a time when rulers were expected to be ruthless.  The Kingdom, the text tells us, not only comes into the world among those who are nominal believers who reject the gospel message, but also into the world of cruelty and force.  It comes face to face in encounter with state power that knows expediency for its aims, and stark ambition that stops at no obstacle or objection in order to attain its goals.   This is the root of martyrdom, that the holy is present for all things in this world.  John stood up to face the danger involved in condemning an unlawful marriage, and Jesus will also come face to face with the most extreme measures of worldly power and the death it wields.  We may still marvel at the ruthlessness we encounter here, and the awesome courage of the holy and those who will be the messengers of the Kingdom.   We observe Herod dwelling in fear, and Christ's exhortation to fearless witness (10:24-26).  We still live in this world of cruelty, harshness, expediency.  Where does the Gospel come into the world around you?    We must know that those who've shown us the way let nothing stop its message and witness; they continued despite every challenge the world would provide to them.  Where are those challenges for you?  What fears do they prompt?  We still face the same dynamic, even if it's hidden in sophistication and advancement in concepts of rights and freedom.  The expediency of material power and manipulation will always play a role in our world.  What fears do you face in living out the gospel message and the discipleship of participation in this Kingdom?  Where does Christ's courage take you?