JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEADED

Mark 6:14-29 / Keywords 6:18

For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

 6:14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying,[b] “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

15 Others said, “He is Elijah.”

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled[c]; yet he liked to listen to him.

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of[d] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Footnotes

b. Mark 6:14 Some early manuscripts He was saying
c. Mark 6:20 Some early manuscripts he did many things
d. Mark 6:22 Some early manuscripts When his daughter

1. Herod’s worst nightmare (14-16)

When Jesus carried out a mighty work, rumors spread that he was John the Baptist, Elijah, or another prophet risen from the dead. Though they witnessed his miracles, people rejected Jesus as the Messiah because they did not have faith. King Herod was terrified by the rumors because he believed that John, whom he had beheaded, had come from the dead and was going to get him! Those who don’t repent misinterpret Jesus and his work and eventually become worse off.

 

2. John the Baptist beheaded (17-29)

Because John preached that even the king should repent of murder and adultery, he was imprisoned. Though imprisoned, he continued to preach the way of righteousness. Herod liked to listen to him, but his wife nursed a grudge and plotted her revenge. After her daughter danced before him, Herod promised the girl anything, and she requested John’s head on a platter. Herod was faithless, heartless, ruthless, and senseless.

 

Prayer Lord, when evil prevails, help me to continue to preach your righteousness.

One Word Preach the way of righteousness