Mark 6:21-29 21And at the time of his birthday, Herod gave a birthday part for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22And when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those reclining at the table. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23And he made a great vow her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even up to half of my kingdom.” 24And after leaving she said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25And after coming in immediately with speed to the king, she asked, saying, “I want you to give me immediately the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26And the king was greatly grieved on account of the oaths and those reclining at the table and he did not want to refuse her. 27So he immediately after sending for an executioner, he gave orders to bring John’s head. And after leaving, he beheaded him in the prison, 28and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29On when the disciples of John heard this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
The story about John the Baptist and Herod Antipas focuses in on Herod’s birthday party. It was quite the ordeal with all the dignitaries of Galilee present. Everyone “important” witnessed the death of John. One effect this would have had is that each person present would become responsible in some way for how they responded to the ministry of Jesus. Herod and his family were not the only ones accountable for curiosity about Jesus.
What grabbed everyone’s attention was the dancing of the young and beautiful Salome, Herodias’ daughter. Solo dances by young ladies during that day were not ballet but tended to be seductive and may even have involved nudity, like pole dancing in bars of today. An important point of the story is how low Herod bent by being pleased with this dance. He gives a stupid, impulsive oath in verse 22 and expands it in verse 23. He could not legally carry it, at least in the eyes of Rome, but it did make for a good party and captured the high emotions of the event. He was passive and powerless. He had been captivated John’s preaching, but equally held captive by a seductive dance. Herodias, however, is the one in true control. She controls her daughter, Herod, and thus the fate of John.
Salome followed in the footsteps of her mother. Like mother, like daughter. Her mother’s request in verse 24 was simple and straight forward. But when Salome went into Herod, she demanded John’s head immediately–no trial, no debate. It is obvious that she had no qualms or second thoughts about taking a person’s life. Her conscience had already been hardened at her young age. Her primary influence in life appears to have been her calloused and conniving mother who found a way to get rid of her rival for Herod’s attention.
Herod was caught by his own weak conscience. Verse 26 highlights how he could not have it both ways and was greatly distressed. He did not have enough courage to stand by the truth and instead murdered an innocent man. The story ends in a gruesome scene with John’s head on a platter. Only someone with a hardened or severed conscience could receive someone’s head dripping with blood on a platter. The death of John the Baptist was a foreshadowing of Jesus’ own death. John’s ministry and life stand as a precursor in many ways to Jesus’ own ministry and life.
The fates of John and Jesus highlight that following God’s will is not always a happy ending on earth. It may cost us our life. Herod represents power and money; John represents humble humility and ministry. Herod and Herodias tried to get rid of their sin in the wrong way. They thought that getting rid of the one who convicted their conscience would take care of the problem of sin. To confront people, especially those in power or position, about their sin may be costly.
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