Slices
Prepare
Sit, stand or kneel in silence, bringing to God anything that’s troubling you. Ask him to strengthen you through today’s Bible reading.
Bible passage
John the Baptist beheaded
14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, ‘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; 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 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 dish.’
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 dish. 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.
Explore
Wouldn’t it be great if our last reading (for now) in Mark’s Gospel ended on a high note? With Jesus being acclaimed everywhere he went and by everyone? Sadly, it’s not like that.
Herod hears what Jesus and the apostles are doing (v 14). Some people connect it with the kind of thing John the Baptist used to do. John died, but maybe, through some kind of resurrection, he lives on? Flash back to how John died.
John had faithfully pointed people to Jesus. Then he kept challenging Herod to ‘do the right thing’ in his marriage, according to what God wanted (vs 17,18; Leviticus 18:16). So Herod locked him away, even if sometimes ‘he liked to listen to him’ (v 20). Then there’s that party where Herod promises pretty much anything to Herodias’ daughter, the dancer… (vs 22,23).
Out in the villages, there’s good news for the locals as heaven breaks in to their individual and community lives through Jesus’ presence. In the seats of power, there’s bad news as opposition to Jesus and his followers continues to mount. The cross beckons Jesus. It also beckons us to costly, tough discipleship.
Respond
Following Jesus includes following him to the cross. Reflect on Romans 8:17, then tell God your thoughts.
Deeper Bible study
‘Know therefore that the Lord your God … is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.’1
After the initial success of the mission of the twelve disciples, Mark’s narrative suddenly turns to the death of John the Baptist. By doing this, Mark may well have been sending an important message to readers of his own time. Following Jesus is not simply about hearing his teaching, experiencing his miracles and having our personal needs met. It is about being faithful to God and his truth. It is about following Jesus all the way to the cross, even though it may mean death for the sake of the gospel. John the Baptist stood on the side of truth and he paid with his life.
There is a tendency at times to emphasise the miraculous and triumphal nature of our Christian experience. While there is nothing inherently wrong in sharing our success stories, overemphasis on the triumphalist nature of the gospel may be inadequate in our holistic understanding of Christian discipleship. We need to be reminded that discipleship is not some kind of loyalty programme. Uncompromising allegiance to Jesus involves absolute obedience and self-denial. It can never be mere lip service. It can only be real if we are intensely aware of our desires and emotions and still decide that our absolute loyalty is to Jesus. We still resolve to live according to the truth and in giving ourselves in love to the service of God in the world. Jesus remains our focus, even if it includes persecution and rejection from our family and community. This is certainly a difficult teaching, for it would be much easier to accept a Jesus who conforms to our values and desires, so that there would be no tension in our Christian discipleship. Yet our reward may not be success, but the knowledge of knowing that we are faithfully following and serving God.
‘Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.’2
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: 2 Chronicles 24,25; Ephesians 5
Pray for Scripture Union
This week’s prayers all relate to this article.
Give thanks to God for the faithfulness of Scripture Union supporters – for their prayers and their gifts, which have meant we could develop new resources for lockdown so rapidly.
