Slices
Prepare
Do you sometimes feel like a puppet – that other people are controlling you, ‘pulling your strings’? Bring those situations to God now.
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
Here, Mark uses one of his favourite literary techniques, ‘bracketing’ – sandwiching a seemingly unrelated incident between two sections of his narrative. Why interject this flashback to the grisly murder of John the Baptist? It casts a shadow over the success of the disciples’ mission, which is what Mark intends.
So many events in life – some with profound and lasting impact – derive not from well thought-out plans, but from the capricious actions of very flawed people. A boss’s bad mood, or a political leader’s opportunism, can have devastating effects. Even Jesus was affected by such things. Like John, Jesus will be executed by a man who makes a promise that backfires (15:9). Like John, he will be ‘handed over’ (10:33) when a devious figure behind the scenes finds an ‘opportune time’ (14:11). Moreover, in chapter 13, Jesus will warn his disciples that they should expect similar treatment.
So we live in this tension: the kingdom of God flashes in as people respond to the good news and are healed (vs 12,13,30), but the shadow of the cross is a constant reality. It is produced by the actions of ordinary people whose ambitions and lusts make them puppets in the hands of darker forces.
Respond
John the Baptist was not raised from the dead (v 14), but Jesus was! Though we may not see it now, God’s purposes transcend human whims. Be encouraged. Ultimately, his will prevails (see Genesis 50:20).
Deeper Bible study
“Take up thy cross,” the Saviour said, / “if thou wouldst my disciple be. / Deny thyself, the world forsake, / and humbly follow after me.”’1
John the Baptist’s non-violent campaign against the king was a one-man protest. His message had always been one of repentance, of turning away from sin. He had not flinched from urging King Herod to renounce his marriage to his sister-in-law, Herodias, forbidden by Mosaic Law while his brother still lived.2 Herod imprisoned John to prevent further public defamation, but he remained somewhat in awe of him. Herodias, however, harboured deep resentment and so, in the end, John’s fearless obedience to his calling would cost him his life.
When Mark was writing his Gospel, during the years of persecution under Nero (emperor, AD 54–68), death was an ever-present reality. It was no accident but a clever tactic for Mark to insert John’s martyrdom, which had already occurred, between the sending of the disciples and their return. As a literary device, it gives the reader a sense of the passage of time. As a teaching device, it inserts the reality of persecution and death into the life of Christian discipleship. Not only must the disciples turn away from prestige and wealth, but they must also face the possibility of death. According to church tradition, Mark faced his own horrific martyrdom in Egypt in AD 68, and became the patron saint of the Coptic church. This church is known for its ability to sustain constant persecution and yet rise again undaunted, rejoicing in its other name, the Church of the Martyrs. In Alexandria, on Palm Sunday 2017, 17 people died in the attack on the cathedral bearing Mark’s name. Coptic Pope Tawadros, who was present, forgave the attackers, saying they had succeeded only in shortening his people’s journey to God’s eternity. Today, 360 million Christians live where persecution is constant and severe. Last year, 5,898 of them died for their faith.3
Lord, give me the grace to face persecution and the strength to follow you to the end, whatever that end may be, and pass from life into your eternity.
1 Charles William Everest, 1814–77 2 Lev 20:21 3 https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 49,50; John 18
Pray for Scripture Union
Xplore is a new holiday for Faith Guide groups in the central region that takes place for the first time this half term. Please pray that the children who attend will have a fantastic time together and be excited as they take the next steps in their faith journeys.
Shine a light this Halloween!
Halloween isn’t something we celebrate with children and young people; however, we can use it as an opportunity to share the love and light of Jesus. From light parties to light trails, we’ve got some great FREE resources available to help you navigate the season.
