“King”

Mark 6:13–29

¹³And they [the disciples] cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them. ¹⁴ King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” ¹⁵ But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” ¹⁷ For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. ²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

The miracle working power of Jesus (and the disciples) has gotten the attention of Herod, the man appointed by Rome to govern the region in which Jesus lived. This passage is historical in tenor and gives us the true measure of a man who longed after power and his “wife” who desired that power even more than he did. Mark begins by calling him “King Herod” which is an ironic title for Herod. He was never called “king” by the Romans, but was in fact, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea for 43 years (4bc-39ad). He ruled with Pontius Pilate, Philipp, and Lysanias. Herod, at the insistence of Herodias, did go to Rome seeking the title of “king” over the region (after Jesus’ death) but he was never granted that boon. Instead, he so angered the authorities that he and Herodias were banished!

This event in the life of Herod helps us see what kind of man he truly was and sets us up to understand his reactions to Jesus at the time of the Crucifixion. What we find here is a man ruled by his wife and beset by a debauch lifestyle. Imagine a scene where a large group of affluent men are giving themselves over to drink and lust. Salome (Herodias’ daughter from a previous marriage – and perhaps not even her own daughter but that of her previous husband – Herod’s brother – making the girl his niece – I know, it’s like a soap opera) performs an erotic dance for this crowd of men and does such a wonderful job of it that Herod offers her a gift. Allowing a family member to perform an erotic dance in such a setting would have been seen by most people as shameful, though given the actions of the family of Herod generally, this should not be surprising. Salome consults with Herodias and then asks for the head of John the Baptist who had been imprisoned by Herod for condemning his relationship with Herodias. Herod is forced to fulfill her request because of his rashly made promise. To his credit, he didn’t want to kill John, but a promise is a promise.

If nothing else, this story helps us gain context for the events to come during Jesus’ trial. The fact that the King of Kings stands next to this false king makes Jesus’ story all the more captivating and poignant. While Jesus was born among the animals, Herod lived in a grand palace. While Jesus humbled Himself to become one of us, Herod exalted himself at every opportunity. Herod’s life of debauchery stands in stark contrast to the life of Christ who lived to serve and died to save.