Mark 6:21-29 - Herod's Unlawful Oath

Mark 6:21-29

²¹ A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; ²² and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ Immediately she came in a hurry 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 although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. ²⁷ Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded 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 about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb.

Message: Herod's Unlawful Oath

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus arrives in Nazareth, about a 3 day journey from Capernaum. He has made it to his hometown and he speaks in the synagogue. Many of his people did not accept him; he continued to heal, but maybe not to the extent that he could because of their unbelief. The message still goes out. Jesus commissions his disciples with the message of repentance. Many hear of Jesus and his message, wondering where he came from and who He really is: prophet, priest, king. Included in this wondering is Herod Antipas, who killed John the Baptist. John called out the sins of Herod Antipas and his wife and they responded with violence against John the Baptist. Yet, Herod Antipas was conflicted in his feelings about John the Baptist, feeling obligated to please his wife and yet also having fascination for the message that John brought to him.

The story of John the Baptist and Herod Antipas, the Roman ruler, continues in this passage. Herod had imprisoned John at Macherus, a fortified palace located east of the Jordan River. A celebration of some sort is given in Herod's honor, perhaps his birthday. At this celebration,  the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The words express that this dance was perhaps sensual which emphasizes still more the depravity of these people's lives whereby the daughter of Herodias, Salome, gave a dance that made everyone happy and pleased. In response to this performance the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.” Here Herod makes a vow that he will have to uphold. Whatever is asked he will feel obligated to do as he will want to save his face before the dinner guests. Salome consults with her mother and it is stated I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter. As has been discussed, Herod is trying to save the life of John the Baptist, but although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.
Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. The deed had been done. John had been executed. 

Herod was infatuated with John. He liked his preaching, but not to the extent that the preacher's words had an effect on him to change his works. People are moved by good preaching all of the time, but do the actions of our lives show any change. How now shall we live. I wonder about this often because I hear so many messages and I wonder how my life is being lived differently. I generally conclude that I am a slow person. Do I really believe that God is the one that changes hearts? I need to pray for this more.

Summary - After Herod Antipas tried to keep John alive, in prison, he gets caught in his own words and saving his own face by pledging to do whatever someone requests and the request that is made is to kill John. Because Herod simply had his ears tickled and never made a change of heart, he goes along with that which is in his own best interest: and John is killed. 

Promise: The Gospel Message is truth, but people receive it differently. Some are ready for it and some just take it as interesting fodder. John lost his life but he still had a great impact. 

Prayer: Lord, I pray that the message of the Gospel would continue to change lives. Lord, I pray that you would always be glorified. It hurts when people do not have a desire to follow you and glorify you, but we can still trust in You. Thank you for choosing John and that he is now safe in your care. Help us to stay eternity minded. Lord, I want to be a person of change, who is affected by the Godly messages I hear each day.