King Herod heard about it, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” 15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” 16 But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” 17 Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. 18 John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. 20 Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. 21 She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. 22 Herodias’s own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” 23 He even swore [many things] to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 26 The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. 27 So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. 28 He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
As more people heard about the wonders Jesus was working, people believed him to be JBap raised from the dead, or Elijah who ascended to heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kgs. 2:11-12) and was expected to return (Mal 3:23-24), or one of the prophets (Mal 3:1). When Herod Antipas (Herod the Tetrarch), one of the sons of Herod the Great, heard about Jesus he thought that it was JBap whom he had imprisoned and beheaded that was raised (Lk. 9:7-9). Mark was pointing forward to the resurrection of Jesus.
Herodias was the niece of Herod Antipas and was married to one of Herod’s brothers before Herod married her. The Mosaic Law stated, “You shall not have intercourse with your brother’s wife (Lv. 18:16).” JBap told Herod that his relationship with Herodias was unlawful. Herod imprisoned him and Herodias wanted him killed but Herod feared John as he rightly believed JBap to be a righteous and holy man. Herodias got the opportunity to have JBap killed when her daughter delighted Herod with a dance before his distinguished guests and Herod promised to give her whatever she asked for. He made her a promise he could not renege in front of his distinguished guests, and it cost JBap his head.
JBap’s story has parallels with Jesus. Herodias represented the Jewish religious leaders, Herod represented Pilate, and the guests who did not object to Herod’s unrighteous decision represented the crowd. JBap’s death foreshadowed the death of Jesus. They were both innocent yet unjustly condemned to death. Their disciples came and took their bodies away. One major difference was that JBap was buried but Jesus was laid in a tomb and raised on the third day (Mk. 16:1-8).
Almighty God, the many injustices your faithful suffer in this
life do not compare with the suffering your Son endured for the salvation of
your adopted children. Grant that we may
joyfully offer up our trials for the salvation of souls knowing that we will
receive an overabundance of your mercy and grace in the world to come. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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