The Death of John the Baptist (Mk. 6:14-29)

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 signs and wonders Jesus was working, people believed him to be John The Baptist (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 OT prophets (Mal 3:1).  When Herod Antipas heard about Jesus, his guilt and fear over JBap’s death led him to believe that it was JBap that was raised from the dead (Lk. 9:7-9).  Herod Antipas was the tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea and one of the sons of Herod the Great. He had imprisoned and beheaded JBap.  

Herodias was the niece of Herod Antipas and was married to one of Herod’s half-brothers before she left him for Herod Antipas.  JBap told Herod that his relationship with Herodias was unlawful.  The Mosaic Law stated, “You shall not have intercourse with your brother’s wife (Lv. 18:16; 20:21).”  Herod imprisoned JBap (Mk. 1:14), and Herodias wanted him killed but Herod feared and protected JBap whom he rightly believed to be a righteous and holy man.  Herodias got the opportunity to have JBap killed when her daughter Salome delighted Herod with a dance before his distinguished guests at the celebration of his birthday. Herod promised to give her whatever she asked for up to half his kingdom (Est. 5:3) and confirmed it with an oath.  Her mother told her to ask for JBap’s head on a platter and Herod could not refuse her request in front of his distinguished guests.  Herod was grieved because of the respect he had for JBap but because of his public oath in the presence of his guests, he felt compelled to grant Salome’s request.  

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.  Jesus and JBap 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 do not compare with the suffering your Son endured for the salvation of mankind.  Grant that we may joyfully offer up our trials for the salvation of souls with the sure hope that we will receive an overabundance of your mercy and grace in the world to come.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
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.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.