These verses record the fact that Jesus and the disciples have attracted the attention of Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch, who becomes anxious because of his role in the death of John the Baptist.
14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying,[a] “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!”
Horsham, 15th July 2024
These verses tell the dreadful story of the execution of John the Baptist. It is significant to note that the story of the John is really the only detailed story of anyone in any of the Gospels, in which Jesus is not directly involved in the action. This emphasises the status and importance in the Gospels of John the Baptist, the first prophet in Israel for over 400 years, and in heralding the imminence of the coming Messiah, perhaps the greatest prophet of all time.
Take a moment to remind yourself of the close relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist. They were cousins, and the public ministry of Jesus begins with an encounter with John in the desert ( (Mark 1:9-11). It seems that shortly afterwards, Mark was imprisoned by Herod Antipas (Mark 1:14). He is referred to here as ‘King’ Herod, although he was not really entitled to use this title. Herod Antipas was son of Herod the Great (who was King when Jesus was born, and ordered the massacre of all the small boys under 2 years old – see Matthew 2: 16-18). The father had asked that on his death, the Romans divide his kingdom into four sections, allowing each of his male children to inherit one portion. As the master of a quarter of a kingdom, Herod Antipas was a tetrarch, rather than a king. Antipas was given the area of Galilee and Perea, to the east of the Jordan. He ruled this area from 4 – 39 CE, when he displeased the Emperor Caligula and was sent into exile in Gaul.
For all that, within his domain, Herod was extremely powerful. He fell in love with the wife of his brother, Philip, called Herodias. He decided to marry Herodias after first divorcing his own wife. This was regarded as an unlawful marriage in Israel, firstly because Herod had no cause for divorce, and secondly because his brother was still living. meaning that the relationship with Herodias was adulterous. John the Baptist was openly critical of Herod, and his second marriage, and this caused the greatest offense to Herodias. Such was her anger that to appease her, Herod imprisoned John, keeping him in the prison at his fortress of Machaerus.
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[b]; yet he liked to listen to him.
It seems that whilst Herodias despised John, Herod himself was fascinated by him knowing him to be a righteous and holy man v20, and sometimes liked to listen to him (v21).
So, after a period of detention, during which John’s disciples were permitted to visit him (See Matthew 11:2), the dreadful scene described in this passage arose.
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[c] 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 platter.”
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 platter. 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.
Let’s go back to the introduction of the section in verses 14-16. It seems possible that either Herod had not heard about Jesus, or more likely, took no great interest in him. Until, that is, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples. Now, rather than one Galilean Rabbi creating a bit of a scene, touring the area, performing miracles, there are six groups of two men all doing the same. This, then, creates enough publicity and excitement to bring them to the attention of the Tetrarch in a way he can no longer ignore. The disciples point to Jesus as the source of their power and authority, and so Jesus’ name became even more well known.
With tis surge in publicity, some said that Jesus could be Elijah (a prophet who had died about 850 years previously). There was a belief, still held by Jews today, that Elijah will return before the Messiah appears (Malachi 4:5). If John the Baptist were in any sense a reincarnation of Elijah, this would mean that even the Jews would have to accept that Jesus was the Messiah.
Others, however, said that Jesus was John the Baptist, resurrected. Herod panics. The superstition of the day meant that the return of a person from the dead meant that they were seeking revenge, and it was Herod who had ordered the killing of John the Baptist.
I’m impacted by the fact that this whole situation came about because of the integrity of John the Baptist. His ministry was a call to repentance. Repentance means firstly the acknowledgment of sin, and secondly the willingness to change lifestyle to avoid the repetition of sin. He was faithful to his calling, even when it put him in conflict with those who had power over his life or death. Herod Antipas and Herodias took offence at John for his allegation of their sinfulness and rejected out of hand his call to repentance. Rather than bending to their will, John was steadfast. He was faithful to God. Even unto death.
“I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” (1 Chronicles 29:17a)