Mark 6:14-29 | The Tragic End of John the Baptist

Herod's Perplexity and Speculation (Mark 6:14-16)

Verse 14 -

This King Herod, Herod Antipas, ruled over Galilee and Perea during the time of Jesus. He was the son of Herod the Great and reigned from the death of Herod the Great until 39 AD. During his reign, Herod Antipas is known for his involvement in the trial and execution of John the Baptist. He also played a role in the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. He built the city of Tiberius on the coast of the Sea of Galilee. His marriage to Herodias, who was his sister-in-law, was a source of contention with the Jews, as well as with neighboring Nabatea, since he had divorced the sister of the Nabatean king in order to marry Herodias. In 39 AD, he was exiled to Gaul (modern-day France), and no further record exists from that point.

Herod, upon hearing of the miracles and accomplishments of Jesus, became fearful that John the Baptist, whom he had killed, had been resurrected. While this belief seems completely baseless to us, it is worth noting that during that time of Messianic anticipation and enthusiasm, Herod may have mistakenly believed that John the Baptist was the Messiah. This serves as some evidence that the Jewish people had an expectation of a Messiah who would be raised from the dead, a conclusion that can be reasonably drawn from certain prophetic scriptures.

Verse 15 -

What seems to us to be baseless and superstitious, a resurrection from the dead, seems to be somewhat mainstream to the first-century Jewish audience. Since Elias (Elijah, in its Greek spelling) and the other prophets were, of course, dead, any appearance would require a resurrection. The mainstream nature of the belief is strong evidence that the Jewish world was in expectation of a risen Messiah coming to reign. That is, they were looking for the second coming of the Messiah, not fully cognizant of the fact that He was there on His first arrival.

It should be noted that the Jewish people, then and now, had an expectation of a return of Elijah, and thus the contemplation that Jesus could be Elijah would not be Messianic, but pre-Messianic.

Verse 16 -

Herod rejected all views except that John was raised from the dead.

This resurrection concept must be weighed against John 20:9, which speaks of Peter and John, saying, "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." Clearly, the belief and speculation were not uniformly held among all Jews. Equally clear is the common belief in the resurrection of a figure related to the Messianic age.

Flashback to John's Arrest (Mark 6:17-20)

Verses 17-18 -

Mark gives a review of previous events in the death of John the Baptist at the hands of Herod. This account is verified by Roman Historian Josephus, who, interestingly, gives some background as to why Herod felt the way he did.

In Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 5, Josephus says the following:

(116) Now, some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist; (117) for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. (118) Now, when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words, Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it should be too late. (119) Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod’s suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death. Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God’s displeasure against him.

Flavius Josephus and William Whiston, The Works of Josephus: Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1987), 484.

Since Herod had an amazing defeat in his battle with the Nabateans, and the Jews felt that this was God's punishment for the killing of John, Herod's guilty conscience led him to fear that John had risen from the dead.

The Bible says that Herod arrested John because of his pronouncements against his marriage. Josephus puts it down to more political reasons. I suspect that the political issues mentioned by Josephus were the words of the press secretary, while Mark gives the real reason: Herodias was incensed by John's message to Herod.

Verses 19-20 -

The fact that Herodias, “would have killed him; but she could not” displays some degree of the rule of law within Herod’s kingdom. Herod had to deal with the justice requirements of Rome, but also the political realities of Galilee and Perea.

Verse 20 provides intriguing insight into Herod's mindset. Initially, he "feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy.” This fear could stem from a political standpoint, as silencing political adversaries without any criminal or moral wrongdoing is typically unwise. Alternatively, it could be a fear of God, revealing a man torn between being influenced by God on one hand and his wife, as well as the pressures exerted by Rome and the general public, on the other.

However, it appears that Herod had some level of fondness for John. He enjoyed listening to him and observing him. The phrase "when he heard him, he did many things" suggests that Herod took action upon hearing John's words. Additionally, Herod "heard him gladly," indicating a fascination with John's message and a possible inclination to accept it. We are curious about the nature of the "many things" that Herod did in response to John the Baptist's message.

The Fateful Request of Herodias' Daughter (Mark 6:21-25)

Verses 21-23 -

Herod, possibly inebriated and clearly with an overdose of bravado, displays his power and generosity in promising his dancing daughter whatever she asks for, up to half the kingdom. It is likely impossible for us to fully understand what is happening at this celebration, and it is not the only one like it in scripture.

Verses 24-25 -

The daughter consulted her mother, who took the political opportunity to protect her husband’s kingdom and, at the same time, get what she wanted.

An interesting historical footnote is that Josephus tells us the daughter’s name was Salome, who later married Philip the Tetrach and then still later Aristobulis of Chalice, becoming Queen of Armenia Minor. There are scores of paintings, plays, movies, and other cultural depictions of this scene.

The Beheading and Burial of John the Baptist (Mark 6:26-28)

Verses 26-28

Rather than do what was right, Herod quickly but sadly set out to do what he felt he had obligated himself to.

Such thinking is often disastrous. As has often been said, “two wrong’s don’t make a right.” Herod would have been better to come to his senses and say he could not fulfill the oath. He could have blamed it on legalities, moralities, or even any number of spin tactics. Rather, he “brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother” (v. 28). One wonders what kind of daughter and mother are pleased to get such a bloody gift.

Verse 29 -

The Bible does not specify the location of John the Baptist's tomb. In the first century, tombs were used only for the decomposition of the flesh, after which the bones were transferred to a family sarcophagus. While some Catholic and Orthodox churches hold traditions of relics, the authenticity of these relics is questionable.

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