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Mark 6:14-29

¹⁴ King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” ¹⁵ But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

¹⁷ For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste 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 the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him 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 of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Herod the Tetrach doesn’t really know what to think. He is hearing reports about this Jesus fellow. The man is wandering the countryside preaching, “The time is fulfilled, and the reign of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.” This Jesus is wandering through the country, casting out demons, healing the sick, calming the storms, even raising the dead. This dude is now sending others out to the towns and villages to do the same thing. Many come to the conclusion that John the Baptizer was raised from the dead with divine, miraculous powers. Herod is worried. He believes with dismay, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

Herod had had an interesting relationship with John. Herod knew that John was a righteous and holy man. But his new wife, well, she had a grudge against John. Here’s the situation:

Herod the Great, the ruler when Jesus was born, the one who had all the infant boys in Bethlehem under age two killed, had several sons. One of those sons was named Phillip. Phillip was Herodias’s husband. Herodias was Herod the Great’s granddaughter. In other words, Herodias married her uncle Phillip. The Herod of our text was another one of Herod the Great’s sons and the half-brother of Phillip. This Herod convinced Herodias to divorce Phillip and marry him. To do so, Herod had to divorce his wife. Herodias didn’t like the fact that John the Baptizer told them that this wasn’t exactly kosher. So, Herodias convinced Herod, her second uncle-husband, to arrest John. But it seems that Herod was keeping John safe from death. He even liked to talk with John even though he didn’t quite understand him.

But there was that fateful night of Herod’s birthday bash. Herod had invited all his noblemen and commanders came to his birthday party, and things got a little out of hand. Too much drinking, and maybe a few too many drugs were passed around. However it happened, Herod called in Herodias’s daughter. (If you are keeping track, this girl would have been Herod’s great-niece according to his father, niece according to his brother, and stepdaughter according to his wife.) He had her brought into this all male party. Now, women were not allowed at parties like this (notice she has to leave the party to talk to her mother). The only women at this type of party were a particular type of woman. Now, some legalists will use this text as proof that dancing in and of itself is sinful. But this was not some normal wedding reception or prom dance. This was the type of dance that would happen at a particular place with a pole and a lot of dollar bills. This dance “pleased” Herod and his guests. That most likely means they were more than they were just entertained – in all likelihood, they were “satisfied.”

So Herod, this intoxicated idiot, offers her whatever she wishes up to half his kingdom. The girl goes out to talk to her mother, and her mother suggests asking for the head of John the Baptizer. But this girl adds a sadistic little twist of her own. It is a dinner party after all. So she tells Herod to give her the head of John on a platter. Herod was more worried about keeping up appearances with his guests than doing the right, honorable thing. So he sends the executioner to John’s cell. And John becomes a head shorter.

This story is so despicable, so disgusting, what are we to do with it?

Remember that Herod didn’t know who this Jesus was. His seared conscience led him to believe that the man who had been preaching against him and his wife was raised from the dead. Herod couldn’t erase that night out of his head. He was worried because he didn’t want to hear any more sermons calling him to repent, especially after this little incident.

But you know who Jesus really is. He isn’t John the Baptizer raised from the dead. He is the Savior of the world. Yes, even the Savior of Herod. Jesus died for Herod’s sick, twisted immorality just as He died for all your sick, twisted, and wicked ways as well. Jesus has come to save sinners – even ones as bad as us here at Christ the King. We know, deep down we know, that we are no better than Herod. And so we are here, gathered together in Jesus’ name, to find shelter in the blood that Christ shed for all our sins.

Jesus’ blood has washed you clean in your baptism. Jesus gives you the new birth that you need. No sin is so great that it escapes Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Hear that again. No sin is too big to escape Jesus’ forgiveness. Not one sin has been missed by His blood. So, don’t hold any of your sins outside of Jesus’ forgiveness. If you do, you have to atone for it yourself, and you never will be able to. Instead, Jesus, the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, now owns your sin. He dumped all your sin into the black hole of His empty tomb.

You can live knowing that there are worse things than being maligned for believing the Scriptures. There are worse things than being called “old fashioned” and “backwards” for opposing what the world wants to define as “normal.” There are even worse things than having your head lopped off. The worst thing of all is unbelief. Unbelief will cause you to imagine that, somehow, your sin escapes the all-encompassing grace and mercy of God which is found in the cross and empty tomb of Jesus. Holding on to your sin will buy you a one-way ticket straight to hell.

Confess Jesus as your Savior, and let the world do what it will do. Confess Jesus as your Savior, and let the world say what it will say. Confess Jesus as your Savior, and come what may. As the Epistle text said (Eph. 1:3-14), you have been chosen by God from before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless. You are God’s own beloved child. You have heard the Scriptures, the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. You have been sealed with the Holy Spirit who is the guarantee of your inheritance until you acquire possession of it. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.