Mark 6:26-29
The
words we speak can become a trap. So it is better to never speak again than be
trapped? Of course not! But our words can get us in trouble. I notice this most
when people are caught in a lie. I mean when they are really caught, evidence
in hand, and then they lie. These are the worst webs of potential traps around.
They are so complicated that it is impossible to keep all the lies straight.
Most of the time the liars don’t even try. They just convince the other person
that they must be crazy, that their memory is faulty, that they didn’t say or
do this or that.
The
main character in our text today has been caught in his words. He made an
impulsive promise in front of his important and influential guests, and now the
words have come back to bite him. His scheming wife has finally gotten what she
wanted. She has held a grudge and now she is getting what she wanted.
I
am sure there were many heated arguments when John the Baptist first went
public with his condemnation of their marriage. He wanted him alive, and she
couldn’t kill him fast enough. She lost those earlier rounds, but she got what
she wanted in the end.
The
king’s pride trapped him. He gave his promise in front of his guests, and there
was no backing down now without looking weak. And a ruler could not afford to
look weak, then or now. Weakness means overthrow.
So,
even though the king regarded John as a holy man, and as someone to be
protected, he follows through on his promise. He sends the executioner to
behead John and return with his head on a platter. Can you imagine the kitchen
help’s reaction when the request for the platter comes? They want a platter for
what? I doubt there was a “head carrying” platter in the dining room dishes
inventory. And when they got news of what was happening, you can bet the news
pulsed through the whole palace staff in a flash. I can bet there were servants
peaking from behind every possible vantage point when the head was returned to
the dinner guests. They wanted to get a look. Disgusted though they might be,
their morbid curiosity would have driven them to be in on the event.
And the young girl carries the platter back to her mother. Can you imagine carrying a human ahead, fresh blood and all, back to your mother and handing it to her? I can picture her carrying it almost straight-armed in front of her, turning her face, trying not to breathe the smell. The servants along the way would have opened doors to speed her travel. And then to see her mother's reaction of joy when the head arrives, mother ignoring the pain and disgust of her daughter.
Meanwhile
John’s disciples also find out through the grapevine. Instead of morbid
curiosity driving their movements, they are overcome with grief. Herod had been
protecting John. What could have gone so wrong so fast? We talked with him just
the other day. How could he be gone? So out of respect for him, they go and
gather his body from the palace morgue, and they have a quiet burial. Probably
no fanfare was involved, no stream of dignitaries, no finger foods, no
entertainment. The prophet of God had been killed.