July 15, Ordinary 15B (Mark 6:14-29)

Sandwiched between Jesus’ sending of the Twelve and their return is the story of John the Baptist’s death. Flashing back to my Sunday school days, John’s beheading joined David’s slaying of Goliath and Delilah’s shearing of Samson at the top of the list for holding my attention. For different reasons, the story still insists on being heard.

In an unusual display of flourish, Mark spares no detail in painting the backdrop for Herod’s brooding over the question, “Who is Jesus?” His narrative excess allows this subplot to push its way into the foreground. But this story isn’t really about Herod. Neither is it about John, who sets the plot in motion but then plays his part from offstage. Also pulling strings from behind the scenes is Herod’s wife, Herodias, aka Herod’s brother’s ex. She wants John put down for meddling in their affairs—but despite Herod’s herculean ability to capitulate, he can’t accommodate his wife because he fears John. So instead of taking the bull by the horns, Herod has John taken into custody. Still stewing, Herodias sees an opportunity when Herod decides to bedazzle himself with a birthday party. Cuing her daughter to provide the evening’s entertainment, she sets up the creepiest part of the story. The girl’s dancing so pleases Herod that he tells her she can have whatever she wants. So it’s checkmate for Herod and John’s head for Herodias.

You can put your ear to the ground and listen for as long as you like. You will not detect so much as a single note of good news in this story. It’s where the story shows up that makes it a must-read. It comes just as Jesus puts his disciples on the same collision course that he is on. If this story is about anyone, it’s about us. In an all-points bulletin to disciples, then and now, just in case we’re getting full of ourselves and thinking that following Jesus is going to bring us glory and advantage and ever-increasing success, Mark says: Think again. Following Jesus might get you in hot water up to here.