Wednesday, week four: Dancing and death (Devotions for Lent from the Gospel of Mark)

It is going so well. Jesus’ followers return, having successfully preached, cast out demons, and healed people. News of this effective campaign finds the ears of Herod, the Roman-appointed king of Judea. He’s a bit confused. He had been holding consul with John, the one who baptized Jesus. In a flashback, Mark recounts all that has transpired between Herod and the baptizer.

John wasn’t going easy on Herod. Herod had a nasty, twisted family tree. Over the span of his life he married 14 different women; at one time he was married to three women at the same time. Herod had some of his wives and his own sons executed to protect his throne. At the moment, though, Herod was married to Herodias. Herodias was the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. Apparently, she went willingly. After all, it’s good to be queen. Herodias was enjoying her time in the limelight. Herod traveled to Rome and stole her from his brother. John called him on the carpet.

Herod didn’t want to hear it. He had the power to have John killed, but he was afraid. He knew John was a holy man. What might happen if he killed him? Herod avoided the whole mess by locking John away in prison. He remained out of earshot and out of mind until the night of Herod’s birthday party.

That night, Herodias’ daughter (Herod’s niece) Salome danced. She was so beautiful and captivating that Herod, right in front of all of his friends and prominent members of his court, promised her anything in his kingdom.

Before giving her answer, she consulted her mother, the queen.

Moments later, John’s head arrives at the party on a platter, fresh from his prison cell. To Herodias, John’s permanent silence was worth more than half of Herod’s kingdom.

Now Herod is confused. Word of Jesus’ power and preaching has reached him, and he thinks John is resurrected.

Text for the day:

Mark 6:14-29

Things to think about:

The world is simultaneously filled with dancing and death.

Herod took the holy and hid it out of sight.

Things to do:

Bring the holy into the light. Make a place for prayer and reverence for God.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, help me to hear and understand.