Tuesday 29 August 2023

Background

Today we break from our journey through John chapter 15 to mark the beheading of John the Baptist, which is remembered on this day in the Christian calendar.

This gruesome story is not found in John's or Luke’s Gospels and is rather more elaborate in Mark's than in Matthew’s edited version that we read today, but the goriness and debauchery remain for us to endure. For those who misguidedly believe the gospels are not safe witnesses of history, the story of the beheading of John the Baptist is also mentioned by the Jewish historian Josephus – and it is him, not the gospel writers who famously named the dancing girl 'Salome'.

Herod was cross with John the Baptist because he had pointed out the sinfulness of his marriage to his brother’s wife, while the brother was still alive. This was considered adulterous and forbidden by Mosaic law (Leviticus 18:16). Clearly, as the despot he was, he could have waved his hand and decapitated John at will but interestingly the preacher of baptism and repentance was too popular for Herod to get away with such a sentence and he was frightened what might happen. His wife however was less bothered it seems and makes sure her and her husband’s chief critic, who is the main threat to their luxurious life, gets what she thinks he deserves.

The story is not very edifying theologically, but helps to put the growing impact of Jesus' ministry in some sort of more secular context with Herod not only hearing about his ministry but also becoming somewhat alarmed by it. But what is interesting to me is how we are told Jesus reacts to the news after the end of our passage. All Matthew gives us is verse 13 “When Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself.” Matthew doesn't mention the deep sadness and rage that must have welled up inside Jesus and indeed fear, as perhaps he gets a foretaste of what might happen to him. I wonder how that influences what happens next?

To Ponder:

• Why was Herod frightened of what would happen if John was executed?
• What was going through Jesus’ mind when he heard about John’s death?