23. Mark 6:14-30: The Political Realities of the Mission

    (I depend here on Myers’ Say to this Mountain, 72-73)

We are in the middle of another Markan “sandwich” here. 6:7-13 narrates the sending out of the disciples. 6:14-30 tells the gruesome story of John the Baptist’s death. 6:31-44 returns to the conclusion of the disciples’ mission.  

Josephus, the 1^st century Jewish historian, tells us that Herod had John killed because he was fomenting an insurrection. And he was. Gathering the people in the wilderness under the aegis of a New Exodus against both established Roman and Jewish authorities could hardly be otherwise construed. Mark has already clued us into to that aspect of the story. Here he unveils another related aspect of it.

Herod Antipas (ruled Galilee from 4 b.c. to 39 a.d.). After he had John killed, the ruler had dreams that John was coming back from the dead to haunt him in the person of Jesus (6:14-16). Guilty conscience no doubt. But true as well. The movement he started was continuing and even increasing under the leadership of this Jesus!

Intermarriage was a political strategy of no little importance in building dynasties. When John objected to Herod’s marrying his brother’s wife (6:17ff.), the moral and the political converged. Additionally, Herod was a half-Jew who vigorously promoted the Hellenization of the area under his rule. Not surprising for a ruler dependent on Roman favor. He traded on his (half-) Jewishness only when it helped him or supported his agenda. For John to claim Herod accountable to Torah was to raise question about the legitimacy of Herod’s rule (6:18).

“Mark’s portrait of Herodian court intrigue takes on the character of parody (6:19ff.). The king throws a dinner party for the ruling classes of Galilee (6:21). Despite this impressive gathering of political, military, and economic leaders, however, it is a young dancing girl and a drunken oath that finally determine the fate of the Baptist (6:22-25).” (Myers, Say to this Mountain, 73)

How momentous events often turn on small and petty whims and grudges!

John’s death gives us a preview of what will happen to Jesus. When Mark returns to the report of the disciples on their mission, we now feel the pathos of the cost of God’s New Exodus to its participants.