Day 08 of Journey through Mark: A TALE OF TWO KINGS

COMMENTARY A major portion of today’s reading tells the story of John the Baptist’s death. At first glance, this seems like an odd story to be placed at this point in the book. John had been a major figure early on, but he hadn’t been seen in five chapters (Mark 1:2-14). What’s more, this story is told as a flashback. By this time in Jesus’ life, John had already been killed. So why did Mark tell the story of John’s death in this part of the book? It seems that Mark placed this story here to draw a contrast with the story that immediately follows it. In the first story, we learn that John was killed by a “king” known as Herod Antipas. Herod was a power-hungry governor in Galilee, the area where Jesus did most of His ministry. Mark calls him a “king,” in part for dramatic effect and in part because this was a title he desperately craved (Mark 6:14). We learn from extra-biblical sources that Herod had a history of spurning Jewish values and exploiting the poor. This particular story tells us that Herod stole his brother’s wife, asked his stepdaughter to “dance” in front of his friends, and literally served “the head of John the Baptist on a platter” at a banquet (Mark 6:22, 25). In contrast, the story that follows tells of a very different king and banquet. This is the story of Jesus’ feeding of the 5,000. The basic details of this story are well-known, but we shouldn’t miss how much royal symbolism it contains. The story has echoes of Psalm 23, a poem about the Divine King (Mark 6:34, 39, 42; Psalm 23:1-2, 5). It also tells how Jesus provided bread in the wilderness, a miracle that people expected from the Messiah (Mark 6:32). Most importantly, Mark says that Jesus had compassion for the crowds because they were like “sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). This was biblical code language for “people without a king” (1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:5). In other words, Jesus looked with compassion on the people that Herod had failed to lead. Then, He showed them the kind of King He would be. This is so relevant for us today. We live in a world where leaders all too often exploit those under their care in their insatiable pursuit of power. Jesus’ deeds show us a different way. The kingdom of God is not characterized by oppression but by compassion, so we should live compassionately too. When we feel hurt by those in power over us, Jesus’ actions can be an encouragement. We are seen and loved by a compassionate King. SCRIPTURE MARK 6:6b–44 JESUS SENDS OUT THE TWELVE Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEADED 14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” 16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” 17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 because Herod feared John and protect- ed him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him. 21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. 25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immedi- ately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. JESUS FEEDS THE FIVE THOUSAND 30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered, “You give them some- thing to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” 39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. REFLECTION 1. In Mark 6:8, Jesus instructs His disciples to “take nothing” with them on their missionary journey. Why do you suppose Jesus instructed this? When in life have you experienced lack or nothingness like this? What did you learn from that season? 2. Mark 6:26 tells us that Herod was “greatly distressed” about his stepdaughter’s request. He knew what was right in his heart, but he didn’t want to look like a coward, so he killed John. This is yet another example of someone who was “seeing but never perceiving” (Mark 4:12). He was like the “seed” that was choked by the “desires for other things” (Mark 4:18-19). When have you felt similar distress about how others perceive you? How do you find the resolve to stand up for what’s right even when others seem to choose what’s wrong?