Heady tales in the kingdom
by Pastor Matt Bishop
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The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter (Mark 6:27b,28a).
Read Mark 6:14–29
Warning: This reflection references an image from a violent biblical account.
Children’s illustrated Bible storybooks are a lot tamer than the one I had as a kid. It left little to the imagination. I particularly remember the grotesque picture of John the Baptist’s pasty, severed head sitting upright on the platter, eyes and mouth still open. (Sorry if you are eating breakfast at present!) Herodias looked satisfyingly on, delighted in her trickery.
I’ve got mixed feelings about its graphic depiction. But on the upside, it’s helpful for the way it illustrates the extent of the underlying sin in this story. Herod has taken what is not his in marrying his brother’s wife, who was most likely also his niece by another brother. Then there is the alcohol-fuelled ogling and lusting at Herodias’ young dancing daughter. And the stupid pledge made by Herod – no sense of stewarding God’s good gifts there. Also, there was the scheming request by Herodias, using her daughter in a different way than the onlookers did. It ends with the murder of a righteous and holy man sent to point the way to the Messiah. In some ways, the grizzly picture of John’s plattered head is the least of this sorry tale’s depravity.
The crucifixion of Jesus later in this same illustrated kid’s Bible is also graphic. What can be appreciated, though, is the way John’s beheading points to Jesus’ own death. Both are prophets. Their teaching riles the elite. They are taken captive and bound. Pilate, examining Jesus, is greatly puzzled like Herod was with John. Both die so as to not have the ruler lose face. Both die a bloody death. And, in a touching act of care, bravery and railing against the injustice that has occurred, both have disciples claim their remains and lay them in a tomb.
However, the big difference between Jesus and John is that my illustrated picture Bible shows Jesus risen from the dead that first Easter Sunday. His gruesome wounds no longer define him. There was no resurrection (yet) for John. But there will be on the last day, as there will be for us. Our sin – gruesome as it is– will not have defined us either.
Lord Jesus, you paid a terrible penalty for my sin. Thank you for John and his preaching, witness and faithfulness. Let me learn from these accounts so I may trust you, receive your good gifts, and then shun evil and live your way. In your name, I pray. Amen.
Pastor Matt Bishop serves the St Paul Lutheran Church and co-located primary school at Blair Athol in Adelaide. He delights in his wife Mel, three young adult daughters and, soon, a son-in-law. He would like to spend more time fishing but loves being a pastor and sharing the gospel with everyone God puts in his path, not least the nomads, prodigals, exiles and sceptics of the Christian faith.
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