Introduction
It doesn’t take long in a child’s life for them to begin to expound on matters of justice.“That’s not fair!” is learned early. And indeed the world is littered with seemingly senseless instances of unjust suffering, evil persecution of the righteous, and unfair weights and measures. The question must be asked, “What is God gonna do about it?!”
The Text
And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. […]
Mark 6:1ff
Summary of the Text
The residents of Jesus’ hometown demonstrate themselves to be the sort of unfruitful soil He described in His earlier parable (Mk. 4:16-17). They too, like the residents of the Decapolis, are astonished at Jesus’ teaching and choose to reject Him. (vv1-3). While the multitudes were crowding round to hang on Jesus every word, and upon His very person, the hometown crowd had trouble apprehending their local carpenter, Mary’s boy, was a great prophet, let alone the promised Messiah; this lack of faith hinders the healing (vv4-5). His teaching caused astonishment, while their unbelief, in turn, caused Jesus to marvel (v6).
Jesus sends out the Twelve in pairs; according to Luke 10:1 another 70 were also sent out on this urgent mission (v7). Their manner of travel was to be marked by swiftness; they should travel light and not linger in towns that wouldn’t hear the sown Word (vv8-11). Their task consisted of three components: preaching repentance, for Yahweh’s Messianic Kingdom had come (v12), demonstrated this by driving out demons from Israel (v7,13), and marking judgement on the unreceptive (v11). When they return to Jesus to report how this mission went, they, like Mark’s narrative, are breathless; so Jesus whisks them off again by ship to what is intended to be a bit of a breather (vv30-32). But we’ll see that when they arrive the work will continue, for the seeds of the kingdom are growing rapidly.
But in between the disciples’ going out and coming in, Mark interrupts the narrative with the grisly tale of John the Baptist’s martyrdom at the hands of Herod. The rumors about the prophet from Nazareth were turning into rumbles; this stabs terror into the heart of Herod and his conclusion is remarkable: John the Baptist was risen from the dead (v14). Others put forth alternate opinions as to Jesus’ identity, but the consensus is that He was a prophet (v15). Herod, though, insists upon it being a resurrected John (v16). John’s imprisonment was the signal for Jesus to begin His ministry (Mk. 1:14). Now, Mark fills in the details of John’s martyrdom. Herod had seized John because John had rebuked Herod’s adultery with his brother’s wife, Herodias (vv17-18). Herodias despises John for this and seeks for his death, while Herod respected this pious man and was intrigued (vv19-20).
Nevertheless, during his birthday feast, Herodias’ daughter dances so pleasantly that Herod makes a rash promise to her of up to half his kingdom; at her mother’s counsel she straightway asks for John’s head on a platter (vv21-25). Herod is grieved at this but not enough to break his foolish oath, and immediately gives the order for John’s beheading. He gives the head to the daughter who gives it to her mother; John’s disciples bury him in a tomb (vv26-29).
What Haunts Herod
We’ve seen how Mark is anticipating the crucifixion, resurrection, and Great Commission a number of times. The disciples’ mission anticipates what Jesus will send them out into the whole world to do after His resurrection. Their mission consisted of a call to repentance, the expulsion of evil (exorcisms and healings), and a warning of judgement. Sodom will have it better off than those who reject this kingdom message. What Jesus is doing in Israel is about to invade the whole world.
Word of this mission, and the success of it, gets back to Herod. His monarchy was founded on politicking with the Romans, but he desired legitimacy with the Jews. He wanted the Jews to receive him as their lawful king. So then, the rumors of this prophet from Nazareth, whose message was that He was ushering in God’s kingdom was frightful news to this puppet King. Coupled with wondrous signs backing up His claims and gathering ever-growing crowds following Him and you have a terrifying combination for this pretender King.
One other thing is worth pointing out and that is that the message of repentance is always a politically and culturally potent one. It infers that there is a moral authority above our kings and constitutions, and this, as we see in our own day, causes a visceral reaction for the proud of heart. Guilty consciences are haunted with the fear that their sin will be made known, and so repentance is offensive.
While Mark has been doing a great deal of helping his readers look forward and see what lies ahead for Jesus, he now looks back to show us that Herod & Herodias stand in a long line of tyrant royal families. Mark calls to our mind the story of Ahab and Jezebel, persecuting Elijah and the other prophets of their day. Herod’s conniving wife had beguiled him into beheading John. Herod’s conclusion to the success of the disciples’ ministry is remarkably insightful. This phony king saw more clearly that most Jews did. He concludes that some sort of resurrection had taken place. Jesus had come to bring about the OT promises of life from the death. Job had foretold the resurrection even in the midst of his sufferings (Job 19:25-26). Elijah (and later Elisha) had both resurrected the dead (1 Ki. 17:17-24, 2 Ki. 4:8-37, 13:20-21). The united voice of the OT prophets foretold the resurrection along with the sign of judgement it would be upon the wicked (Is. 26:19-21). All of this haunts Herod. What if righteous John had gone down into the grave and returned with divine powers along with other righteous witnesses from the grave?
How Death Makes Way for Yahweh’s Coming
Remember the key phrase throughout Mark’s Gospel: make straight (εὐθείας). In the recounting of John’s martyrdom we see that word once more. Herodias’ daughter, after conspiring with her mother, goes straightway to make her wicked request and Herod immediately grants it (though grudgingly). The persecution of the righteous is not an impediment to God’s purposes but is the way in which He catches the wicked in their own net. This is made most clear in the Lord Jesus’ death.
Had the demon powers and earthly rulers known, they would not have put to death the Lord of Glory (Cf. 1 Cor. 2:8). But this was precisely the trap God was setting. God purposed that all injustice and evil would be brought upon Himself, in order that He might take into the grave and leave it there. In so doing, He would establish His universal rule of righteous judgement upon the whole earth. Beginning with Cain, the wicked have persecuted the righteous. So God sent His Son, in the flesh, so that the wicked could unleash all their injustice, indignity, and hatred of righteousness down upon His head. And now their kingdoms are all being overthrown by the increase of His righteous government in all the earth.
Resurrection Glory
All of this shows why the resurrection is the certain hope of the meek, while being a holy terror to the wicked. How does God deal with our suffering? He takes it upon himself in the person of His Beloved Son. How does God deal with wicked men? He patiently calls them to repentance. But the Resurrection is a warning. Ahab & Jezebel will soon face Elijah before the judgement seat of the Risen Christ. Herod and his conniving wife will be confronted with John the Baptist who will be raised with Christ His Lord. All evil doers will be brought to justice. The resurrection is a certain sign that God will answer the martyrs’ prayer: “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?”
What is the worst thing you’ve done? For those who have repented and come to Christ, Jesus has taken that sin into the grave and left it there, and in His rising you can be assured that you are counted as righteous in Him. What’s the worst thing that’s been done to you? Jesus rose from the grave and you can be certain that the judge of all the earth will judge rightly when He comes one day, in all His glory, to judge the living and the dead.
Charge & Benediction
The certainty of the resurrection is a truth which haunts the tyrants great and small. So ask yourself the question: is the resurrection my vindication or my damnation? For the humble and repentant it is your vindication and for the proud and haughty the resurrection is their damnation.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessings of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon, and remain with you always. Amen.
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