The Narrow Path: Mark 6:14-29, "When Keeping a Vow May Be Worse Than Breaking It"

Mark 6:14-29, "When Keeping a Vow May Be Worse Than Breaking It"
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Pastor Andy G. on 01/27/2012 07:00:00


Mark 6:14-29 brings us to the story of "what happened to John the Baptist". 
First of all, we know that Herod actually feared and respected John, for it says
that he protected John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.  We also
know that Herod would listen to John speak.  Granted he was greatly puzzled by
John's words, he did enjoy listening to him.  Yet for some reason, Herod had him
killed.  Doesn't make much sense, does it?  The thing is, it wasn't by Herod's
decision to kill John, but the command of his wife's, through her daughter, who
was also King Herod's (possibly teenage) niece, and step-daughter.  Sounds
pretty messed up, doesn't it, King Herod marrying his dead-brother's wife?  John
the Baptist thought so, too, even mentioning that by doing so, Herod was
actually breaking the Law (of Moses).  Basically for Herodias, it was a
power-move, which I'm sure John noticed also.  Either way, her offense to John's
preaching nursed a grudge against him.
It was Herod's birthday, and he held a great banquet for himself with his high
officials, military commanders, and leading men of Galilee.  His
step-daughter/niece came in and danced very seductively, so much to where Herod
promised her with an oath for anything she wanted, up to 1/2 his kingdom.  Not
knowing what to say (and possibly strategically set up to this point
originally), she ran to her mother (Herodias) to ask her what she should ask
for.  Herodias, with the kindled grudge against John the Baptist, asked for his
head.  So the girl went in and asked for John's head on a platter.  Herod was
greatly distressed, but kept his oath before his dinner guests and had John
arrested, beheaded while in prison, and brought in on a platter.  It was
presented to the girl, who then gave it to her mother.  Then John's disciples
laid his (headless) body into a tomb.
This is an interesting story to me, not only because of its content, but its
placement.  For, notice that previous to it, Jesus sent out His 12 with
authority and the instructions of taking nothing with them but a staff.  After
this event, they all returned and told of their adventures.  So this event
almost seems to be placed specifically as a means of inserting something to talk
about while they were all out.
I can see this story not only as a means of answering the question, "So what
happened with John the Baptist," but also a means of setting the time era, as
well as pointing out who everybody at that time of Jesus' ministry thought He
was.  Some saw Him as a prophet like the ones of old, some thought He was
Elijah, and I'm sure some thought also as Herod did: that Jesus was actually
John the Baptist resurrected, which for Herod, would explain the source for
Jesus' miracles.  In that sense, it also reinforces the rejection of identity
that Jesus was receiving by the People of God.
A similar event occurred in Judges 11 where Jephthah made a vow to the Lord that
whatever passes through the door of his home, he would sacrifice to the Lord. 
Unfortunately, it turned out to be his daughter.  Jephthah was so distraught
about his vow, yet kept to it because it was to the Lord (even though God would
never hold somebody to such a vow).
So ultimately, I think the issue here was pride.  Notice that in both
situations, a vow was made as a deal with another party:
Jephthah: Deal was with God = "give us victory and I'll give anything to you
that walks through that door."
Herod: Deal was with his niece/step-daughter = "Ask anything and I'll give it to
you, up to 1/2 my kingdom."
In both cases:
*Neither of them wanted to fulfill their vows once they knew what they were
sacrificing. 	*The ones making the deal were leaders. 	*Pride and reputation
were on the line. 	*They fulfilled it because it was a vow, regardless of how
wrong it was.
Herod could have refrained from the vow when his step-daughter returned for any
reason, such as for the reason that the deal was with the girl, not her mother,
or because his gift was to give something from his kingdom, and a man's life was
not within his offer.  And he may have done this if it hadn't been for his
guests.  Herod had to set an example for his leaders who were under him, and his
reputation was not as a nice guy, but as a crooked king.  Heck, just making such
a deal was totally a means of showing off his power and wealth, for I doubt he
would have even made the vow if they hadn't been there.  I would suggest that
this is a good example of making a bad decision due to peer pressure, but none
of his guests were his peers, but all men who served under him.  And
interestingly enough, if he really wanted to show his power, he would have
stepped in and broken the vow, showing that he had the authority to do so...but
he didn't.  Instead, he granted her wish and had John the Baptist killed.
Discussion / Reflection Questions:
*Have you ever made a deal with somebody that you later wished you could've
taken back?  What did you do? 	*What role does peer-pressure (or pressure from
others who are not your peers) take in influencing your decisions? 	*If you were
to make a deal with somebody, and the deal requires for you to commit a sin,
such as hurting someone, would you go through with it anyway?  Why or why not? 
Do you think Jesus would be more upset at you for breaking the vow, or for
committing sin in order to keep it?  Explain.