Mark 6:14-29 (NRSV)
Read Mark 6:14-29 on biblegateway.com
Verse 14King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." Verse 15But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." Verse 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."
Verse 17For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. Verse 18For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Verse 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, Verse 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. Verse 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. Verse 22When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it." Verse 23And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." Verse 24She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." Verse 25Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." Verse 26The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Verse 27Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, Verse 28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. Verse 29When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
Devotion
A tornado sweeps through a small town, leaving some homes decimated and others untouched. A drunk driver sideswipes a car, sending it off the road and killing the passengers inside.
The question of why bad things happen is as old as Scripture itself. It’s especially poignant when those involved don’t seem to deserve it: the flattened house belongs to a struggling single mother; the victims of the drunk driver are the Sunday School superintendent and his children. Suddenly the question of why is compounded by a sense of injustice, and we can wonder how God could let these things happen to such decent people.
Mark’s tale of John the Baptist’s tragic end seems like one of those ‘bad things.’ John is a faithful follower of God. Yet he suffers precisely because he was being faithful. He didn’t just end up imprisoned for speaking out against the wrong he saw in Herod and Herodias’ marriage. He ended up dead. Why do bad things happen to good people?
We’ve all struggled with this question from time to time. Scripture doesn’t necessarily give us a definitive answer, but it can help us better understand God’s role in this, and how God can help us along the way.
Prayer
Lord, in the face of suffering, help us trust that you are there. Amen.