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John and Jesus were both regarded by the people as prophets. John was the forerunner of Jesus, the one who would prepare his way. Just as John insisted to Herod on the necessity of propriety in relationships, telling him that it was not lawful for him to have the wife of his brother while his brother was still alive, so too did Jesus insist on the inviolability of the marriage bond. They both issued a call to repentance. There was some ground, therefore, for confusion, at least at a superficial level.
Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people,
for they regarded him as a prophet.
Part of Herod did desire to silence the voice of John the Baptist by killing him, since with that voice he condemned Herod's immoral behavior. But another part of him, without fully understanding why, "liked to listen to him" and he couldn't entirely shake the feeling that he was "a righteous and holy man" (see Mark 6:20).
the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests
and delighted Herod so much
that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for.
Things might have continued indefinitely with John imprisoned, Herod listening to him, half hating him, half entertained by his words, but for the scheme of Herodias. Herod's hatred for John alone did not push him over the edge of killing him. Neither did his interest in his words, superficial as it was, impact him enough to make him change his life. But because he was not deeply rooted in the truth he was susceptible to the influence of others. Temptation came, and there was no greater good for the sake of which Herod might resist it.
He even swore to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” (see Mark 6:23).
We may read about Herod promising to give away half of his kingdom for a dance and look on him with contempt. And it was contemptable. But how ready are we to give away half of our kingdom in the face of temptations? Mere interest at the level of curiosity about the words of John or Jesus is insufficient when the temptation is sufficiently persuasive. If we analyze and try to identify Jesus on the basis of what others say about him the question will never hit home enough to change us. We will remain only superficially related to him. It will indeed be as though he is in our lives, speaking, as it were, from a prison cell from which we don't let him leave to spread his influence. As this condition continues we may eventually decide that his words are not to our taste. Or, if not motivated from within, some outside temptation might come along like the dance of Herodias's daughter and, lacking root and losing ourselves, we may finally eject Jesus from even the small corner of our heart where we had confined him.
It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.
Herod saw in John and in Jesus little more than the voice of his own guilt. What he did not see, but what was truly there, was the possibility of change, of forgiveness, and of new life. Silencing John could not silence the voice of his own guilty conscience, leaving him haunted like Macbeth by the ghost of Banquo. He did not engage with either John or with Jesus deeply enough to hear anything but condemnation. Had he engaged them personally he could have heard the voice of mercy rather than condemnation calling to him. Unfortunately, Herod tried to understand Jesus through his reputation with the crowds. He only attempted to answer who others said Jesus was, rather than answer the question himself. Herod's options were therefore much the same as when the disciples answered that question, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets" (see Matthew 16:14). He never risked a closer consideration, of asking what he himself had to say about Jesus. And yet to do that, though dangerous, though almost certainly disruptive to the life of anyone who asks it, is the only way to the truth.
The people managed to recognize the mission and authenticity of the prophet Jeremiah before they carried out their plans of putting him to death. What led them to realize it? It seems to have been the fact that there words were spoken for their sakes, so that they could be saved.
“This man does not deserve death;
it is in the name of the LORD, our God, that he speaks to us.”
To recognize the voice of a prophet we must engage them personally, willing to actually listen attentively and with hearts engaged. This is important because we need more than mere superficial interest in Jesus if we are to be rooted and grounded in him in the face of temptation. We need to know that he is for us and not against us if we are to respond well to his words when those words challenge us. Only if we see in Jesus the treasure beyond price will we be able to resist every deception tempting us to give away our kingdoms for sensuality and sin. It is the Father himself who draws us to give Jesus a hearing. And he desires to give us the grace to know him and to respond.
to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name (See John 1:12)
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