“SALOME”

Text: Mark 6: 14-29 Esv

14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him." 15 But others said, "He is Elijah." And others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter 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 to you." 23 And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." 24 And she went out and said to her mother, "For what should I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist." 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.†

interpreting jesus

The question has not been asked, but Herod and his court are answering the question that Jesus later asks his disciples; namely: Who do people say that I am? 

Our first three verses are Herod’s attempt to interpret Jesus—to say who he is and what he means to Israel. Some say Elijah, some say one of the prophets like the prophets of old. These were the highest possibilities for Jews, and it’s remarkable to note that they were thinking this about Jesus already. Elijah was the greatest prophet, and you’ll remember that he didn’t die, but ascended to Heaven in a flaming chariot, so there is a chance that he has come back and the people are calling him Jesus.

Second to that, they wonder whether Jesus might be one of the “prophets of old,” by which  they mean one like Isaiah, Jeremiah, or even Moses. Following these guesses, Herod lays the matter to rest, stating that this Jesus is clearly John the Baptist returned from the dead, perhaps to reek vengeance upon Herod himself for having decapitated him.

The rest of the text is backstory. In it we hear about the complex relationship between Herod, his wife Herodias, her daughter Salome, and John. We hear a story of moral succession from John—the greatest of the prophets—down to Salome, a feckless girl with neither will nor moral compass. Their story has something to say to us today. Our role will be to determine which part we shall play today

herod’s canary

John is clearly strong-willed, but his strong will is God’s strong will, which John rightly represents. He is strongly moral; again, with Gods’ strength and God’s law. John spoke the truth to people in power. That truth was neither personal opinion nor individual preference; it was God’s Word to Israel and humanity.

John told Herod and Herodias that their marriage was unlawful according to Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21. God’s Word made it clear that Herod should not be married to his brother’s wife as long as his brother was alive. The resulting marriage was considered a form of incest—abominable and ungodly. John simply called it as it was, and in doing so evoked the wrath of Herodias.

Herodias, wife of Herod, was incensed by John’s accusations and wanted him dead. I’m sure she wanted to be seen not only as royal but as virtuous—a good, Jewish woman—but John’s preaching made her feel like a woman of ill repute. She wanted to use her queenly power to kill John, but Herod protected him.

We could say that John was Herod’s canary—there was something about John that intrigued and impressed Herod. Herod liked John, despite the fact that he kept him in prison. The text implies that Herod had conversations with John and was intrigued by him. Herod protected John from his wife Herodias, which had to be an issue in their relationship.

Herod the weak

Like Ahab before him, Herod was weak willed with a weak moral compass. He throws the ancient equivalent of a White House  banquet and invites all the elites—nobles, military chiefs, and the richest Galilean families—to demonstrate what a great guy and big shot he was. No doubt the wine flowed freely and the mood was festive. When entertainment time came around, Salome—Herodias’ daughter and Herod’s step-daughter—performs a dance. So charming is the girl that Herod tries to impress the crowd by making a grandiose gesture of generosity.

"Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you."

We can almost see him, reclined against a bunch of pillows with a big wine goblet in his hand. As if his gesture is not impressive enough, he raises the stakes: “Whatever you want—ask and I’ll give it to you—up to half my kingdom.”

This was really foolish. First, the kingdom of Israel wasn’t his to give. Israel was under Roman occupation. Second, I think even then the guests would have seen that this was a bit too much: too showy, too gushy—an embarrassment they probably attributed to the wine. But Herod is determined to prove himself a big shot—a generous, likable big shot.

wishless, feckless salome

Salome is the lever Herodias employa to weasel control out of her weak-willed husband Herod. Salome is a youngish girl—and clearly one with neither strong will nor strong morals. She complete her dance and her step-father (oh they lengths some will go to to win their step-children’s affection!) offers her a gigantic wish. Herod presents himself to her almost as a kind of great genie, a wish-granter with tremendous power and generosity.

We know Salome is weak-willed because she can’t even think of anything to ask for! Try that today—you’d have a list of cars and computers named before you could say “enough!” But Salome wants to ask her mother Herodias for what she should wish for! When she does, Herodias is ready; she usurps her daughter’s wish for herself and takes what she wants: revenge on John the Baptist. So she asks for his head. Salome immediately goes back into the party and tells her step-father that she wants John’s head on a plate. This proves her lack of a  moral compass. Now don’t rush to her defense on the grounds that she’s so young, for she certainly could have said no to killing a man just as easily as she could have made her own wish.

In his sad moment of self-realization, Herod must have seen what a fool he had been. Herodias would get her way, and with all the beautiful people watching him, he had little choice but to follow through on his stupid promise. Again, his will was so weak and his moral compass so askew that he would rather send a good man—even a holy man—to his grave rather than change the game. I’m sure it ruined his evening, but likely made him (behind his back) the laughing stock of the elites.

killing conscience

Question: What is the chief work of the weak-willed and the immoral?

Answer: Killing conscience.

We see this clearly in Herodias, who, like Jezebel before her, was a self-seeking, scheming, evil woman. She would rather slay the greatest prophet rather than admit that she was wrong. John represented the righteousness of God, and she had to be told by this lowlife, desert-dwelling, locust-eating oddball that she didn’t measure up? How dare he? Howww daaaaaare he!

Deep down, she certainly knew that what she was doing was wrong before God. That’s why she was so annoyed with God’s representative. She was in an illicit marriage, but she didn’t want to be reminded of it. She thought that because she was rich, beautiful, and royal that she didn’t play by the same rules. She was above the law—even God’s law.

Furthermore, she—and her husband Herod (if he’d ever get his act together)—had the power to suppress John. They could afford to silence conscience. They had the power to make all dissenting voices quietly go away. As for the louder voices of conscience, like John, drastic measures were called for.

All of this trouble because one man, one prophet, chose to represent God’s Word and spoke the truth to those in power.

the ongoing drama

Who are the players today?

Who are the weak-willed and immoral, like Herod and Salome?

Who are the scheming and self-seeking, like Herodias?

Who are the voices of conscience, advocates for God, like John the Baptist?

Throughout history there have been men and women of faith who were strong-willed with strong moral compasses who were not hesitant to represent the Word of God to the elites of this world. These have always been the people who personally inspired me the most.

Martin Luther, standing on God’s Word, refused to compromise conscience for the sake of the Roman Catholic institution. As a result, the Pope wanted Luther tried for heresy and run of the mill Catholics wanted him dead. Martin Luther was a kind of John the Baptist.

History is replete with examples of Godly men and women who were willing to say the emperor has no clothes, and most of them suffered for it. This may be why most people do not want to be prophets!

There are others, eager to don themselves with the prophetic mantle. They are quick to christen themselves “prophetic” for whatever popular cause they champion. In my understanding of scripture and history, it doesn’t happen that way. Usually the call comes to the unwilling and the less-than-eager. Most prophets defy the call before following God’s will.

One of the chief indictments against the modern church is its reluctance to be strong-willed and representative of God’s Word. Outsider see many Christians as compromisers. Like Salome, simply going along with the dictates of the cultural elites—the modern versions of Herodias—self-seeking, scheming, evil.

Christians to the polls

America votes in its new president this week. Most people I know—in both parties—will be holding their noses as they vote. But vote we must. Just as it is every citizen’s right and responsibility to vote, it is every Christian’s responsibility to participate as we can in the governmental processes of our host culture. We need to vote as an exercise of backbone and moral compassing. America needs Christians at the polls, even if many Americans doubt our wisdom. This isn’t about self-empowerment, nor is it about “Church power,” but rather it is part and parcel of our witness—our exercise of embodying the will and Word of God in the American system.

While I think it highly inappropriate for preachers of any stripe to suggest for whom Christians in general ought to cast their votes, I stand with them that encourage voting per se, and I’ll add one thing. Among all the reasons you vote—whether it be for a candidate who represents the kind of America you want to live in, or whose economic program you support, or whose long-term legacy best benefits America—don’t forget the bigger question: Who will be best for Christianity? Who will best serve the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ in America and throughout the world? I kindly recommend that this question move to the top of your list before Tuesday, for it is our chief concern. Economy, program-planning, health and welfare—these are important, but not as important as the central mission of our lives.

In the voting booths, may we, the people of First Presbyterian Church of Upland, rightly represent God’s will and Word, both with strong will and a God-focused moral compass. And as we come to the table, let us be extra mindful of our brother and sister Christians around the world who have no say in their governments, no say in their courts, and who hope and pray that American Christians can help make a difference. †