Lent 2026 Day 27: Fri 20 Mar
Mark 6:21-29
21 On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came 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 swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!”
24 Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”
26 The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison. 28 The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.
This is certainly one of the more well-known stories in the Gospels. A slighted woman gets her revenge, served on a dish. She used her daughter to deliver the demand to Herod – these days this would be a case for the child safeguarding team. It’s the stuff of drama. Oscar Wilde set it on stage and Richard Strauss made an opera of it. Rita Hayworth played a cinematic role. It was probably not just her dancing skills that attracted the casting chief. Most of these adaptations lay more stress on the daughter than the mother – the gradual mislaying of seven veils sells seats!
John died a martyr. A martyr is one who witnesses to the truth (Greek martus means witness). If we bear witness to Christ’s redeeming power, then we are literally martyrs. The term has come to mean those who suffer for their faith. John died a cruel death, and Herod exposed himself to be a weak, foolish and regretful man.
We might envy the boldness that John displayed, but we may not like the Nazarene vow placed on him from birth, the diet, the tireless calling of people to repent, and the knowledge that he would fade as Jesus rose. John could not help but tell King Herod that he’d sinned. Prophets usually speak the words that God gives them. John had no comparative righteousness of his own to throw at Herod. The message came from God.
For speaking the truth, he was thrown into prison, and because of the new wife’s gruesome desire for revenge he was put to death.
How do you witness to the redeeming power of Christ?
Have you ever had to say something difficult to an individual or to your church fellowship?
Father God, you call me to be a witness to your life in me. I may hope that this requires no more than living your life before others. When you call me to speak truth in a difficult situation, I’ll trust that you will have given me the words I need to say and awareness of the things I should do. Amen.
The death of John, from The Chosen
Paul