May the mumbling commence!
Where’s Elijah? That is the question, rather than where’s Waldo. In Mark chapter six, Jesus had been healing people and performing miracles. Then Jesus sent out his closest disciples to do the same work. Word of these miracles and works came to King Herod’s ear. Read from Mark chapter six:
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."
Others said, "He is Elijah."
And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."
But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"
For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."
She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?"
"The head of John the Baptist," she answered.
At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Verses 14-29)
Many times, we have pondered, “What would Jesus do?” For the people of Jesus’ day, the question may have been, “What would Elijah do?” Some people associated John the Baptist with Elijah. Elijah confronted the apostasy of those in power – particularly an evil queen. Think about the similarities between Herodias and Jezebel!
But Elijah eventually prevailed over Jezebel. Elijah did not die. He was taken up in a whirlwind. Well, John the Baptist did confront and speak truth to both Herod and Herodias. However, John did not prevail. He lost his head.
Some people thought Jesus was Elijah. Elijah did miracles. Jesus did miracles. Would the pattern continue? Would Jesus be like the triumphant Elijah? Would Jesus eventually anoint a successor? Only time would tell.
Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist returned from the dead. If John greatly puzzled Herod, I wonder what emotions that Jesus brought forth in Herod. I would guess fear. Though he was right to fear Jesus, Herod was wrong in his reasons for fear.
For Herod, fear drove a hard bargain. Fear of soiling his reputation after a possibly drunken promise of a gift drove Herod to kill John the Baptist. Fear would continue to drive Herod – fear and a hunger for power.
What drives us? May we come to Jesus and accept his mercy and grace and love. Then, all fear will be driven from us.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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