Mark 6:14-29
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.
~ And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."
Guido Reni's "Salome with the Head of John the Baptist", 1630-1635, Corsini Gallery, Rome. Please notice Salome's expression, not the victory of blood conquest, but that of a used child. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.
Salome only wishes she was part of the New Covenant, not giving into despair because we are the Easter People and Alleluia is our Song. A day not to have a prayer answered!
Why doesn't God always answer our prayers?
John Chapters 14 to 17 says He will.
Salome could just blame it all on my roots
I showed up in dancing boots
And ruined our black tie affair
The last one to know
The last one to show
I was the last one
You thought you'd see there
And I saw the surprise
And the fear in his eyes
When I took his glass of champagne
And I toasted you
Said, honey, we may be through
But you'll never 'hear' me complain!
'Cause I've got friends in low Herod places
Where the whiskey drowns
And the beer chases my blues away
And I'll be okay
I'm not big on social graces
Think I'll slip on down to the Oasis
Oh, I've got friends in low Herod places
Well, I guess I was wrong
I just don't belong
But then, I've been there before
Everything's all right
I'll just say goodnight
And I'll show myself to the door
with the platter
Hey, I didn't mean
To cause a big scene
Just give me an hour and then
Well, I'll be as high
As that ivory tower
That you're livin' in, Herodias,
'Cause I've got friends in low Herod places
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God,
for those who are called according to His purpose,
all things are working together for good.
Salome probably had an idea that killing off John the Baptist wasn't really working His Purpose.
And yet, she did what was put in her path instead of fighting for right.
Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.
We do not know what we ought to pray for,
but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Salome doesn't even groan as she puts a holy man to death.
1 Thessalonians 2:4
But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel,
so we speak,
not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.
Romans 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear,
but you received the Spirit of sonship,
by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"
The words printed here are concepts. You must go through the experiences.
Saint Augustine
The Diatessaron (c. AD 160)
All Four Gospels
~
The Diatessaron, interpreted as “Harmony of Four” Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John yet placed in his own order by Tatian, Christian writer from 160 A.D. Diatessaron combines 4 canonical Gospels into a single harmonious narrative. Tatian preserved the wording of the Gospels, he put the verses in a different sequence.
Tatian was from Assyria and was known to live in Rome and then Tatian established a Mesopotamian school known to be recreated in Antioch, Cilicia and Pisidia.
How do we know the information in the Gospel is correctly done?
We arrive at this heartfelt belief by faith.
Peter died in 64 AD in Rome. During his last stay in Rome, Mark had written the Gospel of Mark chapters the Romans wanted to learn and discuss the most. John, the Beloved Disciple, on Patmos in 90 AD discussed the 4 Gospels already written and known. This Gospel would have been written by c. 50 A.D.
Herodias and Antipas Herod would be only deceased by only a decade.
Both Gospels of Matthew and Mark state the Herodias whom Herod Antipas married was the wife of Antipas' brother "Philip", a fact supported by Roman and Judean Historian General Josephus. Josephus indicated Herodias was the wife of Herod II (aka Philip I). Philip the Tetrarch rebuilt the city of Caesarea Philippi, calling it by his own name to distinguish it from the Caesarea on the sea-coast, which was the seat of the Roman government.
'Salome' Herod II (aka Philip I) was married to was historically possible a half-sister by that same name, a daughter of Herod the Great and his 8th wife Elpis. This sibling Salome was born in ~14 BC, and so only five years younger than Herod Philip (a more realistic age gap). Marriage to 1st cousins and uncles, however, was relatively common in the so-called Herodian dynasty.
Herodias isn't the main story of this Mark's Gospel, 6th Chapter. Yet, Herodias is a large moving component. Her departure from the confines of modern, upwardly mobile behavior in her 2 marriages becomes child abuse and manipulation, jealousy and then murder. This behavior puts Herodias into history. Evidently, Herodias has no other achievement.
God of All, uses this behavior to show the right and wrong seen in The Book of Judges, each man determines his own righteousness, can betray good intentions. Herod Antipas liked to listen to the Sermons of John the Baptist. Herod Antipas understood John the Baptist was of the Holy Spirit. Herodias offers Herod Antipas no real harbor and incites Herod Antipas to have his legacy become Murder of John the Baptist. It is the forefront of Herod Antipas's life. Of all their days, this day is what all 3 are remembered as their deliberate part of life.
This Chapter also is a lesson on when to say, "No!" Jesus told us when to hate the actions of family.
Luke 14:25-33
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,
26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.
27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has
cannot be my disciple.
Abba, Father,
Abba, we see examples every day, mankind and man and me have fallen. It is the beauty and wonder of seeing where You are there. We have fallen. We need Jesus.
We have marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him!”
Only Jesus.
We ask Your Willing and Pouring Blessings for ourselves, the ones we Love. This Nation. The Nations trusting You. For the Children of God calling upon Jesus for more Heaven on earth.
Help us to love Thee more clearly, see Thee more dearly. Help us whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
Dwell in us.
Help us to be Joyful to You!
We will finish well in Jesus.
We ask Your mercy on my mom, struggling with Covid.
We ask this for those we Love.
In Jesus Christ, we ask in Jesus and
we will remain in You. Amen.
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