Everywhere I have been as pastor there has been a tradition that bibles were given to young children. I never started this tradition, but then I never stopped it either. It was always one of those cross your fingers sorts of acts. You know, stuff you do that a part of you thinks "This isn’t really a good idea" but you do it anyway hoping that nothing will come of it. And I kept doing it because the other part of me said it was a good thing to do.
I love the bible, for all sorts of reasons. Not the least that it is gripping literature. The stories can out pace any thriller on the shelves. The passion can shame any romance novel you can name. The poetry reaches heights that most poets can only dream of attaining. The wisdom can reduce front porch philosophers to puzzled silence. It is a wonderful read.
Yet, as you are no doubt hoping I’ll admit, it is much more than that. It is Truth. Not just truth, but Truth. Not just good advice, not just rules for living, not just a sacred text, but it is Truth. Truth without regard for feelings, Truth that sometimes hurts, Truth that reveals, Truth that points out the fundamental disconnect between the life we claim we want to live and the life we actually live. Truth that acknowledges that evil exists in the world, and sometimes in us. It is dangerous, an IED - improvised explosive device that just might cripple us if we aren’t careful.
Is that something you want to put in the hands of children? I console myself with the knowledge that they won’t read it. Or that they will be guided by those who know how to handle such volatile materials. I trust that the sheer weight of the words will keep them safe enough until they are given a context within which they can read the terrible texts.
Is that something you want to put in the hands of children? I console myself with the knowledge that they won’t read it. Or that they will be guided by those who know how to handle such volatile materials. I trust that the sheer weight of the words will keep them safe enough until they are given a context within which they can read the terrible texts.
Like this one. Well, our Gospel lesson for this week isn’t the most gruesome in the bible, or the most - uh - racy. But still it is hard to see much uplifting content in these verses. In preparation for the bible study I was checking some of the sources I usually use and it is interesting how some of them don’t even mention that this is the assigned passage for this Sunday. As if they were suggesting that we take a look at the Epistle, or the Old Testament reading for this week. There might be something of value elsewhere. But for some reason I decided to take a look at it, during our "Fun in the Son" summer month of July. Here you go. But be warned!
Mark 6:14-29 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him." 15 But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It 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 Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. 22 When his daughter Herodias 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."
23 And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24 She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." 25 Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
23 And he solemnly swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24 She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" She replied, "The head of John the baptizer." 25 Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
John had made Herod’s commitment, or lack thereof, to family values a point of discussion . One of the problems with this family is that they had a shortage of names for boys. They were all Herod, or something Herod or Herod something. Needless to say it got confusing. Kinda like Prince Michael I and Prince Michael II. Anyway, this Herod stole his current wife Herodias (yeesh) from his brother Philip (actually Herod Philip). Some say that he killed Philip first (or had it done - royalty don’t actually do the deed) and then married her, others argue that Philip was still around wondering what happened while Herodias packed up. Either way, it was messy, and John wasn’t one to let sleeping dogs lie.
Well, Herod didn’t like what John was saying, but Herodias was murderously angry. She convinced Herod to have him arrested, in order to be killed, but Herod kind of liked hearing what John had to say. So, he would go hang out in the dungeon and have tea with the imprisoned prophet.
Not satisfied, Herodias cooked up a plot and sent her daughter, who might have been named Herodias too (sigh) or Salome, depending on which version you read, to entice step-daddy into a promise. So, on his birthday she danced for him. And he enjoyed it. A lot. More than a step dad should have, let’s say. While panting for her, he said "anything, you name it, you got it!" After checking in with mom, she comes back with the classic "Give me the head of John the Baptist." And the prophet was served up.
Truth. Ugly, to be sure, but Truth. The truth is that sometimes we make decisions based on less than rational thinking. The truth is that given proper motivation or stimulus, any of us might be prone to rash acts. And then feel caught in a corner we can’t get out of. Sometimes we worry too much about how we might look, and not enough about what is right. And often we regret it.
Mark inserts this little flashback to explain Herod’s reaction to the news about Jesus in verse 16. There is some argument as to whether Herod actually believed that John was raised from the dead in Jesus, or whether what he was saying is that his guilt followed him, even beyond the grave. There is no indication that Jesus was pointing out Herod’s indiscretions, like John had done. But he felt the shame anyway.
Mark inserts this little flashback to explain Herod’s reaction to the news about Jesus in verse 16. There is some argument as to whether Herod actually believed that John was raised from the dead in Jesus, or whether what he was saying is that his guilt followed him, even beyond the grave. There is no indication that Jesus was pointing out Herod’s indiscretions, like John had done. But he felt the shame anyway.
Which is another painful truth, I suppose. When you encounter Jesus there are no more secrets. We aren’t able to hide out faults, our sin, our weakness from him. And sometimes just knowing that hurts. Luckily, he doesn’t leave us in our hurt and our guilt. The invitation is to come and be forgiven, come and be healed and then to find a new way to live. "Neither do I condemn you.." What a wonderful grace that would be to hear. "Go and sin no more." Live a new way, with a new priority and a new hope. Live out of love rather than worrying about what others might think. Live fully alive, fully engaged, fully in joy.
Which, come to think of it, must be why we give bibles to children. They come closer to living like that than we do. Maybe we sound find some kids to read the bible to us. Maybe.
Shalom,
Derek
Derek
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