The Beheading of John the Baptist

Last updated on: August 29, 2016 at 2:27 pm by Dave Griffey

The Beheading of John the Baptist 2016-08-29T13:49:13-04:00 Dave Griffey

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Seen here in one of my favorite cinematic treatments of the story, Jesus of Nazareth:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwPVMeTqZIM

I like this scene. It contrasts the ragtag disciples and John in camel’s hair with the posh affluence and decadence of Herod’s court. At his court festivities you have the power players, the beautiful people, the ones who matter and get all the headlines, indulging in all of their hedonistic glories. By contrast you have John in rags, chained to the prison walls, belting out the Prophets for all it’s worth.

Herod, portrayed in all his oily sleaziness by von Trapp himself, is shown to be a weak willed, spineless type. Having promised anything to a girl who danced for him (and the dance, in the ancient world, packed more punch than even our modern cinematic treatments can muster), is in a bind. He almost admires John, but has allowed his libido to put him in a compromising position. As it so often does.

There’s been a lot of discussion in recent years about the Church’s approach to those rascally ‘sins of the flesh.’ Sins of the economy yes. Sins of the oppressive and powerful, sure. Sins against the environment? We’ll trash and hash those all day. But we’ve more or less gotten to a ‘don’t ask, don’t make us tell’ approach when it comes to those sins below the waistline. They’re still part of the ‘not of God’s Kingdom’ package. And like anything, when we deviate, excuse, or attempt to compromise with the world over the Kingdom the results are seldom good. See the above clip for an example. On this day in which historic Christendom commemorates the Baptist’s beheading, that’s something to think about.

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[e] 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. Mark 6: 17-29

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