Mark 6:14–29

Recalling John’s Death—Matthew 14:1–12; Luke 9:7–9

¹⁴King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus’ name had become well-known. Some people were saying, “John the Baptizer has come back to life. That’s why he has the power to perform these miracles.” ¹⁵Others said, “He is Elijah.” Still others said, “He is a prophet like one of the other prophets.” ¹⁶But when Herod heard about it, he said, “I had John’s head cut off, and he has come back to life!” 

¹⁷Herod had sent men who had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did that for Herodias, whom he had married. (She used to be his brother Philip’s wife.) ¹⁸John had been telling Herod, “It’s not right for you to be married to your brother’s wife.” 

¹⁹So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she wasn’t allowed to do it ²⁰because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a fair and holy man, so he protected him. When he listened to John, he would become very disturbed, and yet he liked to listen to him. 

²¹An opportunity finally came on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner for his top officials, army officers, and the most important people of Galilee. ²²His daughter, that is, Herodias’ daughter, came in and danced. Herod and his guests were delighted with her. The king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³He swore an oath to her: “I’ll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.” 

²⁴So she went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” 

Her mother said, “Ask for the head of John the Baptizer.” 

²⁵So the girl hurried back to the king with her request. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter at once.” 

²⁶The king deeply regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. ²⁷Immediately, the king sent a guard and ordered him to bring John’s head. The guard cut off John’s head in prison. ²⁸Then he brought the head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 

²⁹When John’s disciples heard about this, they came for his body and laid it in a tomb.