After the death of Herod the Great, the territory that he had ruled was divided up by the Romans. Herod Antipas was given the region of Galilee to rule. In 26 AD, Antipas went to Rome to visit his half-brother Philip, Philip’s wife of about 30+ years, and his neice Salome. At this stage, Antipas would have been about 46, and Herodias in her early 40s. Long story short, Antipas and Herodias decided to divorce their present spouses, and marry each other. Antipas, Herodias, and Salome moved back to Israel, settling at Antipas’ palace near the sea of Galilee.
The Father of Herod Antipas’ former wife waged war on Herod – a war which did not go well for Herod Antipas. Later, Herodias’ jealousy of her brother Agrippa being given the title king, got Herod Antipas to ask the emperor Caligula for the same title. But when evidence came that Antipas had a stockpile sufficient to arm 70,000 men, Antipas and Herodias were instead exiled to Gaul. Oh, and before that, Antipas killed John the Baptist and became friends with Pilate over the killing of Jesus.
It reads like a soap opera, doesn’t it? And this re-telling leaves out half the details! Suffice to say, Herod Antipas was someone who wanted power – who was used to getting what he wanted. And Herodias seems to have been even more ambitious.
And then there was John the Baptist, the prophet calling people to repentance, who wouldn’t stop saying that marrying your brother’s wife wasn’t lawful! Herodias wanted John dead, but Herod had a morbid fascination with him. He would listen to John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. But he wasn’t going to change because of John, or even God. Eventually, Herodias got her way, and John the Baptist was executed, in a most gruesome scene.
John was rejected by those in power. And Mark tells his story in the context of Jesus’ being rejected by the people of Nazareth, his home town. But despite the various rejections, God’s kingdom was taking ground. Wherever it was welcomed, amazing things were happening. There was evidence of God’s goodness. Yes, there were places that rejected the good news – but that didn’t mean the program was failing. Despite the rejection, God’s kingdom was taking ground. And those who didn’t come on board – they were the ones missing out.
Why might people choose to reject the good news of God?
This weekend is palm Sunday, when we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem – shortly to be followed by the rejection of the crowds. But did the success of Jesus’ mission depend on their continued acceptance?
Today’s text: Mark 6:1-30
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