John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod Antipas. In Mark 6:14-29, Herod arrests John for condemning his marriage to his brother’s wife, then foolishly promises his stepdaughter anything she wants at a birthday banquet. Prompted by her mother, she asks for John’s head on a platter. Herod reluctantly agrees to save face. John’s faithful death is a sobering preview of what will happen to Jesus.
Setting the Scene in Mark 6:14-29
Mark places this story right in the middle of the disciples’ mission trip. Jesus sends out the twelve in Mark 6:7-13, and they return in Mark 6:30. In between, Mark tells the story of John’s death. It is another of Mark’s “sandwich” stories, and the placement is intentional. Right as the disciples begin preaching, Mark reminds us what faithful preaching can cost.
The story begins with Herod hearing rumors about Jesus.
Mark 6:14-16 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
Everyone had theories about Jesus, just as people do today. Some thought he was John back from the dead, others thought he was Elijah, and others saw him as a prophet. Herod’s guilty conscience landed on John. That leads Mark into a flashback explaining what Herod had done.
Who Was Herod?
This Herod is Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great, the king who tried to kill baby Jesus. When Herod the Great died, his kingdom was divided among his sons, and Antipas became ruler of Galilee and Perea. Technically, he was a “tetrarch,” not a king (Matthew 14:1). Mark may be using “king” loosely, or with a touch of irony. Years later, Antipas asked Rome for the title of king, and the emperor instead removed him from power and sent him into exile.
A Prophet Who Told the Truth
John had confronted Herod about his marriage.
Mark 6:17-20 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.
The family tree is complicated. Herodias had been married to Herod’s half brother (whom Mark calls Philip). Herod divorced his own first wife, the daughter of the Nabatean king Aretas IV, to marry Herodias. The Law of Moses prohibited a man from marrying his brother’s wife while the brother was alive (Leviticus 18:16; 20:21). John wouldn’t stay quiet about it, even though Herod was the most powerful man in the region.
The first-century Jewish historian Josephus also describes John’s imprisonment and execution, placing it at Machaerus, Herod’s fortress palace east of the Dead Sea. Josephus adds that when King Aretas later defeated Herod’s army, many Jews believed it was God’s judgment on Herod for killing John.
Mark gives us a revealing portrait of Herod. He feared John, protected him, and liked listening to him, but he was “greatly puzzled.” Herod was drawn to the truth but never acted on it. It is possible to enjoy hearing about God without ever surrendering to him.
A Deadly Banquet
Herodias waited for her chance, and Herod’s birthday party gave it to her.
Mark 6:21-25 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered. At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
Josephus tells us the daughter’s name was Salome. Herod’s reckless promise, “up to half my kingdom,” echoes the words of the Persian king to Queen Esther (Esther 5:3). But there is irony here. Antipas didn’t really have a kingdom to give. He ruled only by Rome’s permission.
Mark 6:26-29 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Herod was “greatly distressed,” but he cared more about his reputation in front of his guests than about doing what was right. Pride and fear of what others think can lead people to do terrible things. John’s disciples showed great courage and love by claiming his body and burying it.
How John’s Death Points to Jesus
Mark wants us to notice the parallels between John and Jesus. John was arrested and executed by a ruler who knew he was righteous but gave in to pressure. Jesus will be condemned by Pilate, who also knows he is innocent but gives in to the crowd (Mark 15:9-15). John’s disciples laid his body in a tomb. Jesus’ body will also be laid in a tomb (Mark 15:46). As Jesus said, “Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished” (Mark 9:13). If they did this to the forerunner, what would they do to the Messiah?
The contrast with the next story is also striking. Herod’s banquet is a feast of pride, excess, and death. Right after it, Jesus hosts a very different meal in the wilderness, feeding thousands out of compassion (see Mark 6:30-44). Two kings, two banquets, two very different kingdoms.
John’s life ended in what looked like defeat, but Jesus honored him above all others.
Matthew 11:11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
John never saw the full story unfold, but he finished the race God gave him. Faithfulness, not applause, is what God honors.
The Takeaway
How did John the Baptist die? He was beheaded by a weak ruler who cared more about his image than about truth. John faithfully spoke God’s word to power and paid with his life, foreshadowing the death of Jesus himself. His story challenges us to have the courage to tell the truth and warns us not to be like Herod, who liked hearing God’s word but never obeyed it.
