So Close, and Yet So Far Away

Pastor Bill Francis, Morello Hills Christian Church (Martinez)

I imagine that Herod was thinking here, “What have my weak-willed immoral actions got me into this time?” After these verses Mark goes back and tells the story of John the Baptist’s execution (you might want to pull out your Bible and read about it). Mark uses “king” here to describe Herod, a title which was a stretch and likely sarcastic. This is Herod Antipas, ruler over a fourth of his deceased father’s kingdom, and he was not appreciated or respected by the Jewish people. Galilee was part of his territory, and later he would be the Herod who partnered with Pilate in the trials before Jesus’ crucifixion.