Mark 6:12-30 - Two Shepherds, Two Feasts

Mark 6:7, 12-30 - 7 Jesus summoned the twelve and began sending them out in pairs. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits.  . . .  12 And they went out proclaiming the necessity of repentance 13 and they were driving out many demons and consecrating many sick people with anointing oil who were being healed. 14 When King Herod (Antipas) heard about these things, since the name of Jesus was becoming well-known, at that time people were saying John the Baptist has been raised from the dead and that is how miraculous powers are at work in Him. 15 But many were saying that He is Elijah; but others were saying that He is a prophet like one of the Prophets. 16 But when Herod heard this he kept worrying, “John, the one I beheaded, is risen!” 17 What happened was that Herod married Herodias, the wife of Philipp his brother. 18 John had been telling Herod that it is immoral [to divorce and] take the wife of your brother (Lev 18:16, 20:21).  So Herod sent men to chain John in his dungeon. 19 Herodias was furious at John and wanted to execute him, but she had no power to do so. 20 He was still alive only because Herod feared John and so preserved him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John preach he would be very afraid, yet he still desired to hear him. 21 And on an important day, Herod’s birthday, he held a great banquet for his nobles, commanders, and leaders of Galilee. 22 During the banquet when the daughter of Herodias herself came out and danced she so pleased Herod and the guests that the king said to the teenage girl: 23 “Ask of me anything you want and I will give it.” He even vowed to her repeatedly, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 So she went out to her mother, asking, “What should I request?” “The head of the John the Baptist,” she replied. 25 And immediately she zealously went to the king and made her request, “I wish for the head of the John the Baptist to be served on a platter, right now.” 26 And though the king became very remorseful, because of the vows he made and the watching guests, he could not refuse her. 27 So at that moment the king sent an executioner and ordered him to bring his head; and the executioner went and beheaded John with an axe in the dungeon 28 and the executioner brought his head upon a platter and presented it to the girl and the girl presented it to her mother. 29 And when John’s disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb. 30 And [after the mission] the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought news of all they had accomplished and taught. (G. Strawbridge trans.)

Outline

The Kingdom Authority of Jesus (7-15)

The King’s Power over John (17-29)

The Kingdom Accomplishments of the Disciples (30)