Breaking the Word

Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. …

The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.  So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.  (Mk 6:17-29 )

Herod feared John the Baptist. He knew that John was a righteous man and a holy man. Herod, though he had done something wrong and unlawful and because of this he was criticised by John, yet he respected John. He had an objective view of John. His mistakes and his wrong doing did not colour the image of John. In fact we can say that Herod realized his mistake but could not come out of it.

Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. The mistake that she had done has also influenced hoer opinion on John and her view of John. She wanted John (and in fact everyone) not to disturb her way of life. She wanted to live her life on her own and no one should have any say about her. She did not realize that she was born in a society and society had a say about her life.

John the Baptist was a man who was righteous and his righteousness did not let the evil pass by without being noticed or challenged. He realized that he had a responsibility towards the society and the society had a responsibility on him. Above all else he listened to the conscience of his which for him was the voice of God. He was ready to face any situation but never give up his responsibility. He was ready even to be killed.

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct. (Mt 16:21-27)

Jesus presents himself as a model (he began to show his disciple). His life is a life spent for the others. This is lived by making a journey to Jerusalem and suffering greatly at the hand of the elders, chief priests, and the scribes. (These are the people who exercise power over people. They exercise power over religious beliefs, cultural beliefs, social beliefs). Jesus shows that he will stand against these powers and the powerful will destroy him but God will raise him up.

Peter presents himself as a representative of the people who want to live in this world and be in this world. This is the reason Jesus tells his disciples:  “whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life?”. People in the world want to hold on to life at any expense and want to possess the world by any means.

Jesus not only presents himself as a model but also demands from his followers the same way of life. He says: "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me”. His disciples are asked to deny life (a life that is attached to earthly things), and pick up their crosses (their goals, mission and all the means attached in fulfilling this mission) and follow after him (every disciple of Jesus has his own Jerusalem to reach to and his own Calvary to climb up to).