This week on Sunday we are reading more of chapter 6. What is interesting about this part of Mark’s Gospel is that as we read the story of John the Baptist’s death we come in contact with the only “non-Jesus” story in Mark’s Gospel – in all other parts of Mark’s work we come in contact with Jesus – either his teaching, or his miracles, or some other part of his life.
Why did Mark include it? What can we learn from it? How might it challenge us? How might it apply to us?
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What has happened right before this episode? If you flip back in your Bible you will see followers of Jesus having great success – why might Mark now present the circumstances of John the Baptist’s death?
Why did John the Baptist die? We struggle with “standing for right”, especially when it comes to people living their “own” lives, but John the Baptist (and Jesus didn’t). How do you do this in your world?
Let’s now turn your attention to Herod.
Why does Herod keep John the Baptist around?
What do you think Herod’s peers expect from him – how might that affect Herod’s behavior? What do your peers expect from you?
How might the party environment that Herod was immersed in have affected his actions? What environments do you find yourself in and what might you need to do?
