Deliver us from evil!
A Gospel Enquiry
Introduction
The prayer that Jesus taught his disciples (Matthew 6:9-13), is often referred to as the Lord’s Prayer. In his prayer, Jesus reveals his primary value, which is the Will of God (“your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”). Everything he valued was subordinated to this value.
All who choose to do God’s Will inevitably find themselves in conflict with those who seek to impose their own will on others. The Gospels show Jesus confronting the Jewish leaders about their self-serving behaviour. Threatened by his appeal to the people, they sought to have him killed.
In his world, just as in the world today, those who ignore the Will of God, are prepared to use violence to impose their own will. John the Baptist was beheaded. Jesus was crucified. The suffering and death of Jesus, like the beheading of John the Baptist, showed the utter disregard for human life by those who believed in might over right.
But Jesus was raised to life by God and his resurrection is a celebration of the power of God. Good will triumph over evil.
The Gospel
Herod sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’
The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:17-29)
The Enquiry
See
What happens in this Gospel story? Make a list of the elements of the story. Keep them in sequence.
Why does King Herod have John arrested? Why does John criticize Herod? Why does Herod order the execution of John?
What does the story reveal about the consequences of acting with integrity? Of being weak-willed?
Judge
What do you think about the use and abuse of power in this Gospel story and the example the adults set for the young?
What can we learn from John the Baptist that is worth more than life?
What does your faith tell you about the relationships depicted in this Gospel story?
Act
What are you prompted to change in the world that you experience because of this Gospel story?
What small action can you take that will contribute to bringing about this change?
Who can you involve in your action and how, when and how often will you get them to participate in your action?
Author: Pat Branson
Image Source: Lluís Ribes Mateu (Creator) The Beheading of John the Baptist, oil on canvas, Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin. Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0