Mark 6:1-29

Jesus left that place and went to his hometown. His disciples followed him. When the day of rest—a holy day, came, he began to teach in the synagogue. He amazed many who heard him. They asked, “Where did this man get these ideas? Who gave him this kind of wisdom and the ability to do such great miracles? Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they took offense at him. But Jesus told them, “The only place a prophet isn’t honored is in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house.” He couldn’t work any miracles there except to lay his hands on a few sick people and cure them. Their unbelief amazed him. Then Jesus went around to the villages and taught. He called the twelve apostles, sent them out two by two, and gave them authority over evil spirits. He instructed them to take nothing along on the trip except a walking stick. They were not to take any food, a traveling bag, or money in their pockets. They could wear sandals but could not take along a change of clothes. He told them, “Whenever you go into a home, stay there until you’re ready to leave that place. Wherever people don’t welcome you or listen to you, leave and shake the dust from your feet as a warning to them.” So the apostles went and told people that they should turn to God and change the way they think and act. They also forced many demons out of people and poured oil on many who were sick to cure them. King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus’ name had become well-known. Some people were saying, “John the Baptizer has come back to life. That’s why he has the power to perform these miracles.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” Still others said, “He is a prophet like one of the other prophets.” But when Herod heard about it, he said, “I had John’s head cut off, and he has come back to life!” Herod had sent men who had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did that for Herodias, whom he had married. (She used to be his brother Philip’s wife.) John had been telling Herod, “It’s not right for you to be married to your brother’s wife.” So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she wasn’t allowed to do it because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a fair and holy man, so he protected him. When he listened to John, he would become very disturbed, and yet he liked to listen to him. An opportunity finally came on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner for his top officials, army officers, and the most important people of Galilee. His daughter, that is, Herodias’ daughter, came in and danced. Herod and his guests were delighted with her. The king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” He swore an oath to her: “I’ll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.” So she went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother said, “Ask for the head of John the Baptizer.” So the girl hurried back to the king with her request. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter at once.” The king deeply regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he didn’t want to refuse her. Immediately, the king sent a guard and ordered him to bring John’s head. The guard cut off John’s head in prison. Then he brought the head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came for his body and laid it in a tomb.