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Podcast: The Bible as Literature
Episode: This Is John the Baptist and These Are His Enemies
Description: The classic tension between king and prophet in the Bible can only be understood in light of a third, malevolent character. Like the king, this character stands in opposition to God, even when it proclaims its love for the prophet. The mob, as we’ve said for weeks, has a part to play in human tyranny. In Matthew 14, Herod’s fear of this third party leads him into direct conflict with God’s law.  It really doesn't matter that the crowd reveres John the Baptist. Their perverse relationship with Herod, motivated by their own fears, can't but lead to des...