Sandwich- 6:14ff

We seem to have a Sandwich here (of which Mark is apparently particularly fond). I wonder where this part of the account came from. Were there people who became followers in Herod's household?- or was it closer to Peter than that. His brother was following John before he started to follow Jesus- either he or Andrew would have known many in John's circle... But it may just have been a common knowledge thing- Many of the goings on of the Herod's would have been common knowledge or become common knowledge- and as a result of the esteem that John was held in- this story would have spread quickly.

So while the disciples are out telling people about the coming kingdom- Mark reminds us that John was killed for declaring such a message. Its a sad story- Herodias's daughter is obviously not well brought up- many rats in the cellars- or in plain sight in the Herod's household.

Sitting above the goings on of the common people- Jesus and the events surrounding him come to the ears of Herod. Tiberius was one of the main fishing centres on the lake- Antipas had spent considerable sums beautifying it- Not a particularly Jewish place I think (need to find out more)- We don't hear of Jesus going here- must have sailed past it many times- and walked somewhere in the vicinity (where would the road go – 10 km away?) Telling, I imagine, that he avoided it- too dangerous- as well perhaps as his mission- sent to the lost sheep of Israel...