240 - John the Baptist Is Beheaded
- Gwen Diaz
- Aug 28, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: 25 minutes ago
AUGUST 28- Nº 240 Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29
John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. He was called by God to prepare the Jews for the coming of their Messiah. He had baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and introduced him to the world as the Lamb of God—the Messiah who would take away their sins (see #215 - August 3).
But during the early months of Jesus’ ministry, John had been thrown into prison for confronting Herod Antipas. Herod (who was the official ruler in Galilee) had evidently committed adultery with Herodias, (the wife of Herod's own brother, Philip) and then he had married her. When Herodias heard that John condemned her new marriage, she became so upset that she demanded that he be put to death!
But Herod knew that the Jewish people honored John as one of their prophets. He realized that putting him to death might incite a riot that could cost him his high position. So, he decided to have John chained and put in prison instead.
Herod instinctively realized that John was a righteous man. As a matter of fact, he was so intrigued by the things John taught, that he would sometimes sneak into the prison to talk with him.
Herodias was not happy that John was still alive, so she began plotting to get rid of him. Finally, her opportunity came.
On his birthday, Herod planned a big banquet for himself. He invited all the important people in his realm. During the festivities, Herodias’ daughter danced for the dinner guests. Her performance pleased Herod so much that he made her a drunken promise and sealed it with an oath, “You can ask me for anything you want up to half my kingdom, and I will give it to you,” he boasted.
Salome (we learn her name from other historical sources) left the room to consult with her mother. “What shall I ask for?” she wanted to know.
Herodias did not hesitate, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter!” Salome hurried back into the banquet hall to make her request. “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter right now,” she declared loudly enough for the guests to hear.
Herod was shocked and distressed. But he had given his word. He could not risk letting his guests think he was weak or untrustworthy. So, he sent an executioner with orders to cut off John’s head and bring it to him.
The man did as the king commanded. Before the banquet was over, he returned with John’s head on a platter. It was presented to Salome who gave it to her mother.
When John’s disciples found out what happened to the man who had been their teacher and leader, they requested his body and laid it in a tomb. Then they found Jesus and told him what had happened.
Sometime later, when Herod learned about all the miraculous things Jesus was doing, he became frightened. “I killed John the Baptist, and now he has risen from the dead,” he thought. “And he has come back to life with miraculous powers!”
Jesus once referred to John as “the greatest person ever born of a woman” (see Matthew 11:11). Yet God allowed John to suffer unjustly. He was chained in a prison dungeon, murdered at the whim of a wicked woman, and buried in an unknown tomb.
But John would say it was all worth it, because he was the one who got to baptize Jesus and introduce him to the world!
The most important thing we can ever do is introduce people to Jesus--just like John did--even if it results in being mistreated.
Who should you be bold enough to introduce to Jesus today?
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