“1 At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod 7 so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; 10 he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. 12 His disciples came and took the body and buried him; then they went and told Jesus” Matthew 14:1-12.
Here Matthew informs us of the facts behind the death of John the Baptist. The account is a flashback prompted by the reaction of Herod, who worries that Jesus might be John come back from the dead. Though he certainly misjudges the matter, Herod’s persecution of John draws attention to a significant parallel between John and Jesus — both are put to death by double-minded politicians.
Herod was one of the sons of Herod the Great (2:1). From 4 BC until AD 39 he ruled Galilee and Perea, the latter being a narrow strip of territory along the eastern bank of the Jordan. Herod was called a “king” (14:9). Made aware of the impact Jesus was having on the crowds, Herod concludes that John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. The reason is that mighty powers are displayed in Jesus, reminding Herod of John. The Gospels never tell us that John performed miracles, though perhaps rumors to this effect were circulating. In any case, we can guess that Herod thinks that in a resurrected state John would be capable of such things.
Now we find out how and why John died. The occasion was a birthday celebration for Herod, where John was imprisoned. Now Herod had arranged an unlawful union with his sister-in-law and niece, Herodias. The two of them had already been married. However, yielding to the passions of a mutual attraction, they divorced their spouses in order to be together.
Most Jews would have disapproved of this union, whether they said so or not. But John, the fiery preacher of repentance, was not content to grumble in private. He told the king directly: It is not lawful for you to have her. Herod considered himself a Jew, and the Torah forbids as “as incestuous the marriage of a brother-in-law and a sister-in-law (Leviticus 18:16; 20:21). Only when a man’s brother dies can he lawfully marry his brother’s widow (Deut. 25:5–6). Philip, however, was alive and well when Herod stole the affections of his wife and then claimed her hand in remarriage. Not surprisingly, public reproof for this sin got John arrested and thrown into prison. His life was spared for a time only because Herod feared that a popular uprising might be sparked by his execution, for many believed that John was a prophet (see 21:26).
John was finally eliminated on Herod’s birthday. The daughter of Herodias, whose name was Salome, danced before a gathering of distinguished guests. Now Herod was so enamored by the girl’s performance that he swore an oath to grant her whatever she might ask for. Seizing the moment, Herodias stepped in and persuaded her daughter to request the head of John the Baptist on a serving platter.
Certainly the request was a gruesome one. But why was Herod distressed by it? He himself had wanted to kill John in the first place. Perhaps he dreaded the consequences. Once word of John’s demise got out, the crowds who esteemed John might erupt in protest. And if he failed to keep them under control, Roman authorities could intervene and discipline him for failing to keep the peace. Whatever the reason, Herod felt obliged by his oaths and the presence of his guests to have John beheaded and the request fulfilled. So it is that John the Baptist, a forerunner of Jesus in life, was also a forerunner of Jesus in death.
Consider your willingness to suffer for Jesus. Our faith needs to be strong, even when others resist our faith, especially family and friends. So pray for strong faith like that of John’s.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Without faith it is impossible to please Christ” Hebrews 11:6.
“Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” Matthew 21:22.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours’” Mark 11:22-24.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7.
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