Thoughts for the Day

At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus; 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.’ For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been telling him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’ Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.’ The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother. His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We haven't heard of John the Baptist for some time. We saw how his father Zechariah was told by an angel that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son, and that he would call the people back to God and prepare the way for Jesus (Luke 1). As an adult we saw John calling the people to repentance (John 1.19-28), and baptizing Jesus 9 (John 1.29-34). Now we hear of his imprisonment and death.

But first, let's look at Herod. There were five leaders called Herod around this time. King Herod the Great, was an Arab Jew, and was the king who sought to kill the baby Jesus by slaughtering the babies in and around Bethlehem (Matthew 2.16-18). The Herod who imprisoned John and had him killed was Herod Antipas (21 BCE-39 AD). The Emperor Augustus made him Tetrarch over a quarter of his father's empire. He was a shrewd ruler and built the city of Tiberius. He married the daughter of the Nabatean King Aretas IV, but then he divorced her in order to marry Herodias, who was the daughter of his late half-brother, Aristobulos. She had also been married to another half-brother, Philip. John condemned him for this action, telling the truth that he had committed a grave sin. Instead of repenting his action he had John arrested and imprisoned. However, having sworn a formal oath in front of the leaders of Galilee who were present, he was forced to agree to kill John.

The story of John the Baptist is a powerful reminder of the courage and faith needed to stand up for what is right, even in the face of danger. John's subsequent death is shocking and it foretells the death of Jesus which would be equally shocking. But John had completed his work in breath-taking fashion - he had stirred the people to rethink their relationship with God making the way for the work of His Son, Jesus, who had been sent to save God's people.

Heavenly Father,
we thank You for the work of John the Baptist
in preparing the way for Your Son, our Lord.
We thank you also for his courage
in speaking out and calling
the people to repentance.
May we learn from his obedience to Your call
to do Your work in the world.
Amen.