Your word, O God, is our source of hope and truth in a world filled with deception. Fill us with your Spirit as we listen to your word read and interpreted, so that it satisfies our thirst for wisdom and truth. Amen.
Today, we’re going to hear about the death of a righteous and honorable man, at the hands of one who was weak and deceitful. A man who stood for truth and spoke boldly about his beliefs and for this was murdered by a liar and a fraud. That man was John the Baptist.
Today’s passage is one of the most sobering and tragic episodes in the Gospel of Mark. It’s the story of John the Baptist’s martyrdom — a tale of truth spoken boldly, of power misused, and the cost of following God without compromise. While it’s not a story of healing or miraculous multiplication, it is a story that speaks volumes about what it means to stand for truth in a broken world.
But before we learn about his death, let’s take a quick look back at who John the Baptist was. In the Bible we first learn about John before he was even born. His parents were Zechariah and Elizabeth, he was a priest in the hill country of Judea. Here’s what the Apostle Luke has to say about them, “In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.” (Luke 1:5-7)
But Luke continues on to tell us that an angel appeared to Zechariah when he was in the temple and said, “… ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord’….” (Luke 1:13-18)
And while Elizabeth was expecting, Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was pregnant with our Lord and Saviour at that time, went to visit her as they were cousins. This is what took place, “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’” (Luke 1:41-45) So both Elizabeth and John, who was still in her womb, recognised Jesus as their Messiah and the Son of God.
And some thirty years later John would have the opportunity to baptise his cousin. By that time, he had become a prophet in Israel, the first one in over four hundred years. The Apostle Luke tells us, “…the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Luke 3:2-3)
And one of the people he would baptise was Jesus. This is what took place, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:13-17)
But now, John is in prison and is about to be executed. Luke tells us how that happened, “But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, added to them all by shutting up John in prison.” (Luke 3:19-20) Mark, in our Gospel reading this morning, explains it this way, “For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’”
Herod was the ruler of the region around Galilee and was the son of Herod the Great, who had been the ruler of Judea at the time of the birth of Jesus. Herod, the son, had divorced his first wife and had married Herodias, the wife of his brother, Philip. John the Baptist had been openly criticizing Herod for doing this and because of this Mark tells us, “And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.”
Herodias felt threatened by John, for he was criticizing her husband for divorcing his first wife and marrying her, the wife of his own brother. She knew that Herod respected John and that one day he might listen to his conscience and turn around and divorce her as well. Herodias wanted John killed, but Herod, who enjoyed listening to John, resisted, fearing divine retribution for putting a righteous man to death.
Soon, Herodias was to get her chance to rid herself of that nuisance, John, who was threatening her lifestyle. Mark writes, “But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’” Herod is so stricken with the dancing of Herodias, that he foolishly promises her anything she wants, up to, and including, half his kingdom. Now that was a promise he couldn’t keep, as he didn’t own the region of Galilee, that belonged to Ceasar, in Rome.
But the one thing he could give her is what his wife, Herodias, told her to ask for, and that was the head of John the Baptist on a platter. And Herod, being the weak and wavering ruler that he was, gave in to the demands of his wife and ordered the execution of John. Mark tells us, “The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her.” Despite knowing that John was a righteous man, Herod gave in to the pressure of his guests and the manipulations of Herodias and ordered John’s death in order to save face. His need to impress his friends and family overshadowed his fear.
Mark doesn’t tell us what the outcome of John’s death was, but no doubt Herodias was ecstatic as the threat to her position of wealth and power was gone. Herod, himself, probably had tinges of regret, but weak man that he was, he no doubt threw himself another party, and soon forgot all about John.
One thing we do know, is the reaction of Jesus when he heard about the death of his cousin. Matthew, in his gospel tells us, “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself…” (Matthew 14:12) Earlier, when questioned about John, here’s what Jesus had to say, “As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist… ‘” (Matthew 11:7-11)
And in the end, John’s disciples come and take his body, burying it with dignity. But his story doesn’t end in silence. His legacy lives on in the ministry of Jesus, and in every believer who stands up for truth, even when it’s costly. John’s death was shocking. He is executed not for a crime, but for a conviction. He is a prophet silenced, a voice crying in the wilderness now stilled — yet his death echoes through the ages as a powerful testimony of faithfulness.
Jesus and John stood their ground. John preached a message of repentance till the day he died. Jesus was not pressured by the religious leaders of his day to conform to their ideas or practices. He did not jump through their hoops. Jesus led his own life which eventually led to the cross. But the resurrection followed.
There is something deeply courageous about speaking the truth in love, especially to those in power. John didn’t tailor his message to protect himself — he spoke God’s truth without fear. How often do we hesitate to speak up for what is right because of what it might cost us? Do we fear man more than we fear God?
John the Baptist’s courage in confronting King Herod serves as a reminder for us to speak truth in our own lives—whether in personal relationships, workplaces, or society at large. In a world where honesty can be uncomfortable or even risky, John inspires us to stand for what’s right, even when it’s not popular. John shows us that being faithful to God sometimes leads us to hard places. But in God’s world, no sacrifice is wasted. John’s courage still inspires. His voice still speaks. What about us? Will we have the courage to stand, speak, and stay faithful — no matter the cost? May we be like John: unshaken in truth, courageous in conviction, and faithful to the end.
Let us Pray:
Heavenly Father, you called John the Baptist to prepare the way for your Son, to speak boldly, live humbly, and point all eyes to Jesus. Give us that same courage, Lord— to stand for truth even when it costs, to speak your word without fear or favour, and to live a life not for applause, but for your glory.
May our voices be clear like his—crying out in the wilderness, offering hope, repentance, and the nearness of your kingdom. Amen