My Corner Online

 

Reading through the Gospels #99

 

THE DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST

Mark 6:14-29; Matthew 14:1-12; Luke 9:7-9

Herod thought that Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life because of the miracles He was doing.

Others thought Jesus was Elijah (Malachi 4:5).

Others thought Jesus was merely a teaching prophet similar Moses, Isaiah, or Jeremiah.

But Herod was convinced Jesus was the reincarnation of John the Baptist who he had put to death. Even before he put him to death, Herold was in fear and awe of John and that is why Herod put him in prison keeping him alive instead of killing him, until he was tricked into killing him. Herod was now in fear and awe of Jesus thinking He was the same man as John the Baptist. This may have played a part in the story of the death of Jesus because in Luke 23:7-15 when Pontius Pilate sent Jesus to Herod for trial because Jesus was from Galilee. This scripture says Herod had fear of the chief priests and scribes, but Herod also had a healthy fear of Jesus all the way back to when John the Baptist was put to death. Herod found nothing wrong and sent Jesus back to Pontius Pilate, but not before mocking Him.

In referencing a "healthy fear," I look at Mark 6:20, "or Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe."  I believe this is the same healthy "fear of the Lord" that we are to have today. John received special treatment from Herod because Herod was in awe of Him, knowing He was a Holy man and righteous (never sinning). A healthy fear of the Lord helps us avoid sinning and harm from the punishment that the Lord may place on one who sins. It is respect for Jesus as King of Kings.

We read a story that has already happened about the death of John the Baptist. No Bible verses or sources give an exact date, but John probably died about 28–29 AD. Herod Antipas ruled over Galilee and his brother Philip Ruled over Taconites and Ituraea. See notes under Mark 1:2. Herodias was married to Philip, but left him to marry Herod. John had confronted the two for adultery, so Herodias plotted a way to legally kill John the Baptist for bringing her sin into public. Because he loved his wife, Herodias, Herod had John put in prison. Herod knew that John was a righteous man and had done good for him by keeping him safe, but caved from the pressures of his wife.  The temptation of peer pressure can be difficult to withstand against.

Herodias's daughter danced at Herod's birthday party. It must have been a beautiful dance so Herod offered to reward her by giving her anything she wished.  She went to her mother for suggestions and her mother saw it as an opportunity to get rid of John the Baptist. So the daughter asked for John the Baptists' head on a platter and the king Herod had to keep his word (oath, vow) to give her what she wanted, especially since it was said in front of all his men, although he did not want to kill John. He offered her half his kingdom, so she could have had so many things, even half the kingdom, but instead honored her mother's desires. It seems to me her mother had great control over her daughter.  There is nothing new under the sun! There will always be people who manipulate other people and circumstances to get what they want.

People often ask why God allows bad to happen and here we see that John was not killed because of he did something wrong, or because he was put on trial (like Jesus was) for a false charge, but rather because of a dancing girl who wanted to please her adulteress mother. John died because he confronted the sins of Herodias and she was vengeful. How often do I speak up when someone sins against me only for them to turn and manipulate words to put them back on me in some twisted, idiotic, foolish, and insane way? So many people are not mature enough to handle their own failures square in the face by asking for forgiveness and attempting to not sin again, but rather find some way to extract revenge on the one they already made a victim of their sin.

The disciples had heard what had happened and came and took John's body to lay it in a tomb, telling Jesus what had happened. Jesus withdrew to a desolate  place by himself.  John who was his friend from birth, born just before Him to Elizabeth, must have been a sad loss for Jesus. How did He handle the sadness? He withdrew to a quiet place by Himself. Although it does not say it, I'm fairly certain He would have prayed there. Jesus gives us an example to follow when we grieve the loss of a loved one.   

In Luke 9:9, after John's death, Herod seeks to see Jesus. I suppose the end goal of everything that happens in this world is that people will seek Jesus.