John the Baptist's Death

Why is John the Baptist such a thrilling prophet? After all, Jesus even said that there was never a greater prophet (New King James Version, Matt. 11.11). Perhaps it has something to do with his death. John the Baptist died as a hero for God.

John the Baptist was very bold. He did not care what people thought of him, even if they were kings. When he saw that something needed to be corrected, he was not afraid to say so. Consequently, when Herod Antipas married Herodias who had been his brother’s wife, John the Baptist publicly rebuked him (New King James Version, Mark 16.17-18). Herod Antipas was afraid of what the people would do to him if he killed John the Baptist but when Herodias urged him to put John in prison, he did. So, John the Baptist was taken to the fortress of Macherus, also called the fortress of Herod Antipas (White, 238) (Josephus, 18).

John the Baptist was used to the outdoors. He was used to being free to roam freely. When he was a child he had grown up in the desert (New King James Bible, Luke 1.80). And when he was baptizing people, he lived in the wilderness. So when he was suddenly locked up in prison, he understandably felt very discouraged. As his discouragement deepened he began to doubt that Jesus was the Son of God. Somehow, he was able to communicate with his disciples. He told them to go ask Jesus if he was the Son of God (White, 240).

The disciples arrived at the place where Jesus was and asked him their question. They were surprised by his answer. He told them to watch him, and so they did (White, 241). The lame, the blind, the deaf, and the sick all came to him and he healed them. After all these signs he said to John’s disciples “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me” (New King James Version, Mat. 11.4-6). When the disciples went to tell John what Jesus said, his discouragement lifted.

Sometime later, while John the Baptist was still in his dark prison cell, Herod Antipas had a feast. At this feast, he invited many important people from his territory. There, they were served unclean meat and wine. The Bible says that “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler” (New King James Version, Pro. 20.1). Wine turns off your frontal lobe which turns off your conscience. That is exactly what happened to Herod. Herodias decided that it would be good to send her daughter, Salome, to dance for his guests (White, 246). Salome’s dancing impressed the king so much that he offered her whatever she would like, up to half of his kingdom (New King James Version, Mat. 14.6-7). After being prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist. Although Herod Antipas resented keeping his promise, he immediately sent soldiers down to his prison cell. When John saw them come, he knew that he was about to die, but he didn’t draw back from Jesus. Soon they brought back John the Baptist’s head on a platter. Jesus showed his grief by withdrawing "in a boat to a deserted place by himself” (New King James Version, Mat. 14.13).

John the Baptist died as a hero for God. First of all, he was very bold and told Herod Antipas that he should not have married Herodias. That landed him in prison. Second of all, even though he was discouraged and filled with doubt in the prison cell, he was willing to accept Jesus even if Jesus didn’t take him out of prison. And lastly, although he could have rejected God when he saw his executioners coming, he did not. We should never reject God even if following him means we die. That was how John the Baptist lived, and he died as a hero for God.

~ Alice

Sources:

Josephus, Flavius. The Antiquities of the Jews, Lexundria, https://lexundria.com/j_aj/18.109-18.142/wst

The Holy Bible. New King James Version

White, Ellen G. The Desire of Ages. Types & Symbols LLC, 2019.