The Death of John the Baptist

Today's Reflections

 

The Death of John the Baptist 

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Mk 6:14-29

¹⁴King Herod heard about [Jesus whose] fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him.” ...

¹⁷Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. ¹⁸John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. ²⁰Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. ²¹She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. ²²Herodias’s own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” ²³He even swore [many things] to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ²⁶The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. ²⁷So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. ²⁸He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. ²⁹When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

JOHN THE BAPTIST HAS BEEN RAISED. King Herod is stricken by a guilty conscience and thinks that Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead.

John had denounced Herod for taking his brother Philip’s wife. Herod had the prophet arrested and imprisoned. The king was deeply distressed when, after his promise, the daughter of Herodias asked for the head of the prophet. But Herod was fickle-minded and proud. He preferred to protect his image before his guests than to do the right thing, and he ordered John beheaded.

Now hearing the name of Jesus, Herod is reminded of the evil he has done. Given the chance to rectify his ways, the king passes up the opportunity.

Like John the Baptist,

we cannot be disciples of Jesus without the cross.