On one occasion the news about Jesus reached King Herod. And he said to his servants, «This man is John the Baptist. John has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him».
Herod had, in fact, ordered that John be arrested, bound in chains and put in prison be-cause of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John had said to him, «It is not right for you to have her as wife». Herod wanted to kill him but he did not dare, because he feared the people who regarded John as a prophet.
On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst of the guests; she so delighted Herod that he promised under oath to give her anything she asked. The girl, following the advice of her mother, said, «Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a dish». The king was very displeased, but because he had made this promise under oath in the presence of the guests, he ordered it to be given her. So he had John beheaded in prison and his head brought on a dish and given to the girl. The girl then took it to her mother. Then John's disciples came to take his body and bury it. And they went to bring the news to Jesus.
Source: http://evangeli.net/gospel/
Analysis
Today's passage is a sad and tragic passage describing the fate of he who proclaimed for the preparation of the road towards God, of he who came before Christ and prepared the path for Him, that is John the baptist. The passage opens with Herod claiming that Jesus is in fact John who had risen, which is why He is powerful. It then cuts back to a flashback where John was killed. John was arrested by Herod because John had chastised Herod for taking the wife of his brother Phillip. Herod was outraged and wished to kill him, but feared the crowds who believed in John. However, on Herod's birthday, his wife's daughter danced and Herod was very pleased. Herod then said that he will give her anything she wants, and by the advice of her mother, the girl asked for John's head on a dish. Herod was greatly disturbed, but the deed was done. John was beheaded and his head served on a dish. His disciples buried the body and delivered the news to Jesus.
What can we learn from this tragic passage? If there is anything we can learn here, it's John's fate. How is it that John, a man who is supposed to be glorified for preparing for Christ, receives an undesirable end? That is a head on the platter, killed in a prison, what can be more disgraceful than such fate? This reminds us, that being a follower of Christ and a servant of the truth will not bring us wealth, fame, or power, it will only bring us the opposite. We will be rejected, we will suffer, we will sacrifice, but it is all to see how far we will go to get the most valuable thing in the world. Jesus has demonstrated this, by dying in every way possible so we get just one more chance, John has demonstrated this, letting his head be served on a dish to make way for Jesus. Now, are we prepared and willing to face suffering as well in the struggle for the truth? That is all I have to say for today, have a nice day and see you tomorrow.
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