Martyrdom of St John the Baptist

Mark 6:27–29 ESV

And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

In the Name of Jesus, dearly beloved:

Today, August 29, the Church remembers the martyrdom of John the Baptist. He also, like Mary, the disciples, and all of those who have confessed Jesus is now a part of that great cloud of witnesses cheering us on to cross that finish line of faith and receive the Crown of life. It is good that we do this, lest we fall into the trap of thinking that Christianity is just about the here and now. God’s church has existed ever since He made a people for Himself with the call of Abraham.

To understand this story, we must understand history.

The Herod Tree

There only a few men who bear the title of “Herod” in the Bible.

Herods were not really kings, yet they wielded a huge amount of power. The Herods had a dynasty, meaning they were all related. A bit like the monarchy in Great Britain. While they were Jewish, they gained their power from the Romans who appointed them as liaisons between Rome and the Jews. The title was passed on to the son of the preceeding Herod. To the Jewish people they were often looked upon with disdain. They sold their souls to the Romans.

The Herods were in office for four generation. In 37 BC the position was created after Rome acquired Judea as a province. The first Herod was known as Herod the Great. He was famous for renovating the Temple that had been rebuilt in Nehemiah’s Day after the return of the remnant to Israel after the Babylonian Captivity. He was infamous for the slaughter of the Holy Innocents sparked by his jealousy that there could be “another” King of the Jews. Herods may not have been true kings, but they wielded a lot of power. Herod the Great was a horrible man who became very paranoid before his death. Of Him Caesar Augustus said, “I’d rather be Herod’s pig than his son.” He killed his favorite wife, Mariamne (he had 10 wives), because he suspected infidelity.

Herod also killed his uncle, his mother-in-law, and three of his sons. Nice guy!

After the Holy Family fled to Egypt, Herod the Great died. They were about to return to Judea, but heard that now Herod the Great’s Son, Archelaus (the ruler of the people) took the reigns. Archelaus was also known for his brutality. He had placed a golden eagle outside of the Temple, the Roman standard. The Teachers of the law and forty students chopped it down and met their end by fire. So the Holy Family went to Nazareth where they would be safe from this tyrant.

Herod Archelaus also had brothers, Herods Antipas, and Philip, known as “Herod II”. This is the Herod of our story. Herod Antipas went by other names: Herod the tetrarch (meaning he was in charge of a quarter of the Kingdom), and “King Herod.” Herod Antipas was married to Phasaelis (fa ZYE liss) after he had an affair with Herodias and subsequently stole her from his brother.

There are two more Herods before their dynasty was brought to a bloody end.

Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great (Acts 12). It was he who persecuted the church in Jerusalem and had the apostle James, the brother of John and son of Zebedee, put to death by the sword. By the hand of Herod Agrippa I, James became the first apostle to be martyred. Two of Agrippa I’s daughters were Bernice and Drusilla, mentioned in Acts 24 and Acts 25.

Finally, there was Agrippa’s son, Herod Agrippa II. He was instrumental in saving Paul from being tried and imprisoned in Jerusalem by the Jews who hated his testimony of Jesus as the Messiah. King Agrippa, out of consideration for Paul being a Roman citizen, allowed Paul to defend himself, thereby giving Paul the opportunity to preach the gospel to all who were assembled (Acts 25—26). Agrippa II was the last of the line of Herods. After him, the family fell out of favor with Rome.

What Happened?

The Scripture outlines the story. Herod could not figure out who Jesus was. Herod had murdered John for living out his vocation: Calling all men to repentance, preparing the way for Messiah. Sometimes calling to repentance means confrontation. John was not afraid, and confronted both Herod and Herodias for their continuing sin of adultery. While Herod seemed to listen, Herodias hated John. As our Gospel outlines, this leads to John’s Martyrdom. Evil never wants to hear the truth. Never.

In Holy Scripture, Christ and the Christian are often difficult to distinguish. They are inextricably linked. Just look at the Good Samaritan— yes, Jesus is the good Samaritan for all of us, but his command to “go and do likewise” forces us to see ourselves in his work as well, living out the works he has prepared for us to do.

There is no work prepared for Christians with more promise of spiritual reward than that of martyrdom, which is no doubt why martyrs have always been treated with special dignity and reverence in the Church.

It shouldn’t be surprising then, that Herod Antipas confused Jesus for a resurrected John. Though he got type and antitype backwards, the confessing martyred prophet was indistinguishable to him from Jesus. Unlike Simon Peter, Herod would never confess Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God, but he could tell Jesus and John the Baptist were cut from the same cloth.

Unlike Herod, who was the star of his own show, John the Baptist knew better than anyone that he was not the star, but the forerunner, the new Elijah, the messenger sent to prepare the way of the Lord.

While we think of confrontation as stern and unyielding, what John did was actually a work of love. John wanted Herod and Herodias to repent and believe the Gospel. But evil wants no part of hearing, repenting, or believing. Evil wants your head. Satan is working hard to claim you back. But standing in His way is the Cross that marks your head and heart. Your salvation in Jesus.

Päivi Räsänen

Nothing will change about this hatred of the world toward God’s own until Jesus returns. In fact, persecution against Christians and their tribulation and even martyrdom will be with us till the end. And yes, we are seeing a lot more of it today. Word is coming to the United States by Christians on the Ground in Afghanistan that the slaughter of believers in Christ has already begun. Taliban forces are seeking out Christians door to door. They are stealing unmarried girls for sex slavery and torture. And they are beheading and shooting those who confess Christ. It is ironic that those being killed are really on a mission of love. But to receive the love of Christ, sin must be confronted. Not to ridicule others, but to save them.

Persecution is not limited to Afghanistan. You can find the same exact scenario in Nigeria this week, and for the same reason. The rejection of Christ’s love leads evil to leash out.

Not all persecution leads to martyrdom. There is a member of the Finnish Parlament, Paivi Rasanen, herself a Medical Doctor and Lutheran Pastor’s wife, who has spoken and written about her views pertaining to issues of life— that all life begins at conception— and on marriage— one man, one woman, for life. Because of her soft, yet firm position, she has been indicted for hate crimes against the State. I heard her wonderful confession of faith at a streamed conference this week. Of this persecution she says that she stands by her faith and is not afraid to face the consequences, for she is representing Jesus and His love. She sees the possibility of hard prison time as her “Christian duty and vocation.” She never broke her smile throughout her presentation.

In our country, freedoms are rapidly disappearing. There is a movement to make what Christians have always preached a hate crime with the same results.

Certainly, this can be discouraging. Remember, at one time John the Baptist became very discouraged:

Matthew 11:2–11 ESV

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Conclusion

We may pray that our paths of taking up the cross do not lead to a sudden and evil death like John’s We are not promised martyrdom or freedom from it. Yet Christ says, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Death and hell are already defeated. There is nothing we can face worse than martyrdom. Christ has faced the worst already so we may, like John, call on him for courage that His will be done on earth as in heaven.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.