News of the disciples’ ministry had reached King Herod. Just as the religious leaders questioned John the Baptist’s identity, similar questions were being asked of Jesus. Various opinions included John the Baptist raised from the dead, Elijah, or one of the prophets as in former times. These seemed to be logical explanations considering what Jesus was doing, but each one missed the mark. Jesus was a prophet in the sense that he was calling people back to a genuine relationship with God, but he was much more.

Herod declares that Jesus is the raised John the Baptist, whom he beheaded. We then hear the context for John’s execution. Herod had arrested John because he had argued that it was unlawful for Herod to be with his brother’s wife. In particular, Herodias was offended by John’s judgment, bore a serious grudge against him and wanted John killed.

Herod was stuck in a very hard place. He protected John because he knew that he was a righteous and holy man. John’s words left him perplexed, and in anguish. Yet he found a strange pleasure in the authoritative preaching of this holy man, whose authentic life gave added power to his incisive words. Too weak to follow John’s counsel, he nevertheless had to listen. As Christians, we are called to be bold and authentic in our witness, just as John was. We are called to bear witness to Jesus on our frontlines with our words and actions, so that others might be challenged and also want to know more about Jesus. DR

Questions

Prayer

Gracious Father, we thank you that John the Baptist preached boldly and lived authentically. We thank you that he challenged many to think about their sin, and invited them to repent and believe. Help us to be bold and authentic on our frontlines so that others might identify Jesus also as their King. In his name,