A HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS

BB. The Martyrdom Of Christ’s Forerunner And Its Fallout

(Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9)

I. Introduction

A. Christ’s forerunner, John the Baptist, was martyred in prison through intrigue brought on my John’s bold denunciation of sin in Israel’s leaders. However, the end of the wrongdoers was far worse than John’s end!

B. We study Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29 and Luke 9:7-9 with reports from secular history on this matter for our insight, application and edification (as follows):

II. The Martyrdom Of Christ’s Forerunner And Its Fallout, Matt. 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29 and Luke 9:7-9.

A. When Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, heard of Jesus’ fame, he concluded that John the Baptist whom he had beheaded in prison had risen from the dead, that John was thus performing these mighty works, Mark 6:14. Some believed that Jesus was Elijah of old, others that he was One of the prophets, but Herod was convinced that it was John whom he had beheaded, that he was indeed risen from the dead, Mark 6:15.

B. Herod’s conscience was troubling him over John’s execution as clarified by the circumstances involved:

1. Herod Antipas had married Aretas, daughter of the Emir of Arabia, and they had visited Herod’s half-brother Herod Philip in Rome who at the time was married to Herod Philip’s niece Herodias. Herodias was ambitious to wear a crown, so through intrigue she seduced Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, and Aretas fled to her father in Arabia so that Herodias left her husband Herod Philip to marry Herod Antipas, another uncle of Herodius (J. Dwight Pentecost, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, 1991, p. 227, citing J. W. Shepard, The Christ of the Gospels, 1946, p. 254-255).

2. John had complained about Herod Antipas’ union with his brother Herod Philip’s former wife, what was also incest in that Herodias was the niece of both brothers, she being the daughter of Aristobulus, another brother of theirs, Mark 6:18; Ibid. Herod Antipas had imprisoned John to please Herodias who wanted John executed, but she was waiting for an opportunity to influence Herod Antipas to kill John, v. 17, 19.

3. Herod Antipas respected John the Baptist, knowing that he was a righteous man, and he repeatedly met with John likely hoping that he might tone down his critique of Herod’s marriage to Herodias, Mark 6:20.

4. On Herod Antipas’ birthday, he made a great feast, and had Herodias’ daughter Salome, a sensual, young woman, come and dance before the officials at the feast much to the pleasure of the dinner guests and of Herod himself, Mark 6:21-22a; Ibid., p. 229, citing Shepard, Ibid., p. 254-259.

5. Herod then asked Salome to ask from him whatever she wanted, and he would give it to her, even up to half of his kingdom, Mark 6:23. Salome went to her mother Herodias to ask what she should request, and Herodias used the opportunity to direct Salome to ask Herod for the head of John the Baptist, Mark 6:24.

6. Salome immediately returned to Herod Antipas and asked for the head of John the Baptist on a serving platter, Mark 6:25 NIV. Herod was very upset over this request, but since he had taken a public oath in front of significant guests, he sent and had John beheaded in the prison and his head brought in on a platter and given to Salome, who in turn gave it to her mother, Herodias, Mark 6:26-28.

7. When John’s disciples heard of the execution of their leader, they came and took up John’s body and laid it in a tomb with an honorable burial, Mark 6:29.

C. After John’s execution, Herod Antipas’ conscience continued to afflict him, and his ambitious, wicked wife Herodias continued to drive Herod to try to obtain a higher office to where Herod Antipas and Herodias made a trip to Rome to seek from the Roman emperor the title of king that was given to Herod Agrippa, Herodias’ brother. However, Herod Antipas failed to gain this title, and the emperor banished him and his wife Herodias to Lugdumin in Gaul near Rome’s Spanish frontier where they later died in obscurity. As for Salome, she was later married to her uncle Philip, tetrarch of Trachonitis and Batanea, but after a brief time, Philip died, so Salome was left as a widow and disappeared from history (Ibid., p. 229-230, citing Shepard, p. 254-259).

Lesson: John the Baptist stood for the truth of God’s Word and suffered martyrdom, only to look forward to the resurrection in the Messianic Kingdom when he will rule with Christ and other saints (cf. Revelation 20:4; Daniel 12:13). Conversely, Herod Antipas, Herodias and Salome who had John beheaded in the prison, sought positions of power in wickedness only to fall short of their earthly goals besides suffering eternal damnation.

Application: (1) May we like John see the value of always upholding the truth even if the immediate price is great! (2) May we heed the will of God declared through his messengers like John the Baptist for God’s eternal blessing.