The Beheading of St. John the Baptist

John the Baptist completed his mission as he had lived it: pointing to Christ and refusing to make peace with sin. At the Jordan he preached repentance and prepared the people for the One who was coming after him. He denied that he was the Christ and called himself the voice crying in the wilderness. When Jesus appeared, John named Him plainly as the Lamb of God.

The same fearless witness brought John before Herod Antipas. Herod was living with Herodias, the wife of his half-brother, and John told him that the union was unlawful. Herod recognized John as a holy man but would not submit to the truth, while Herodias wanted the prophet silenced. John was imprisoned at Machaerus near the Dead Sea. At Herod's birthday feast, the dance of Herodias's daughter led to a reckless oath, and at her mother's prompting she demanded the Baptist's head. Herod chose human respect over justice and ordered John beheaded in prison. His disciples buried the body and brought the news to Jesus. John had prepared the way, named the Lamb of God, rebuked sin without fear, and sealed his testimony with his blood.