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February 4, 2022And They Did with Him As They Pleased
John the Baptist’s death is told by both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Interestingly, as is often the case, the much shorter Gospel account of Mark has the more full and complete story, the one we hear today. It is a sad end to the man of whom Jesus said, “No one born of women is greater than John.” Jesus also said that John was the return of the prophet Elijah but that, “They did with him as they pleased!”
And indeed they did, as they would do also to Jesus. The villain of the story is Herod Antipas, the “tetrarch” (for “a quarter”) of Galilee. He is one of the many sons of Herod the Great of Matthew’s infancy narrative fame responsible for the slaughter of the innocents (but who also built the Temple of Jesus’s time). Antipas has an interesting biography which we can’t get into here. Suffice it to say that he became enamored of his half-brother Phillip’s (Herod II) wife Herodias. She was the daughter of another of Herod the Great’s son’s who he subsequently had executed. One of her brothers was Herod Agrippa of Acts 12 who put the Apostle James to death. It’s all very complicated. Suffice it to say, that John the Baptist publicly opposed Herod Antipas’s marriage to Herodias not only because she divorced her first husband to marry him but also because the whole thing was rather incestuous. John therefore made an enemy of her and she no doubt influenced her new husband Herod Antipas against him also, landing John in prison.
It's all a very tawdry and ugly affair. Herod throws a huge party on his birthday for all his courtiers and military leaders. Such things were really bacchanals that could last for days. Probably drunk and leering at his own step-daughter (actually she was much more related than that!), Herod impetuously promises her anything. Despite deep regrets, he is too morally weak and self-obsessed to dare refuse her request and so he has John immediately beheaded, probably in his cell, with the head brought famously in on a platter.
It is all the worse in that Herod respected John as a prophet. He would go down to John’s prison cell to listen to him speak, although Mark says, putting it rather mildly, that he was perplexed to hear him. No doubt! Then we recall Jesus finally being brought before this same Herod (whom he had previously defied- “Go and tell that fox!”) during his passion (yet another story found only in Luke), to Herod who arrogantly longed to meet him, asking him many questions, and Jesus uttering not one word in his presence. A terrifying silent testimony from the Lord! Herod would seal his fate by then mocking Jesus as he sent him back to Pilot dressed in a royal robe to further mock him, perhaps the same purple one the soldiers would later throw over him before they crowned him with thorns.
Total integrity, complete commitment to truth and justice, and absolute obedience to God’s will, always demands a price. Speaking truth to corrupt power always has a great cost. Standing up to injustice and lies, to threats and intimidation takes great courage and great grace from God. Few seem to find it or overcome those fears of the costs, yet: “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also walk just as He walked.” 1Jn 2:6
Could we overcome our fears to pay something of the price that John the Baptist and Jesus did for their great integrity? Do we at least desire to? The world would be a very different place if we could find that grace within us, even just a little. “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!” (Lk 12:4-5). But ultimately, it is all through God’s grace alone. Let us continually pray for the grace to overcome our fears so as to stand against oppression and injustice where we find it. “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say. For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.” Lk 12:11-12
