Off With Our Heads

Herod the tetrarch heard of the reputation of Jesus and said to his servants, "This man is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him." Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. 

But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 

The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus. (Matthew 14:1-12)

Quite the legend! It’s a legend that has spawned the never-ending hunt for the Baptist’s head.  Must be quite a sight after so many decades and centuries.

According to Josephus, sometime after baptizing Jesus, John the Baptist was killed at the palace-fortress of Machaerus, located near the Dead Sea in modern Jordan. Built by King Herod the Great, the palace was occupied at the time by his son and successor, known as Herod Antipas.

The Gospels of Matthew (Matthew 14:1–12) and Mark (Mark 6:14–29) recorded that Herod Antipas had John the Baptist arrested and imprisoned after the preacher condemned the king’s marriage to his wife, Herodias, as illegal, because she had previously been married to his own brother, Philip. Herod Antipas initially resisted killing John, because of his status as a holy man. But after his stepdaughter danced for him at his birthday party, he offered to give her anything she desired. Prompted by her mother, who resented John’s judgment of her marriage, Herodias’ daughter requested the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

In The Antiquities of the Jews (Book 18:116-19), Josephus confirmed that Herod Antipas “slew” John the Baptist after imprisoning him at Machaerus, because he feared John’s influence might enable him to start a rebellion. Josephus also identified Herodias’ daughter as Salome (the gospels don’t mention her name) but didn’t state that John was beheaded on her request.

I guess the question is: “Where is John’s head today?”  Answer: “Who cares, and how would we know it was his?”  I suppose the head would be quite a “trophy” for those wanting relics.  

The real question is: “Who among us have lost their heads,” or more properly phrased “their minds?”  Misinformation and disinformation (lies) are the ways of liars, cheats, and frauds – of manipulators.  As we get deeper into this year and move into the next, let’s hope we don’t let charlatans place our heads on platters.  Many are looking at us and shouting, “Off with their heads!”  Too many of us oblige.

Deacon David Pierce