0289. Herod Beheads John

Herod Beheads John

"And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother" (Mar_6:27).

Our fourth scene is a banquet scene. Herod has made a great supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee. During the supper Salome, the daughter of Herodias, danced.

At the crucial moment, when Herod and the guests were greatly pleased, Salome stopped and courtesied before the king. With a great show of splendor, Herod said: "Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it to thee." Then Herod sware unto her saying: "I will give thee, unto half of my kingdom."

The whole program had been before mapped out. Herodias was plotting against John. She knew that if she could only get Herod enamored with Salome’s dance, that Herod would doubtless make some such foolish pledge. And she had before instructed Salome to ask the head of John.

At the crucial moment Salome’s courage seemed to fail, for she passed quickly out from Herod, to her mother. The mother lost no time to press through Salome her hellish plan, and so, the request was made that the head of John the Baptist should be brought in a charger.

The Bible tells us that the king became "exceeding sorry." He knew that he had placed John in prison, for Herodias’ sake; he knew that now he should immediately break his oath, and refuse to slaughter so saintly a prophet.

But, Herod had lost his power for right decision. When he refused to accept the preaching of John his will had weakened; and when he had placed John in prison, his will for the right had utterly collapsed. So, swayed by the supposed honor of his oath, and borne along by the presence of them who sat at meat with him, he would not reject her; "And he sent forth and brought his (John’s) head in a charger."

Let those who follow sin know that sin will ensnare them. Let those who refuse Christ beware lest they become engulfed in deeds of dishonor and of shame.

To us, it seems a long, long journey, from Herod sitting in the audience and hearing John, to Herod sitting in the feast, and slaying John. In reality the distance was quickly covered and the descent quickly made. When Christ is once refused, how swiftly does the life move down the evil way.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR