Matthew Lesson 61: John the Baptist Beheaded

Matthew 14:1-12 is the text for this sermon entitled, "John the Baptist Beheaded."

This incident in the gospel of Matthew takes place in the time when Judea was ruled by Herod the Tetrarch. While Jesus was teaching elsewhere, John (known as the Baptizer) had been imprisoned by Herod for having accused the king for his adulterous marriage to Herodias. Herod was angry enough to have killed John, but he feared the crowds of people who hailed John as a prophet.  So, he settled for arresting him and throwing him into prison.

His lavish birthday celebration was highlighted by his step-daughter's dance exhibition. Surrounded by his court and friends, King Herod rashly promised to give the dancer anything she asked for. Her mother, Herodias was also furious about John's bold preaching against the marriage. She immediately took advantage of her husband's rash and public promise, convincing her daughter to ask for John's head. Herod was caught, and called for John to be decapitated. 

John's disciples buried his body and then went to Jesus with the sad news. We see a glimpse into Herod's neurosis when he wonders if the news spreading about a man (Jesus) drawing followers and work miracles was in fact the ghost of the executed John.

What can we learn from this passage?  
1. Does Jesus awaken our conscience?
2. Are we ready to pay the price for speaking the truth?
3. We should never be afraid of the crowd if we are in the right.
4. Be careful of the promises we make--make sure they are not rash so that we would be held to something terrible.
5. Powerful symbolism for us=  the distraught disciples went and told Jesus