***Some of the following information comes from secular historical sources, and some comes from the Bible.  The secular sources affirm what that the Bible records regarding these characters and events.***

I.        CHARACTERS

A.      John was the forerunner of Christ and a preacher of repentance (Luke 1:13-17; 3:1-18).

                                                             1.      John was a Levite, born to a priest named Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth.

                                                             2.      He was the one chosen by God to fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah 40:3-5 and Malachi 4:5-6.

                                                             3.      He baptized many with a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:1-8).

                                                             4.      He announced the coming of God’s Christ, and declared when He saw Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

B.      Herod was the tetrarch of Galilee during the lives of John and Jesus (Luke 3:1).

                                                             1.      This was Herod Antipas, son of King Herod the Great.

a.       Herod the Great was ruler over most of Palestine from 37-4 B.C.

i.         Herod the Great was paranoid about his kingdom and suspicious of nearly everyone, including his own family (some of whom he had executed).

ii.        Herod the Great was also notoriously cruel, and he ordered the murder of all the male children in Bethlehem from two years old and under because he heard that the Christ was born there (Matt. 2:1-18).

b.       When Herod the Great died, his kingdom was divided into three parts, which were ruled by his sons.  Antipas became tetrarch over Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C. to 39 A.D.

                                                             2.      Herod Antipas divorced his own wife and married Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod Philip.

a.       Herod’s first wife was the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia Retrea (Nabatea).  Because Herod divorced and shamed her, her father waged war against Herod and defeated him.

b.       Herod Philip, the brother of Herod Antipas and first husband of Herodias, had been disinherited by Herod the Great because he was suspected of disloyalty.

                                                             3.      Herod Antipas tried Jesus before His crucifixion, and this event became the basis for his friendship with Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:8-12).

                                                             4.      In the end, Agrippa I accused Herod Antipas of conspiracy, and the Roman Emperor Caligula removed him from power and banished him to Gaul (France) in A.D. 39.  He died there in exile.

C.      Herodias was the unlawful wife of Herod (Mark 6:17-18).

                                                             1.      Herodias was the grand-daughter of Herod the Great, who had executed her father (his son), Aristobulus, in 7 B.C.

                                                             2.      She was also the niece of Herod Philip (not the tetrarch) and Herod Antipas, both of whom she married.

                                                             3.      Herod Antipas took Herodias from Herod Philip after visiting them in Rome.

D.      Salome was the daughter of Herodias and her first husband Herod Philip (Mark 6:22).

                                                             1.      The name of Herodias’ daughter is not mentioned in the Bible, but we know it from history.

                                                             2.      She married her uncle Herod Philip (not her father, but his brother by the same name) who was tetrarch over a territory northeast of the Sea of Galilee (Luke 3:1).  Later, she married her cousin.

II.      EVENTS

A.      The events connected to the death of John the Baptist are recorded in Matthew 14:1-13, Mark 6:14-31, and Luke 9:7-9.  We will focus primarily on Mark’s account.

                                                             1.      The occasion for these accounts was when Herod heard of the works of Jesus and that some were saying that Jesus was actually John risen from the dead (Mark 14:14-16).

                                                             2.      In Luke 13:31, we read that the Pharisees said that Herod wanted to kill Jesus.  If so, it was probably because he connected Jesus with John.

B.      John had rebuked Herod, saying, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (Mark 14:18).

                                                             1.      Herod the Great supposedly was an observer of the Law of Moses (although he did many things contrary to it).  His children, including Herod Antipas, also followed the Law.

                                                             2.      As an observer of God’s laws, John called on Herod to recognize God’s law regarding marriage and that he was in violation of it.

                                                             3.      Some consider that John was rebuking Herod because of an incestuous relationship with Herodias, but the greater fault was that he had married another man’s wife.

C.      Because of this rebuke, Herod imprisoned John (Mark 14:17-20).

                                                             1.      John was imprisoned during the early part of Christ’s ministry (Matt. 4:12; Luke 3:19-20).

                                                             2.      Herodias actually wanted to kill John, but Herod feared John and considered him holy and righteous.  Therefore, he kept John safe from Herodias in jail.

D.      While John was in prison, a banquet was given for Herod’s birthday (Mark 14:21-22).

                                                             1.      In a scene reminiscent of the banquet of Ahasuerus (Esth. 1), this banquet entertained many dignitaries from Herod’s kingdom, so he wanted to impress them.

                                                             2.      Herodias’ daughter, Salome, danced for Herod and his guests, which pleased him.  It is likely that this was a very provocative, lewd, and indecent dance.

                                                             3.      In a grand display of pomp and arrogance, Herod offered to give Salome anything she wanted.

E.       Herodias used this opportunity to affect the death of John (Mark 14:23-29).

                                                             1.      After consulting with Herodias, Salome requested the head of John on a platter.

                                                             2.      Although Herod was grieved, his pride would not allow him to shrink back from a promise made before his esteemed dinner guests.  Therefore, he had John beheaded and his head brought to Salome on a platter, which she in turn gave to her mother.

III.   LESSONS

A.      Consider the boldness of John the Baptist.

                                                             1.      John did not fear men.  He knew what was right, and he stood firmly by the truth.

a.       John’s courage came from knowing that he was right in the sight of God.  Righteousness and truth give men boldness to face anyone and any situation.

b.       Certainly, John knew that Herod had the power to put him to death.  Yet this did not deter him from speaking the truth, which was his duty before God.  Consider Matthew 10:28.

                                                             2.      John’s boldness ended with his beheading.  Nevertheless, there is no doubt that his legacy and his reward justify his sacrifice.

a.       The Word of God remembers John as a righteous man who died for preaching the truth, while Herod and Herodias are remembered as evil villains.  History is on the side of John.

b.       Jesus has told us that our righteousness will provoke persecution from others (Matt. 5:10-12).  Yet if we are faithful in the likeness of John, we are assured of a glorious reward.

B.      Consider the weakness of Herod Antipas.

                                                             1.      Herod was carried about and motivated by the weakness of his flesh’s lust and passion.

a.       Because he was enticed with Herodias, he unlawfully took her as his wife.

b.       Because he was enthralled with the dance of Salome, he made a foolish oath.

                                                             2.      Herod’s foolish pride led him to keep a foolish oath.

a.       Because he was unwilling to shame himself in front of his guests, he multiplied his foolishness by carrying out the sin that Salome requested.

b.       Although it was wrong to swear his foolish oath, it was even worse for him to keep it.

                                                             3.      Herod’s conscience condemned him.

a.       Throughout these events, Herod must have known that John was right (Mark 6:20).  He also knew that it was wrong to put John to death.

b.       This is why Herod was unreasonably convinced that Jesus was actually John risen from the dead.  His conscience got the better of him.

C.      Consider the wickedness of Herodias.

                                                             1.      The evil, vindictive nature of Herodias was the primary cause of John’s death.

a.       She resented John’s rebukes and did not want to hear the unpleasant truth.  She may have been concerned that John would influence Herod to put her away.

b.       Therefore, rather than accept the truth, she sought to silence the preacher of truth.

                                                             2.      Herodias’ wickedness even corrupted her own child for her own pleasure.

a.       Herodias did the unthinkable by incorporating her own daughter into a murder.

b.       She is an example of blatant selfishness, for she had no concern even for her daughter.

D.      Consider the immorality of Salome.

                                                             1.      Salome’s lewd display exposed a heart that was as wicked as her own mother.

a.       Her shameless ways revealed a complete lack of modesty and sense of godliness.

b.       It is sad to consider how many young women today imitate the example of Salome.

                                                             2.      Of all the things that she could have had, her evil heart chose to have a righteous man put to death.

a.       More than wealth, jewels, or anything else, Salome desired to satisfy her evil mother with the death of a righteous man.

b.       How calloused and hardened she must have been to have accepted a severed head on a platter.  What a prize for her wicked acts!