John the Baptist

King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, 'John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.'

Others said, 'He is Elijah.'

And still others claimed, 'He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.'

But when Herod heard this, he said, 'John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!'

For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.' So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, 'Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you.' And he promised her with an oath, 'Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.'

She went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask for?'

'The head of John the Baptist,' she answered.

At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: 'I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.'

The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:14–29)

Herod Antipas

News about Jesus had spread throughout Galilee and people were wondering who this miracle worker was. Some thought that Elijah had come back to life, which was understandable, since many prophets in the Old Testament had performed miracles in Israel—Elijah and Elisha being notable examples. Herod, however, was convinced that John the Baptist, whom he'd beheaded, had been raised from the dead.

Mark tells us that Jesus didn't begin his public ministry until after John had been put in prison (Mark 1:14). John was arrested and imprisoned by Herod, but it wasn't the same Herod who had ordered the killing of the infants after our Lord's birth (Matthew 2:13–18)—that was Herod the Great. This was Herod Antipas, one of his sons, who had become ruler of Galilee after his father's death. He was still, however, part of the Herodian dynasty, which ruled in Palestine for nearly a century and was notorious for its cunning, family brawls and gross immorality.

Preparation and testing

Elizabeth (John the Baptist's mother) and Mary (the mother of Jesus) were relatives (Luke 1:36), although we're not told how they were related. They obviously knew each other well, because Mary went to see Elizabeth as soon as the angel had left her (Luke 1:38–40). No indication is given, however, that John recognized Jesus when they met at the Jordan (John 1:29–34). That's probably because they'd been brought up separately and their lives had been markedly different.

Normally the longer God takes to prepare someone he will use, the greater the resulting ministry. We can see that from Scripture.

Moses was 80 years old before God used him to deliver Israel from the hand of Pharaoh.
Joseph was enslaved for thirteen years before he was made Prime Minister of Egypt.
David, having been anointed by Samuel as the future king of Israel, went through ten years of trials before he was crowned king.
John the Baptist lived in the desert for a long period of time before his ministry began (Acts 1:80).

Deserts, in Scripture, symbolize places of testing and refining, primarily because they are places of heat. When the Refiner of Metals applies heat to our lives, any hidden impurities will rise to the surface so they can be removed (Malachi 3:3).

No refining was needed in our Lord's life, of course, but even he was tested in the desert for forty days, by Satan, before his ministry began. And the Bible says that he left the desert in the power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14).

In order to minister one must be anointed. It's easy for God to anoint any person at any time and, as soon as they're anointed, they'll begin to minister (1 Samuel 10:9–11). God even anointed a donkey in Balaam's day and it spoke the word of God to him (Numbers 22:26–31)!

But godly character and the wisdom required to handle the anointing and the pressures that come from ministry, take time to develop. God usually prepares a chosen servant by putting them through a series of experiences designed to mould them into the vessel he requires. John the Baptist was one of those vessels and it had taken God thirty years to prepare him.

Jesus said:

I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11)

Think about that statement. No one who had lived on earth, prior to John, had a ministry greater than his. His ministry was greater than Moses, Isaiah and all the other prophets. Why was that? Because, not only did he announce the arrival of the one the world had been waiting for since the fall of man (John 1:29), but he also prepared God's people for his arrival (Mark 1:2–3).

Surprisingly though, Jesus said that he who was least in the kingdom of heaven was greater than John. John didn't enter the kingdom of God on earth. We'll see him in heaven, but John was the last of the Old Testament prophets. When his ministry was complete, Jesus began to proclaim the kingdom of God so that man could enter in (Mark 1:14–15).

The prophet's ministry

The ministry of the prophet spans both Old and New Testaments. To prophesy, essentially, is to speak a message from God. In the Old Testament those who prophesied were usually prophets, but that's not true in the New Testament.

In the New Testament all believers are told to eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy, because prophecy edifies (i.e. builds up and strengthens) the Church (1 Corinthians 14:1,4). However, to possess that gift does not make a person a prophet.

Paul asks: 'Are all prophets (1 Corinthians 12:29)?' Obviously not. But then he writes: 'For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged (1 Corinthians 14:31).'

So, all can prophesy, but not all are prophets. Why is that? Because a prophet is one of the five ministry gifts given by Jesus to his Church (Ephesians 4:11). Such an appointment carries with it a position of leadership and authority.

Paul says that the Church is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus being the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19–20). So, what exactly does the ministry of a prophet entail?

The prophet's ministry fulfils the New Testament goals of strengthening, encouraging and comforting (1 Corinthians 14:3) together with the Old Testament goals of correcting and directing.

In the Old Testament, when Israel had a decision to make and sought the face of the Lord, it was usually a prophet who gave the answer. Likewise, when they fell into sin, God sent his prophets to correct them. Prophets also bring warnings from God (Acts 11:27–28).

In the Old Testament prophets were known as 'men of God'. They were men who had devoted themselves totally to God and, because of that, they knew the heart of God. They stood in the council of the Lord to hear his word (Jeremiah 23:18) and, to do that, they had to be righteous.

Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. (Psalm 24:3–4)

No one can stand in God's presence if there is sin in their life. Even Herod acknowledged that John the Baptist was a righteous and holy man (Mark 6:20).

Righteousness essential for salvation

John's mission was foretold by the prophet Isaiah:

A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.' (Isaiah 40:3)

The God of Israel was about to visit his people, and his people must be ready.

I watched a television programme recently concerning a state visit of HM Queen Elizabeth II to the USA. Everywhere she went was prepared for her. Things that were immaculate already were either cleaned, polished, repainted or renewed—even things she would not see. There was tremendous activity. And why was that? Because royalty was coming. And, as I watched those preparations being made, I saw a spiritual picture.

Jesus was born king of the Jews (Matthew 2:1–2), and now Israel's king was about to visit; the Righteous One of Israel would walk among his people. Is there any wonder, then, that John's message was a message of righteousness? 'Purify your lives, your righteous God is coming!'

Jesus came to earth two thousand years ago, but at some undisclosed time in the future he will return for his Church and his Church, also, must be ready (Matthew 24:42–44). How will she make herself ready? The Book of Revelation tells us:

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.' (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) (Revelation 19:6–8)

The Bible tells us that the Church, the Bride of Christ, will make herself ready for the coming of the bridegroom by putting on the fine linen that God has given to wear. That fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.

Paul tells us to 'put off' our old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, and to 'put on' the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22–24). That is something that we have to do. We have to make ourselves ready for the bridegroom's return. And we do that by putting on the wedding garments he has given us to wear. Those garments are the righteous acts of the saints.

John told the people to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. When they asked him what that meant, he gave them examples (Luke 3:7–14). John was teaching practical righteousness. What is righteousness? Righteousness is doing what is right in the sight of God. The Bible says that he who does what is right is righteous, just as Christ is righteous (1 John 3:7).

Jesus told his disciples a parable about a wedding banquet. He said that when the king came into the room to see his guests he noticed a man who wasn't wearing wedding clothes. He asked him how he'd got in without wearing wedding clothes. The man was speechless. He then told his servants to tie him hand and foot and to throw him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:1–14).

What was Jesus teaching in this parable? The wedding banquet represents the kingdom of God (Matthew 22:2), our heavenly Father is the king and we (the Church) have been invited to it. But the only way we can get into the banquet (i.e. kingdom) is by wearing wedding garments. Those garments symbolize righteousness.

The New Testament teaches two kinds of righteousness: the righteousness of Christ, which is ours by faith (Romans 3:21–22), and our own righteousness (Revelation 19:6–8; 1 John 3:7). It's not a matter of having one or the other: both are necessary for salvation.

Paul tells us that sin leads to death—even for those who are under grace. But turning from sin and obeying God leads to righteousness; righteousness leads to holiness, and holiness to eternal life (Romans 6:15–22).

No Christian can live in sin and go to heaven (Galatians 5:19–21). Living a righteousness life is essential for salvation (James 1:19–21).

Persecution

John the Baptist was a righteous man who lived a righteous life and was persecuted for speaking the truth (Mark 6:17–18). Our Lord was also persecuted for speaking the truth (John 8:39–40).

Jesus told his disciples:

'Remember the words I spoke to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.' (John 15:20)

Paul wrote that everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. It's not a possibility, it's a certainty (2 Timothy 3:12). However, Jesus said that if people insult us, persecute us and falsely say all kinds of evil against us because of him, we should rejoice, because great will be our reward in heaven. For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before us (Matthew 5:11–12). That included John the Baptist.

John's death

Even though Herod imprisoned John, he protected him and liked to listen to him. His wife, however, wanted him dead. Then the opportune time came.

On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for all the important people in his kingdom. His wife's daughter came in and danced for them and pleased them so much that Herod promised to give her anything she asked for, even up to half his kingdom.

What a rash and foolish promise! What sane man would promise a child up to half his kingdom for dancing for him? It was total madness. We're not told, but Herod probably said those words under the influence of drink and, as he said them, he ensnared himself. His wife was quick to seize the opportunity and got what she asked for i.e. the head of John the Baptist.

Why did that happen? Couldn't God have protected his servant from this evil woman? Of course he could, but martyrdom glorifies God (John 21:18–19). And there is an even deeper lesson here.

John was a prophet, and his death was prophetic: he was beheaded. The Romans used various methods of execution, including throwing prisoners to wild animals, crucifixion and beheading.

John was beheaded because Herodias specifically asked for his head. In dying this way John became a type of all those who will be beheaded for their adherence to the truth under the reign of the Antichrist (Revelation 20:4). Who will be behind this? Satan. Who was behind John's death? Satan.

Jesus said:

'If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.' (John 15:18–19)

Who is the god of this world? Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan hates believers and, in the last days, his hatred of the Church will be manifested as never before. He will be given power to make war against the saints, through the beast (the Antichrist), for a period of forty-two months (Revelation 13:5–8). It will be the greatest persecution of Christians the world has ever seen.

The Antichrist will behead those who refuse to renounce their allegiance to Jesus. Satan's aim has always been to separate the Church (believers) from its head (Jesus Christ). He cannot do it spiritually, he can only do it physically. And that is what he will do in the last days.

This will call for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints (Revelation 13:10b). Not every believer will die at this time (Revelation 13:9–10a), but those who do so will reign with Christ for a thousand years (Revelation 20:4).

Conclusion

As God sent a prophet (John the Baptist) to prepare his people for the first coming of his Son so, I believe, in the last days, God will send prophets to prepare his people (the Church) for his second coming, and for the events that will precede that coming. And the message they preach will be a message of righteousness.

Michael Graham
July 2008

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