On Sunday August 29th, we remember the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist.  The circumstance of his martyrdom looks like a great soap opera. 

Herod had taken his brother’s wife, Herodias, as his own.   Herodias was also Herod’s niece.  John the Baptist spoke the truth by pointing out that this was unlawful.  Herod had John arrested, but for fear of the people he could not execute him. However, Herod came to respect John and protected him while keeping him in custody.    It is recorded in scripture, “When he (Herod) heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.” 

Here we see a kind of duality that comes with the Word of God.  John the Baptist spoke God’s Word to Herod and the Word of God struck home.  Herod felt perplexed since his desire and John the Baptist’s word contradicted one another.  He felt perplexed because Herod trusted John the Baptist, but John’s words created dissonance in his life. 

In the end, Herod had a bit of a problem.  Herodias wanted the status quo.  She wanted to continue as Herod’s wife, and John the Baptist was threatening what she had.  One day, Herod threw a birthday party for himself, (kind of narcissistic, don’t you think) and he invited all the nobles and high up military commanders that he could -- enter Herodias’ daughter, Herod’s great niece.  She danced for the birthday party, and it was pleasing for all present.  Herod offered his great niece anything up to half of his Kingdom.  Herodias’ daughter asked her mother for advice, and Herodias told her to ask for John the Baptist’s head on a platter.  Herod, begrudgingly and out of obligation to the public commitment he made, obliged.  Imagine Herodias’ sheer delight.

Here we observe that John the Baptist remained faithful to his call and duty. He did not back down in the face of danger.  He continued to proclaim the truth even when it made powerful people uncomfortable or even angry.  The fact of the matter is that John spoke this truth in a manner that Herod could hear. Herod came to respect John and even protected him.  Herod only beheaded John the Baptist because of the entanglement and lure of sin and power. John spoke the truth in Love (Ephesians 4:15-16).  Today, John the Baptist’s actions still reverberate as the church continues to extend God’s Word to the nations.

This is such an important building block in the Christian life.  We know the truth and the truth is Jesus.  We want people whom we love to know and love the truth also.  We want people we love to honor and respect the will of the Lord and to believe in Jesus for the salvation of their souls.   You connect with your friends and family like no one else.  You know how to speak the truth in love to them.  It may take some thought and creativity, but you can tell the truth!  People may still reject what you have to say, but it is still important to speak.  It is still important to share Jesus. Circumstances may not always go your way.  Some people get martyred for doing just this, but in eternity, what will be more important -- your life here on earth or eternal life for someone who hears God’s Word?  God’s Word will not return empty.