The Death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29)

 

The Death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:14-29)

How we live and how we die are both important questions. Death is a scary thing, but it is not the end. This world is not everything; the kingdom of heaven is the essence. Jesus comforted His disciples by saying, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

In Mark 6:14-29, John the Baptist was beheaded by King Herod for no justifiable reason. Herod was immoral and violent, constantly showing off and boasting, and in the midst of his inner turmoil, he killed the righteous John.

John the Baptist Has Risen from the Dead

14 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.” 15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” 16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!” (Mark 6:14-16)

The name of Jesus became known throughout Judea and Galilee. Wherever Jesus went, large crowds came to Him seeking healing. Jesus saw that the crowds were like sheep without a shepherd and had compassion on them (Mark 6:34).

Jesus healed a man with a shriveled hand, paralytics, the blind, the deaf, lepers, the demon-possessed, and a woman with a bleeding disorder; He even raised the dead. He performed signs and wonders, calming the wind and waves and walking on water.

Naturally, rumors about Jesus of Nazareth spread throughout the whole country. When King Herod heard about Him, he said that John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded, had risen from the dead. Other people said Jesus was Elijah or one of the prophets of old. They did not know exactly who Jesus Christ was.

John the Baptist, the Forerunner of Jesus

At that time, Zechariah, one of the priests, had no children even though he was old. However, while he was performing his priestly duties in the temple according to his division, he received a sudden visit from an angel. The angel announced that his wife, Elizabeth, would give birth to a son (Luke 1:13). The son born from this was John the Baptist.

14 "He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:14-17).

John the Baptist carried out his ministry in the wilderness. This signifies that the hearts of the people were dry and thirsty like a desert. He preached a powerful message of repentance to all the people. It was a message that was uncomfortable and bothersome for the people to hear—calling them to confess their sins and urging repentance (Mark 1:4).

7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham" (Luke 3:7-8).

John the Baptist’s voice calling out in the wilderness shook people's hearts. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him, confessed their sins, and were baptized by him in the Jordan River (Mark 1:5). As the prophet Isaiah predicted, he was the forerunner preparing the way for the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1:2).

Salvation from sin comes only through faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It does not come through blood or flesh (John 1:12). Even being a descendant of Abraham or being born into a believing family cannot do it. Salvation is solely accepting Jesus Christ—who died by shedding His blood on the cross, was buried, and rose again—as Lord.

This is because human sin cannot be forgiven by anything else; only the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, can break the power of sin and death and save us. The blood of Jesus Christ is a gift of God’s holy love, mercy, and grace, shed to forgive the sins of this world.

John the Baptist’s preaching of a baptism for repentance was a voice inviting people to the salvation that comes from heaven. Tax collectors also came to him, confessed their sins, and were baptized; soldiers also came to him and confessed their sins (Luke 3:12, 14). The people even began to wonder in their hearts if he might possibly be the Messiah (Luke 3:15).

However, John the Baptist said he was the voice of one calling in the wilderness, just as the prophet Isaiah had predicted (Luke 3:4; Isaiah 40:3). As the forerunner of Jesus Christ, he prepared people's hearts to welcome the Lord who comes as the Son of God. Confessing sins is the way to welcome Christ into the heart.

Why do we confess our sins? It is because this world is under sin. To be under sin means that the relationship with God is severed, preventing one from entering into His love and grace. Ultimately, one faces God's judgment and eternal punishment.

Confessing sins is painful and stinging because it is an admission of shame and disgrace. No one wants to do it. However, because of this very shame and sin, our Lord Jesus Christ hung on the cross and received the shame, disgrace, and pain we were supposed to receive (Hebrews 12:2). Now, following the example of Jesus Christ, we walk the way of the cross, acknowledging the disgrace and shame of our sins.

Even though confessing the sins of shame and humiliation may seem harder than dying, God opens the gates of heaven and pours out blessings on those who confess their sins. God does not rebuke anyone who confesses their sins and comes to the Lord; He forgives their sins and purifies them from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Therefore, we come to stand boldly before the throne of God's grace (Romans 5:1-2).

John the Baptist Rebukes Herod’s Sin of Immorality

17 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. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20 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 (Mark 6:17-20).

Herod was a king, but he was trapped in a swamp of darkness and ignorance. He committed the immoral and violent act of taking his brother’s wife. John the Baptist rebuked his unrighteousness. Instead of repenting, Herod arrested John and put him in prison. Herodias, who had become Herod’s wife, watched for every opportunity to kill John.

However, Herod regarded John as a righteous and holy man and was greatly troubled when he heard his words. Yet, he did not listen to the voice of his conscience and did not repent of his violent and immoral deeds. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil (Romans 2:9). On the other hand, there will be glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does good (Romans 2:10).

In this world, it seems that those who boast, show off, and rule with their own ability and power succeed (Psalm 73:3-4). It seems that those who ignore others and seek only their own benefit gain the wealth of this world and advance (Psalm 73:8-9, 13). That is not the case. Their path is a shortcut that falls suddenly into ruin and destruction (Psalm 73:18-19). They are caught in a great delusion and fantasy (Psalm 73:20).

However, those who fear God and act according to His Word may suffer in this world, but they inherit the kingdom of heaven (Romans 8:17). Though they are not recognized by the world and face persecution, they do not become slaves to complaints and dissatisfaction; rather, they conquer and rule because of the hope of the kingdom of heaven.

John the Baptist Beheaded (Matt. 14:1-12; Luke 9:7-9)

21 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. 22 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." 23 And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom." 24 She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered. 25 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."

26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. (Mark 6:21-29).

Herod, who had a prick of conscience but did not repent, eventually followed the way of Cain (Gen. 4:8). While indulging in self-display and boasting, he fell into his own trap and beheaded John the Baptist. He killed a righteous man for no reason.

On the surface, it seems Herod wore royal robes and enjoyed wealth and glory, but he cannot escape the judgment of God's wrath. It appears that John the Baptist died and Herod is alive, but in reality, it is the opposite. Herod is still breathing, but because he rejects God’s holy love, he cannot escape the agony of death—ceaseless anguish and distress.

Death is not the end. Jesus died and was buried, but rose again after three days. Death is not the end of everything, but rather the beginning. However, for those who fear and obey God, He gives eternal life, but for those who do not, God’s wrath remains on them (John 3:36).

Everyone will be resurrected. However, there is a difference as vast as heaven and earth between those who welcome God's love and keep their faith through repentance within His grace, and those who reject and refuse the Lord's love.

"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned" (John 5:28-29).

The death of John the Baptist seems like a tragedy, but it is not. Jesus referred to John the Baptist as the greatest among those born of women (Matt. 11:11). Yet, Jesus said that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Therefore, the important thing is to live by faith. To fear God and, amidst that awe, to look toward the hope of heaven and follow the way of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is truly the way of life. That way is to love and forgive one another, and to forgive and love again. Loving the unlovable and forgiving the unforgivable is the love of Christ, the Son of God.

Amen!

March 8, 2026

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.