Aug 28 2019 Matthew 14: 1-12 – Commemoration of the Beheading of John the Baptist

Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet.

John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus, who came before Jesus and pointed people towards Jesus. He had quite a ministry, baptizing and preaching, and calling people to repent. He is one of the great prophets, and a perfect example of what a prophet is, as opposed to what culture things they are.

Prophets aren’t fortune tellers, or soothsayers. They don’t see into the future, in the common sense. What they do is imagine and talk about the way God wants things to be; they describe a future full of God’s love and mercy for all. Of a future where we truly focus on Loving God. Loving your Neighbor. When they start talking about this future, it can sound as if they can see the future.

John got sideways with Herod, as Herod had married his brother’s wife, and John told him as much. In our world, this doesn’t sound like such a horrible crime, but it was then. It doesn’t matter what the offense was. What matters is that John had the chutzpah to talk about the way things should be, and point out to Herod that Herod’s actions were not in line with that. This is a good example of someone speaking truth to power.

Herod imprisoned him, and wanted to put him to death but was afraid. Ultimately he had John beheaded, at his wife’s command, and his daughter brought the head of John the Baptist to his wife. This head and platter part of the story should remind us all that these narratives took place in a time and place very very different from where we are now. None of that should diminish the value of the story, even when the details are hard to translate.

John the Baptist was beheaded because he continued to speak of the wrongs of his contemporaries, and portrayed a vision of God’s kingdom come. There are modern day prophets who continue to speak of God’s dram versus our human nightmare. And there are many ways to do this. Some people are great at protesting, marching, rallying, rabble-rousing. Some people are great organizers, inspirers, preachers, teachers.

I believe we all are called to be prophets, to speak of God’s dream, particularly in the face of this modern-day nightmare. People who are teachers and followers of Jesus, teach in a way that shows children God’s dream, even in secular settings. Doctors and other medical professionals do the same. Being a prophet is not a role reserved for the street-corner preachers, or community organizers. We are all called to speak and act God’s dream into this reality. 

This morning, I’m thinking about my particular strain of being a prophet. How can I use my gifts and strengths and passions to bring God’s kingdom come. Today, I want to find opportunities in my own way to be as clear and brave as John the Baptist, as he urged people towards a better way.