Chapter 22—Imprisonment and Death of John
This chapter is based on
Matthew 11:1-11
;
Matthew 14:1-11
;
Mark
6:17-28
;
Luke 7:19-28
.
John the Baptist had been first in heralding Christ’s kingdom, and
he was first also in suffering. From the free air of the wilderness
and the vast throngs that had hung upon his words, he was now shut
in by the walls of a dungeon cell. He had become a prisoner in the
fortress of Herod Antipas. In the territory east of Jordan, which was
under the dominion of Antipas, much of John’s ministry had been
spent. Herod himself had listened to the preaching of the Baptist.
The dissolute king had trembled under the call to repentance. “Herod
feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy; ... and when
he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.” John dealt
with him faithfully, denouncing his iniquitous alliance with Herodias,
his brother’s wife. For a time Herod feebly sought to break the chain
of lust that bound him; but Herodias fastened him the more firmly in
her toils, and found revenge upon the Baptist by inducing Herod to
cast him into prison.
The life of John had been one of active labor, and the gloom and
inaction of his prison life weighed heavily upon him. As week after
week passed, bringing no change, despondency and doubt crept over
him. His disciples did not forsake him. They were allowed access to
the prison, and they brought him tidings of the works of Jesus, and
told how the people were flocking to Him. But they questioned why,
if this new teacher was the Messiah, He did nothing to effect John’s
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release. How could He permit His faithful herald to be deprived of
liberty and perhaps of life?
These questions were not without effect. Doubts which otherwise
would never have arisen were suggested to John. Satan rejoiced to
hear the words of these disciples, and to see how they bruised the soul
of the Lord’s messenger. Oh, how often those who think themselves
the friends of a good man, and who are eager to show their fidelity to
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