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The Imprisonment and Death of John
This chapter is based on Matthew 11:1-11; 14:1-11; Mark 6:17-28;
Luke 7:19-28.
John the Baptist had been first in announcing Christ’s kingdom,
and he was first also in suffering. From the free air of the wilderness,
he was now shut in by the walls of a dungeon, a prisoner in the
fortress of Herod Antipas. Herod himself had listened to the Baptist
and trembled at the call to repentance. “Herod feared John, knowing
that he was a just and holy man.” John condemned his sinful rela-
tionship with Herodias, his brother’s wife. For a time, Herod feebly
tried to break the chain of lust that held him, but Herodias fastened
him more firmly in her grasp and took revenge on the Baptist by
persuading Herod to put him in prison.
The gloom and inaction of his prison life weighed heavily on
John. As week after week passed, bringing no change, despondency
and doubt crept over him. His disciples brought him news of Jesus’
works and how the people were flocking to Him. But if this new
Teacher was the Messiah, why did He do nothing to bring about
John’s release? This brought doubts to John’s mind that otherwise
would never have arisen. Satan rejoiced to see how the words of
these disciples bruised the soul of the Lord’s messenger. How often
the friends of a good man prove to be his most dangerous enemies!
John the Baptist expected Jesus to take the throne of David. As
time passed and the Savior made no claim to kingly authority, John
became perplexed. He had expected Jesus to pull down the high
places of human pride and power. The Messiah would thoroughly
clean out His threshing floor, gather the wheat into His barn, and
burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. See
Isaiah 40
;
Matthew 3
.
Like Elijah, he looked for the Lord to reveal Himself as a God who
would answer by fire.
The Baptist had stood as someone who spoke out fearlessly
against wickedness, in high places and low. He had dared to face
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