Today, we are entering into Jesus training his disciples, preparing them for his death. And who do we start out with? John the Baptist. It seems like a random story, but Matthew inserts it in this section of his book for a very important purpose. Let's look at the passage:
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
Matthew consistently uses John the Baptist to advance the story of Jesus along. In Matthew 3, John the Baptist foreshadows Jesus' ministry, his revelation of himself as King and his sermon about his kingdom by calling people to "Repent, for the KINGDOM of HEAVEN is near." This was John's message in Matthew 3, it is also Jesus' message in chapter 4. In Matthew 11, Matthew is beginning his section of his book with Jesus' teachings on what it means to be the people of God, and it starts with John asking Jesus what kind of person he was. John's doubts and warped expectations about Jesus foreshadow Jesus correcting the doubts and warped expectations of the Pharisees and his disciples.
And now we come to Matthew 14. Jesus is getting ready to start training his disciples, preparing them for his death, but first John foreshadows the ultimate rejection of Jesus, crucifixion on a cross, by himself being rejected and killed.
Remember what happened in Matthew 13.23-28, Jesus' hometown was confused about who he was. They didn't get it right. The same happened to Herod in Matthew 14.
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
This verse connects the previous section, the false ideas of who Jesus is, with the new section, Herod's false ideas about who Jesus is.
Next, we see how what happens to John foreshadows what is going to happen to Jesus.
3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
What did John do that deserved death?
NOTHING!!!
He was killed unjustly.
Matthew is saying, by using this story here, that just as John the Baptist was killed unjustly, so also Jesus is going to be killed unjustly.
Remember, Jesus is training his disciples, getting them ready for his own death. And a key element to that is this, people don't like those who are a part of God's kingdom.
That is why John the Baptist was killed, he spoke out for what is right, and that is also why Jesus was killed, he wanted to right the wrongs, which is what God's kingdom does.
And Matthew ends this passage by connecting John the Baptist with Jesus. Check it out.
John's followers finally went to Jesus. And this death foreshadows Jesus' death.
When we follow Jesus, we are supposed to do what he did, which is undo evil, correct the wrongs of the world. So when we do this, we have to understand that we will be treated as he was treated. We will suffer injustices in the world.
2 Timothy 4.12 says, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
Are you being persecuted?
If not, maybe it's because you aren't living as Jesus lived.
This question haunts me day in and day out.
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