Verse: Matthew 14:1-12
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 John a prophet.

6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests 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.

Devotion
This story is hard to read.

John the Baptist was a great man—so great that even Jesus honored him, saying, “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). And though my opinion doesn’t hold the weight of Jesus’, I have a lot of respect for John too. He knew exactly what he was called to do, and he stayed true to that calling until the very end. But that honesty, that unwavering commitment to truth, is ultimately what cost him his life.

As I read this, I wanted to find some kind of prophecy or redemptive moment that made up for such a tragic death. But after searching, I came up with… nothing. No neat bow to tie this story together. Just the harsh reality that sometimes, evil wins the moment. Sometimes, life is just terrible.

A friend once sent me a song when I was struggling. It was “Good News” by Maverick City, and one line stuck with me: “We’ve all been looking for a silver lining, something to hold on to when hope’s been hiding. I know a place where you can go…”

John knew where to go. He knew that this world had nothing for him. His hope wasn’t in life going well—it was in Jesus. And that changes everything. Because of Jesus, we don’t need to look for a silver lining in every situation. We already have the ultimate hope: a new story, a new ending, a new life.

Maybe you’re in a season where things feel unfair, where darkness seems to have the last word. But John’s life—and his death—remind us that the story isn’t over. Jesus brings the light that follows.

Author: Joanna Martin