Revelation 6:9–11
Romans 6:1–5
Mark 6:14–29
The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist
“Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” (Rom. 6:1–2).John preached the Law boldly against Herod’s adultery with Herodias. Choosing human honor over honesty, Herod served up John’s head on a platter to pacify Herodias’s conscience without the contrition and repentance of Baptism (Mark 6:17–28). So John was slain for the Word of God and for the witness he had borne (Rev. 6:9). John is Christ’s forerunner also in death; so other fellow-servants and brothers continue to be martyrs (witnesses) of Christ to this day (Rev. 6:11). Their deaths are precious to the Lord (Ps. 116:15) and so also to us, who celebrate even a beheading. Such is the confidence of the baptized! Buried into Christ’s death through Baptism, we believe we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His also (Rom. 6:4–5).
United to Christ, the Church’s Head, John can be confident that He will be reunited to his own at the last day. Even John isn’t really the forerunner; Jesus has gone before us all: out of the tomb alive, the firstborn of those who sleep!
