Реферат: Biography Of John The Baptist Essay Research

he gave a feast for the chief men of that region. In Matthew xiv, Mark vi, and Luke ix, we

are given parallel accounts of this infamous occasion which was to culminate in John’s

death. At the feast, Salome, fourteen-year-old daughter of Herodias by her lawful

husband, pleased Herod and his guests so much by her dancing that Herod promised on

oath to give her anything that it was in his power to give, even though it should amount to

half his kingdom. Salome, acting under the direction and influence of her wicked mother,

answered that she wished to have the head of John the Baptist, presented to her on a

platter. Such a horrible request shocked and unnerved Herod. Still, he had given his word

and was afraid to break it. So, with no legal formalities whatever, he despatched a soldier

to the prison with orders to behead the prisoner and return with it immediately. This was

quickly done, and the cruel girl did not hesitate to accept the dish with its dreadful offering

and give it to her mother. John’s brief ministry was thus terminated by a monstrous crime.

There was great sadness among the people who had hearkened to him, and when the

disciples of Jesus heard the news of John’s death, they came and took the body and laid it

reverently in a tomb. Jesus, with some of his disciples, retired “to a desert place apart,” to

mourn.

The Jewish historian Josephus, giving further testimony of John’s holiness, writes: “He was

indeed a man endued with all virtue, who exhorted the Jews to the practice of justice

towards men and piety towards God; and also to baptism, preaching that they would

become acceptable to God if they renounced their sins, and to the cleanness of their bodies

added purity of soul.” Thus Jews and Christians unite in reverence and love for this

prophet-saint whose life is an incomparable example of both humility and courage

38a

1. Mark Ch.1-11

2. John ch.3-5

3. Corinthians Ch. 13