Mark 6:17-29

For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly. 

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.  For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”  And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Why did God allow John to be murdered?  Was John’s karma so very bad? Surely not. For Yeshu himself testified that in earlier times there had been no better prophet than John (See the Gospel written by Luke).

Why then was it? It was because John had finished the work given him by God (See Chapter 1 verses 2 and 3). In like manner Yeshu too would finish his work (We shall be reading about this in Mark Chapter 15).

It is still true today, as we know well,  that bad things happen to good men. But all men, both the bad and those who seem to us to be good, need to repent and believe the gospel, just as John himself had preached (Chapter 1 verse 15).