The Festival of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist
Posted on August 29, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. Mark 6:17-29 (NKJV)
6:17 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. 18 Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19 Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
21 Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”
And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”
25 Immediately she came in 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.”
26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
Devotion
The faithfulness and zeal of John the Baptist is something to marvel at. Although he was placed before rulers and kings, he was not ashamed to speak the truth. He preached Christ boldly, even at the risk of angering powerful people. This faithfulness of John finally resulted in his imprisonment and execution.
We desire to be faithful like John. We hope that, in times of testing, we also will make a good confession before others, no matter the consequences. However, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. From safety we boldly declare, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” But when someone asks one little question about our faith, we are ready to retreat.
The Holy Spirit strengthened St. John to make his bold confession; the Spirit strengthens us as well. Paul writes in Romans 8:26 that the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. Also, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, we are comforted by the fact that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. This does not mean we are ‘off the hook’. We should always be ready to give a defense of our faith to anyone who asks us (1 Pet. 3:15). However, we should not worry about what we will say or how it will be received. Whoever confesses Christ before men (however weakly), him Christ will also confess before our Father who is in heaven (Matt. 10:32).
Collect: O Lord, as Thou didst grant unto Thy Forerunner and martyr to proclaim Thy Word before princes and not be ashamed, we pray that Thou wouldst grant to Thy saints a zeal for a faithful confession in all times of persecution; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Tenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
O God, Who declarest Thine Almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Mercifully grant unto us such a measure of Thy grace, that we, running the way of Thy commandments, may obtain Thy gracious promises, and be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
