The Festival of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist
Posted on August 29, 2026 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
John the Baptist was the faithful Forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ. He preached fearlessly to the people of his day to repent of their sins and to be baptized. He explicitly pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
He was also faithful in preaching against Herod, even though it might (and eventually did) cost him his life. Herod had taken his brother Philip’s wife, Herodias, and John had told Herod that marrying his brother’s wife was wrong. Herodias and her daughter, understanding Herod’s weakness, manipulated him into promising to execute John the Baptist.
John could have relented; he could have soft-pedaled preaching the Law so as not to anger or offend Herod or his court. But if he had done so, he would not have been faithful to the calling that his Lord had given him. And if he had shirked his duty in that way, he would not have been testifying, as previous prophets had, that as believers we are aliens and strangers here. His life was to show that our hope is not to have an easy and comfortable life on earth, but a blessed everlasting life together with our Lord and Savior. May God give us the same courage if we are tested in the same way John was.
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; Thou Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Almighty and Merciful God, of Whose only gift it cometh that Thy faithful people do unto Thee true and laudable service: Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may so faithfully serve Thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain Thy heavenly promises; 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.
