Death of John the Baptist
The testimony of Jesus concerning John was, "He was a burning and a shining light, and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light." (John 5:35)
The object of light is to enable us to see the way, so that we may not stumble in it, or wander out of it. It necessarily reveals defects. It does not make defects, but shows where they are. The sun is a faithful witness, and will record on the sensitized plate, just what it beholds, without adding to, or taking from. "All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light; for whatsoever does make manifest is light." (Ephesians 5:13)
When light ceases to show the sharp distinction between the good and the bad, the right way and the wrong way, it is light no longer. Light has no option in the matter; it must reveal things as they are; it cannot do otherwise than expose deformity when it exists.
Accordingly John, as a burning and a shining light,--not the Light that lights every man that comes into the world, but the one who bore witness of that Light by letting the true Light shine through him unchecked,--could not refrain from reproving the sin of Herod, who had unlawfully and wickedly taken his brother Philip's wife.
The fact that Herod was king could not make any difference. A king is but a servant of God, set in high a position that he may reveal the character of God more widely than other man, and who, if he is unfaithful to his Master, has the greater influence for evil; and therefore it is even more necessary that the sins of rulers be pointed out, that they may be corrected, than those of people in less exalted positions. "He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God." (2 Samuel 23:3)
It has been clearly pointed out in these pages, from the Scriptures, that the 40th chapter of Isaiah is the message of John the Baptist. He was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together." (Isaiah 40:3-5)
Compare with: "Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (Luke 3:1-6)
But the message of John the Baptist does not end with those verses; that message continues through the whole of the remainder of the book of Isaiah. In reproving Herod, John was but delivering the message that he was commanded to give, namely, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions, and the house of Jacob their sins." (Isaiah 58:1)
Firmness with Meekness
The idea that John the Baptist was a harsh reprover, hard and unsympathetic in his nature, delighting in laying bare the sins of people, both high and low, and smiting to wound, is a false one. Many have unconsciously formed this opinion of him, but it is most unjust.
He was a true servant of God, and as such he necessarily answered to the inspired description of the character of a servant: "The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil." (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
The Lord does not send reproofs to condemn people, but to convict and convert them. The Comforter reproves. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (John 16:7-8) "God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17) "Reproofs of instruction are the way of life." (Proverbs 6:23)
Therefore God does not send any of the servants of Christ out into the world to condemn the world, but only to show them the way of life. No sin ought ever to be mentioned except for the purpose of saving sinners. To hold the errors and wickedness of any person or class of people up to ridicule or reproach, is in itself wicked unfaithfulness to God.
There was hope for Herod, and opportunity for him to repent and be forgiven, and therefore John kindly but firmly reproved him. Strength is best manifested in connection with gentleness. The most skillful surgeons who wield the knife with firmness, are often the kindest and gentlest of men.
Unswerving loyalty to principle and unequivocal denunciation of sin, may be, and must be if real, combined with kindness of disposition, hatred of controversy, and love of peace.
Herod's wickedness was due to weakness of character. That is, of course, in a certain sense true of everybody; but while sin is always weakness, there are many sinners who are leaders, and many others who are simply led.
There are men of strong characters, designed for leaders in the right way, who sin boldly and fearlessly, and who have a positive influence over others, but are not themselves apparently influenced by anybody; and there are weak men, who would be good (or would at least seem to be good) if everybody else were good, and there were no temptation to evil, but who, being surrounded by evil, make no definite resistance. They love evil, although they fear its consequences, and having no settled principles, they are easily made the tool of designing persons.
Of this nature was Herod. He was angry with John for disturbing his conscience, and had put him in prison, but even this was because of his evil associations. We read that: "John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy, and kept him safe." (Mark 6:18-20,RV,margin)
Herod was ruled by his paramour, and so John was cast into prison; yet the king had for a long time refused to do him any hurt. He doubtless thought that he could set him free later on.
Danger of Trifling with Truth
There is in all these incidents a most important lesson for us to learn. We see how helpless the man is who does not definitely yield to the Lord. Herod took on the color of his surroundings which were bad. Indeed, people of that disposition almost always sooner or later drift into bad company.
He was like many other men, who will make any concession to gain and hold position and power, where their self love and desire for vain glory can be gratified, yet who, by their very concessions to gain power, show that they are slaves. In short, he was a politician, and, like Pilate, was a perfect type of his class.
He knew that John was a true prophet, and that he spoke the truth, and he could not help honoring him; yet his weak interposition to save him from the malignant hatred of Herodias, arose rather from the fear of the consequences of putting a prophet to death, than from love of his goodness.
His dealing with John was like that of Pilate with Christ. They thought that by making some concessions to the haters of good men, they could have their own way later, and save them; but they did not know the power of the master to whom they weakly yielded themselves.
The man who has not a definite conviction, and who does not decidedly accept that which he knows to be true, is the slave of evil. He who dallies with his conscience, and trifles with truth, is sure to be swept away by the flood of sin.
Put Not Your Trust in Princes
Herod did not wish to kill John, and he was sorely troubled when he saw how he had been trapped. But he had given his oath, and so "could not help himself." Therefore he was not a king, but a slave.
The history of John the Baptist is a picture of the people of God immediately preceding the coming of Christ, with this exception, that the decree that they shall all be killed will be prevented from being carried out by the appearance of Christ in glory, to deliver His people, and destroy the enemies of truth. "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." (Revelation 13:15)
There are some who place a great deal of dependence upon rulers; they think that the cause of God has much to gain from the State. It has much to give, but nothing to receive. The world is as much opposed to God now as it ever was. "Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ... All they that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:13,12)
There are men in high position, who, like Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar among the heathen kings, and Nicodemus and Joseph among the Jewish rulers, will accept the truth, and will devote themselves to it; but these are the exceptions. There are many others who would willingly shield the righteous from persecution, if they could do it and keep their position.
But laws have been passed, which seem innocent enough, and calculated to benefit the people, but which can and will be used by malicious persons to persecute those who are faithful to God. Then these officials will say, "I am exceedingly sorry: but I have sworn to uphold and execute the laws, and I cannot help myself."
And so the faithful will suffer, while the wicked seem to triumph. But, "The triumphing of the wicked is short." (Job 20:5)
Jesus says, "Be faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
It is far better to lose one's life for a principle, than to gain a respite by compromising. The world rewards faithfulness with death, but God rewards it with life.
Cease To Do Evil
Ought Herod to have broken his oath? Would it have been right for him to refuse to fulfill his promise? Most certainly. It was decidedly wrong for him to make such a promise, and swear to it; for he made it in the heat of passion, and the kingdom was not his to give away.
The very fact, however, that it was wrong for him to make the oath, is evidence that it would have been right for him to break it; for it is always right to break off from an evil.
Foolish, worldly-wise statesmen say that the best thing to do with a bad law is to enforce it. No; the best thing to do with it is to abolish it. And if it is contrary to God's commandments, the best thing for men to do is to disregard it. The best thing to do is always to do right; but since "all have sinned," (Romans 3:23) the best thing to do is to "cease to do evil." (Isaiah 1:16)
It is never wrong to stop in an evil career. It is always right to stop doing wrong. Let no one deceive himself or allow others to deceive him with false logic. The logical course always, the Christian course, is to break off sin by righteousness. "Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of your tranquillity." (Daniel 4:27) "Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of your tranquility." (Daniel 4:27)--Present Truth, May 31, 1900--Timeline: IV-36 (Martyrdom of John the Baptist)--Mark 6:14-29.