July 12

Death of John the Baptist

and sent to have John beheaded in the prison. — Matt 14:10 BSB

It seems like such a sad end for such a great man. After only a few months of faithful preaching, John was thrown into prison, where he spent a year before being executed like a common criminal. It’s a mystery to us. Why would God allow such a faithful, noble servant to meet such a fate? Jesus Himself said that no greater man had ever lived than John. So why was he allowed to die in such a tragic way?

First, we know it wasn’t an accident. There are no accidents in a world ruled by a loving Father. John wouldn’t have chosen this path for himself, a life so short and ending so tragically. Few of us would choose the lives we live in this world. But there are no random events, no accidents. “Our ways are those of the Lord’s choosing—ways sadder, perhaps, but safer; rougher, perhaps, but surer; narrower, perhaps, but better than those of our own dreaming.”

John finished his work. If there had been more for him to do, he wouldn’t have been left to die to satisfy the revenge of a wicked woman. His mission was complete when Christ began to preach. And when John died, it was for standing firm in the truth. A complete life isn’t measured in years. A life is complete, whether long or short, if it fulfills the purpose for which it was created. The longest life is a failure if it doesn’t accomplish what it was meant to. It’s better to die young with a spotless record than to live to old age in sin and shame. It was far better for John to die the way he did than to live on like Herod and Herodias did.

He lives long who lives well.
All else is being flung away;
He lives longest who can tell
Of true things truly done each day.