August 15 Daily Devotional

Matthew 11 and 14; Mark 6; Luke 9

Herod had laid hold on John the Baptist, and put him into prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. For John had told him, “It is not lawful for thee to have her.” And Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, and she could not: for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he heard him gladly. He also feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

“Now when John had heard in prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, and said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.”

Now on his birthday, Herod made a supper for the chief men of Galilee, and the daughter of Herodias came in and danced before them and pleased Herod. Then the king said to the damsel, “Ask of me whatever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou wilt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.” The king was very sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sake which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought; and he went and beheaded John in the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother.

Thus died John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said, “For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist. He was a burning and shining light. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” When king Herod heard the report concerning Jesus, he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.”