The Passion of Saint John the Baptist

August 26, 2022
Author: Hannah DeVivo

Peace be with you! Monday, August 29th is the day we recall the passion of Saint John the Baptist. The memorial of his passion and death is one of the earliest liturgical feasts in the calendar of the Church. Let us take a look into the life and death of this amazing prophet of God, of whom Jesus testified, “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28).

Who Is Saint John the Baptist?

The very conception and life of Saint John the Baptist was miraculous. He was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin. Although Elizabeth had been barren, she and Zechariah prayed to God for a child. In their old age, God answered their prayer. He gave them a son who was to be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. This son would be a powerful servant of God like Elijah and convert the hearts of many (Cf. Luke 1:13-17). The very existence of John the Baptist is a testament to God’s love and graciousness. The Lord heard the deepest desires of this couple, and although He did not answer them immediately, His gift to them was far greater than they could have imagined.

Saint John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus and his love for Him showed from the beginning. When John was still in the womb of his mother, he leapt for joy in the presence of Jesus, who was in the womb of Mary. Among the many things that the life of Saint John the Baptist teaches us, a particularly important one is the humanity and value of life even at this early stage. The pre-born child felt the presence of his Savior and rejoiced in His presence. This vigor for our Lord never ceased. As an adult, John would dedicate his life to preparing the way of the Lord.

The Ministry of Saint John the Baptist

Saint John the Baptist lived in the desert until publicly appearing in Israel. When the word of God came to John, he began to preach near the Jordan. He openly denounced the sinfulness of many and baptized with a baptism of repentance those who desired to give their lives to God. Since John was filled with the Holy Spirit, many were drawn to him, and some believed him to be the Christ. John made it clear that he was only the messenger sent to prepare the way. “As for me, I baptize you with water; but he is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the straps of His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to thoroughly clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:16-17).

The Death of Saint John the Baptist

Saint John the Baptist was an incredible preacher. He was fearless and strong in his faith. Even those who lived a sinful life respected him and were intrigued by what he had to say. Among the people whom John reproached was King Herod Antipas. Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great—a vicious ruler who had tried to have Jesus killed as an infant. Herod Antipas divorced his own wife and married the wife of his brother, who was still alive. Saint John the Baptist rebuked this sinful behavior to Herod’s face. Although Herod may have been embarrassed or upset to hear his lifestyle so openly reproved, he enjoyed listening to John. On the other hand, Herodias, Herod’s wife, hated the prophet for exposing her sinfulness. She wanted him killed and waited for a chance to make it happen.

One night, on his birthday, Herod held a banquet. He celebrated with over-indulgence and became quite drunk. At the party, Herodias’ daughter danced for the crowd. Herod was extremely pleased, and in his stupor, promised the young girl anything she asked. Prompted by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a plate. Herod certainly did not expect this request and did not want to have John killed. Unfortunately, Herod was a coward. He cared more about what others thought of him and what they would say if he denied the girl’s request. He had John the Baptist killed and his head was presented to the girl on a platter. (Cf. Matthew 14:6-12).

The Legacy of Saint John the Baptist

Saint John the Baptist lived for God. From his conception to his death, he was full of a fire and burning zeal for the Lord. In his life, he displayed courage and fortitude, doing the right thing no matter the consequences. He lived in a way that showed this time on earth is temporary. More than criticism, imprisonment, pain, or even death, he feared offending God. Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of many things, including conversion and the sanctity of marriage. From what we know of his earthly life, I can only imagine the strength and help he is willing to give us from heaven. Let us remember his life and death and call upon him for courage as we continue to walk in faith.

Saint John the Baptist, pray for us.

To purchase a holy card with a prayer to Saint John the Baptist, click here!

Before You Go

Do you have a devotion to Saint John the Baptist?

Do you ever feel called to share your faith and speak up to those who openly defy God?

Did you learn anything new in this article?

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