And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
Read Chapter 14
Gregory The Dialogist
AD 604
Mor., iii, 7: But not without most deep wonder do I consider, that he who in his mother’s womb was filled with the spirit of prophecy, than whom there arose not a greater among them that are born of women, is cast into prison by wicked men, and is beheaded because of the dancing of a girl, and that a man of such severe life dies for the sport of shameful men.
Mor., xxix, 7: And John is not sought out to suffer concerning the confession of Christ, but for the truth of righteousness. But because Christ is truth, hegoes to death for Christ in going for truth. It follows, “And his disciples came, and took up his body, and buried it.”
Mystically, John represents the Law; for the Law preached Christ, and John cameof the Law, preaching Christ out of the Law. Herod is the Prince of the people, and the Prince of the people bears the name and the cause of the whole body put under him. John then warned Herod that he should not take to him his brother's wife. For there are and there were two people, of the circumcision, and of the Gentiles; and these are brethren, children of the same parent of the human race, but the Law warned Israel that, he should not take to him the works of the Gentiles and unbelief which was united to them as by the bond of conjugallove.On the birthday, that is amidst the enjoyments of the things of the body, the daughter of Herodias danced; for pleasure, as it were springing from unbelief, was carried in its alluring course throughout the whole of Israel, and the nation bound itself thereto as by an oath, for sin and worldly pleasures the Israelites sold the gifts of eternal life. But forced by its...
Amid the other enjoyments of the profligate company, the head of John is brought on a platter. Thus the pleasures of the body and worldly extravagance reach the point where the girl carries the head to her mother. And so shameful Israel surrenders the glory of the law to the pleasure and infidelity of its Herodian household, who were formerly Gentiles. Now that the time of the law is over and buried with John, his disciples announce to the Lord the events that transpired, as they leave the law and come to the Gospels.
Lib. Syn., ii, 10: In evil promises then break faith. That promise is impious which must be kept by crime; that oath is not to be observed by which we have unwittingly pledged ourselves to evil. It follows, “And she being before instructed of her mother said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.”
We find no others keeping their birthday besides Herod and Pharaoh, that they who were alike in their wickedness might be alike in their festivities.
I do not excuse Herod that he committed this murder against his will by reason of his oath, for perhaps he took the oath for the very purpose of bringing about the murder. But if he says that he did it for his oath’s sake, had she asked the death of her mother, or her father, would he have granted it or not? What then he would have refused in his own person, he ought to have rejected in that of the Prophet.
For Herodias, fearing that Herod might some time recover his senses, and be reconciled to his brother, and dissolve their unlawful union by a divorce, instructs her daughter to ask at once at the banquet the head of John, a reward of blood worthy of the deed of the dancing.
Hieron. Liv. xxxix, 43: We read in Roman history, that Flaminius, a Roman general, sitting at supper with his mistress, on her saying that she had never seen a man ...
Josephus relates that in a certain town of Arabia John’s head had been cut off. As to the words that follow, “and his disciples came and took the body,” we presume these people are the disciples of both John and the Savior. .
Here is a twofold accusation against the damsel, that she danced, and that she chose to ask an execution as her reward. Observe how Herod is at once cruel and yielding; he obliges himself by an oath, and leaves her free to choose her request. Yet when he knew what evil was resulting from her request, he was grieved, “And the king was sorry,” for virtue gains praise and admiration even among the bad. This dissembler of his own inclinations, this contriver of a murder displayed sorrow in his face, when he had joy in his mind. “For his oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he command edit to be given. "He excuses his crime by his oath, that his wickedness might be done under a pretence of piety. That he adds, “and them that sat at meat with him,” he would have them all sharers in his crime, that abloody dish might be brought in, in a luxurious feast.
If he was afraid to have so many witnesses of his perjury, how much more ought he to have feared so many witnesses of a murder?....
Antiq. xviii, 5: Josephus relates, that John was sent bound to the castle ofMecheron, and there beheaded; but ecclesiastical history relates that he was buried in Sebastia, a town of Palestine, which was formerly called Samaria.
Otherwise; Even at this day we see that in the head of the Prophet John the Jews have lost Christ, who is the head of the Prophets.
It should be known that it is customary not for rich only but for poor mothers also, to educate their daughters so chastely, that they are scarce so much as seen by strangers. But this unchaste woman had so brought up her daughter after the same manner, that she had taught her not chastity but dancing. Nor is Herod to be less blamed who forgot that his was aroyal palace, but this woman made it a theatre; “And it pleased Herod, so that he swore with an oath that he would give her whatsoever she should ask of him.”.
Here is a less sin done for the sake of another greater; he would not extinguish his lustful desires, and therefore he betakes him to luxurious living; he would not put any restraint on his luxury, and thus he passes to the guilt of murder; for, “He sent and beheaded John in prison, and his head was brought in a charger.”.
Otherwise; The beheading of John marks the increase of that fame which Christhas among the people, as the exaltation of the Lord upon the cross marks the p...
. He was sorry because of John’s virtue, for even the enemy in war marvels at valor displayed by his adversary.(**2 p.123) But because of his oaths, he gives the inhuman gift. Let us learn from this that it is sometimes better to perjure oneself than to do something ungodly because of an oath. The body of the Baptist was buried in Sebaste Caesarea. But his precious head was buried the first time in Emesa. "And they went and told Jesus." What did they tell Jesus? Not that John had died, for the account of John’s death was given parenthetically. But rather, they told Jesus what Herod was saying about Him, that Jesus was John.
