This is part of today’s reading. I’m interested in the reaction of Herod.
15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20added to them all by shutting up John in prison.
via Daily Lectionary Readings — Devotions and Readings — Ministries & Programs — GAMC.
John was the last prophet (and like many prophets, he was killed). The crowd was looking for the Messiah — in part because of Daniel’s prediction that the Messiah would arrive around this time — and in part because Palestine was divided between a Roman occupied province and areas ruled by their vassals. (Such as Herod).
So we have the people looking at John in hope. And Herod shutting him up, because he was speaking the truth. Some things don’t change.
We need to speak the truth: but we should not delude ourselves. Regardless of the law or any human rights, rulers — those in power — will try to silence those who speak against them, particularly if they are saying something accurate.
