THE SHADOW OF THE FORERUNNER

        (Reflection for the Memorial of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist, August 29)

 Today we celebrate the heavenly birth of St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He bore witness to Jesus with his life, as his head was carried on a platter. He was the Voice that announced and pointed to the Messiah: “Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world” (Jn 1:29). This proclamation he did, not just verbally, but in the circumstances of his life. In the shadow of the events surrounding the life and death of John, Jesus was being revealed. 

From birth, John the Baptist was already preparing the way for Jesus. Elizabeth’s barrenness introduces Mary’s virginity. This is so because, though barrenness and virginity are not exactly the same, both await fruitfulness. The two parents had unique closeness to God. Zachariah and Elizabeth came from priestly families and lived uprightly (cf. Lk 1:5-6). Joseph, of the house of David (Lk 1: 27), was an upright man (Mt 1:19), as Mary was a woman of faith (cf. Lk 1:45). Angel Gabriel’s encounter with Zachariah assumed a more perfect status during his Annunciation to Mary. Then, the earth has yielded its fruit (Ps 67:6). Elizabeth’s humiliation was taken away (cf. Lk 1: 25), as Joseph tried to save Mary from disgrace (Mt 1:19). From the womb, John was already announcing in silence that Jesus is the Lord as he leapt for joy (Lk 1:44).

Silence speaks! In it the Baptist’s life points to Jesus. His days in the desert would pave way for Jesus’ entry into the desert, with fasting and prayer, accompanied with temptation (Mk 1:12-13). His preaching and baptism announced the immediacy of the coming Messiah (Mt 3:2). “...But someone is coming, who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Lk 3:16). However, the Pharisees did not believe John (Lk 7: 30, Mk 11:31) and they questioned him (Jn 1:24-25), thereby mastering their deceitful act of questioning and setting trap for Jesus. Both John and Jesus called them, “brood of vipers” (Mt 3: 7; 12:34), as if Jesus used to listen to John before beginning His public ministry.  The grudge of the Pharisees for the Baptist lingered...

 

And Herodias embodied this grudge. Then John was imprisoned for speaking the truth. By this he foreshadowed the future: the Messiah would be exchanged for a prisoner and questioned about the truth. Herod liked to listen to John, and he longed to see Jesus (Lk 9:9). While he had no intention of killing John, he did not find Jesus guilty. So, while Herod was perplexed at hearing the voice of John (Mk 6:20), Pilate was disturbed at the presence of Jesus (Jn 19: 12). But both rulers had pride and prestige to protect, even at the cost of the innocent ones. 

 

The ‘silent’ voice of Herodias echoed in the banquet hall (which points to the Praetorium): “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, immediately, on a dish” (Mk 6:25). Such demand would be heard again as they shouted, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him” (Jn 19:15).  Herod was perplexed as Pilate tried to save Jesus, but another background voice of a wife echoed, “Have nothing to do with that upright man...” (Mt 27:19). The vengeful grudge of Herodias became more bloodthirsty in the Chief Priests and elders of the people: “If you set him free you are no friend of Caesar’s” (Jn 19:12). Those background voices signed the execution sheet of the innocent ones. 

 

We almost excused Herod since the King must abide by his oath, just as we get confused whom to blame for the death of Jesus as Pilate washes off his hand. In all pride and excessive love for power ruled. The Baptist points to Jesus as in his shadow we get deeper insight into some of Jesus’ proclamations: “Do not swear at all...” (Mt 5:33-37), “Anyone who want to be great among you must be your servant” (Mk 10:43), “You have heard how it was said to our ancestors, You shall not kill...but I say to you, anyone who is angry with a brother will answer for it before the court” (Mt 5:21). How can the head of John the Baptist be part of the property of the King to fulfil an oath? 

 

The gang up never changed. From Herodias through her daughter to Herod, so it played out from the Chief priests through the Pharisees and scribes to Pilate. The order was given. As the soldier matched to the guard room to fetch the head of John, so we hear their footsteps in the Garden of Gethsemane...Herod’s daughter, consumed by the greed of Judas, exchanged John the Baptist for a price! We are shocked at such cruelty meted at the Baptist. His absence when judgement was passed on him points to Jesus silence at his own judgement (Jn 19:9-10).

 

“When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb” (Mk 6:29). After the death of Jesus, “Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a disciple of Jesus—though a secret one...asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus” (Jn 19:38). In the case of John, unnamed disciples took his body, in that of Jesus, a named disciple took his body away. The body of John the Baptist foreshadows the Body of Jesus. “This is my body which is given for you” (Lk 22:19). The secret disciple will be revealed as he takes the Body of Christ. Discipleship is now open to all peoples of every nationality. The Baptist’s dead body continues to bear witness that part of the duty of the would be disciples of Jesus includes taking responsibility for the Body of their Master. Every Christ’s faithful is entrusted with the Body of Christ. And he must order his life accordingly so as to contribute to the building up of His Body, the Church and the reign of His Kingdom. 

 

At the conclusion of his ministry, John the Baptist testified, “My purpose of coming to baptise with water was so that He might be revealed to Israel” (Jn 1:31). “I am not the Christ; I am the one who has been sent to go in front of him...He must grow  greater, I must grow less” (Jn 3:28-30). John’s life and ministry were offloaded into that of Jesus Christ as two of his disciples follow Jesus (Jn 1:37).

 

In Jesus, therefore, what appeared like a shadow in John is realized and fulfilled. “Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them” (Mt 5:17). Now, joy dawns in our hearts as we come to realize that the Baptist’s witness to Jesus has a deeper meaning. His life as the Forerunner, above all, was a participation in that of Jesus. He could say with Paul, “I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me” (Gal 2:20). In him also, the eternal dimension of Jesus’ work of salvation shines out. 

As we celebrate today, John the Great, the Voice in the Wilderness, speaks to our hearts as we trace the shadow of his life and ministry. Each of us should live as to reflect the image of Christ. We are to foreshadow Jesus to our neighbours for he is close at hand, and as we await His second coming. Our lives should always re-echo the words of John the Baptist: “I have seen and I testify that he is the Chosen One of God” (Jn 1:34).

Fr Jude C. Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Memorial of the Beheading of John the Baptist

St Mark Catholic Church,

Ohovbe, Benin City, Nigeria.

Monday, August 29, 2016.