John the Baptist’s exhortations against King Herod and his wife Herodias resulted in John’s imprisonment and ultimately, his death.  (See Matthew 14:3-12)

  Because of his exhortations against Herod for marrying his brother’s wife, she (Herodias) was angered as well as her husband.  Eventually John was arrested and put into prison.  There he stayed until he was beheaded.

(NASB) Luke 3:19-20 “But when Herod the tetrarch was reprimanded by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done,
20 Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison.”

John was used mightily in the proclamation of Messiah long before he died.

Those who tell the truth are often belittled or beheaded.  They are a threat to those whose position and power are questioned.  Those people like to be upheld and revered.  John did not do that, and he did it publicly.

Do you know people like King Herod and Herodias?  To get their way they destroy any who are in their path to ‘greatness’.

What did John preach?  The Good News of the need to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  (See Matthew 3:2)

What did John say to the crowds?  The truth of God…warning of God’s coming wrath.  King Herod and his wife Herodias did not listen…they reacted with vengeance and cruelty.

Everyone has two choices…to respond to God’s warnings or to reject them…what do you choose?