Gospel in Art: The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist

(John the Baptist III), by Ana Maria Pacheco, 1992 © Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 29 August 2025
Mark 6:17-29

At that time: Herod had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, 'It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.' And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, 'Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.' And he vowed to her, 'Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.' And she went out and said to her mother, 'For what should I ask?' And she said, 'The head of John the Baptist.' And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, 'I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.' And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Reflection on the Contemporary Art Sculpture

I remember reading today's Gospel story in my Children's Bible as a boy, and of all the stories in the New Testament, this was the one that genuinely frightened me. It is so stark, so cruel, and so graphic. Throughout art history, I have found that depictions of the beheading of St John the Baptist are at their most powerful when the artist strips everything back to the bare essence: the head of the saint presented on a plate. Such images are hard to look at, yet they speak most directly of the reality of that day: the vanity, weakness, and abuse of power by Herod, which culminated in John's brutal death.

At its heart, today's Gospel contrasts two men who could not be more different: one a believer, the other not. In Herod, we see unbelief laid bare and the terrible consequences it breeds. Opposite him stands John the Baptist, a man of unwavering conviction, so committed to the truth of his faith that he was willing to die for it. Herod quite literally silenced John by severing his head, simply to avoid hearing the truth proclaimed from his lips. When people refuse to face the truth, they will go to great lengths to hide it, suppress it, or even destroy the one who speaks it.

It is a gruesome episode, yet it is far from unique. Throughout history, heads have rolled because men and women stood their ground for the sake of faith. It still happens today. In conflicts for justice and for the Christian faith, the fate of John the Baptist is mirrored in the courage of modern-day martyrs. These new witnesses, in their hour of trial, must surely think of John's steadfastness. Their assurance, then as now, is that God stands with them, works through them, and receives them. We owe them a deep debt of gratitude. They inspire us by their selfless heroism, urging us to proclaim the Gospel with courage, clarity, and joy without counting the cost.

Today, we pause to pray for these modern martyrs around the world. According to statistics, 4,476 Christians were killed for their faith between October 2023 and September 2024, while more than 380 million suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination. Various organisations estimate that around 13 Christians die daily for their faith (nearly one every two hours). These are sobering reminders that martyrdom is not merely a relic of the past but a present reality. May our prayers support those who suffer, and may God grant them peace and courage.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-6-17-29-2025/