The Beheading of St John the Baptist (Mark 6:17-29)

The imprisonment and brutal death of St John the Baptist is recorded in three of the gospels, although St Mark’s account is the most detailed (Matthew 14:3-12; Mark 6:17-29; Luke 3:19-20; 9:7-9).

As background, King Herod of Galilee had married Herodias, his brother’s wife. Not one to hold back, St John the Baptist told him in no uncertain terms that it wasn’t lawful for him to be in a relationship with his brother’s wife. This made Herod furious and he had St John thrown into prison, hoping that this would silence him.

Herodias was also seething about St John’s comments and she wanted him dead. However, Herod thought that he was a good man. He also knew that the people were on his side and viewed him as a prophet. Fearing their reaction, he protected St John from his wife’s anger.

Eventually, Herod’s birthday came round, so he threw a grand banquet for the movers and shakers of Galilee. During the banquet, Salome, who was the daughter of Herodias, performed a dance for Herod and his guests. This pleased the king, leading him to publicly promise to give the young woman whatever she asked for in return. He confirmed this promise with an oath.

Salome then consulted her mother, who saw an opportunity for revenge against St John. So Herodias advised her to ask for his head on a dish. The daughter returned to Herod and in front of all the guests, asked exactly for that.

When Herod heard this he was very sad, but, because of his oath, he felt he had been backed into a corner. He immediately sent one of his bodyguards to the prison where St John was being held with orders to behead him. The bodyguard did so, returning with his head. This was placed upon a dish and brought to the young woman, who carried it to her triumphant mother.

This finely detailed mosaic scene of the beheading of St John is found in the sanctuary of St John the Baptist, Rochdale. Dating to 1932-1933, it was created by Eric Newton of the Ludwig Oppenheimer firm and is part of a wider scheme. The mosaic pictures the bodyguard unsheathing his sword to behead the kneeling St John, while Herod and Herodias look on.

The combination of the bodyguard’s active stance and St John’s resigned posture makes for a striking contrast. The Latin caption, sed misso speculatore praecepit adferri caput eius in disco, is from Mark 6:27 and means ‘he immediately ordered an executioner to bring him John’s head.’

See the full image:

Where to find this work of art
St John the Baptist, Rochdale

Read the relevant passage
Mark 6:17-29

On a similar theme

• From the Old Testament: King Ahab of Israel – and his wife Queen Jezebel – plotted the death of the Prophet Elijah.
• From the New Testament: It was the Preaching of St John the Baptist that landed him in trouble with King Herod.