“20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 26And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 27And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. 30And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.” (Mark 6:20-30)
John the Baptist angers the rulers of the Galilee because he is determined to spread his faith and unwilling to ignore the sins he witnesses. Herod Antipas, the son of King Herod, fears the Baptist will stir up crowds and stage a rebellion against him. Following John’s criticism of Herod Antipas’ marriage to Herodias—who was formerly the wife of Herod Anitipas’ half-brother—Herodias hatches a plan to destroy him. John is imprisoned and beheaded in the fortress of Machaerus. The terrible news soon reaches Jesus and his followers who, in spite of their grief, turn the tragedy into a source of inspiration. They decide to honor John’s life by clinging steadfastly to their beliefs and continue to search for the light amidst the darkness.
Restraint is the time taken after an impulse to restrict negative thoughts and behaviors.
