<p>After John's birth, his father Zechariah spoke Isaiah's prophecy ('Benedictus'), saying that his son John would prepare the way of the Lord. Luke writes that John lived alone in the wilderness until "the word of God came to him," then began to travel around the countryside, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, thus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah.</p>
<p>In his zeal, John reproved Herod the tetrarch for, among other things, living with Herodias, his brother's wife, so the ruler had him imprisoned, but did not mistreat him. On his birthday, when Salome the daughter of Herodias danced, Herod was so impressed that he invited her to ask for whatever she wanted. She consulted her mother who told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Herod could not refuse to honour his oath. The news of John's death soon reached his disciples who came for the body and laid it in a tomb.<br /></p>
<p>©2011 <em>Living with Christ, </em>Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., <strong>http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/</strong>. Reprinted with permission.</p>
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