Matthew 14:5, 10

“And though he wanted to put [John the Baptist] to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.” (Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭5‬)

“He sent and had John beheaded in the prison,” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14‬:‭10‬)

Herod the Tetrarch (aka Antipas), the son of Herod the Great, is known for two things in the New Testament. In reverse occurrence, he was the Herod involved in the trial of Jesus and the execution of John the Baptist.

Herod Antipas was angry with John because John had criticized him for taking and marrying his own half-brother’s wife. Herod was stung by the criticism. John’s courage and conviction were amazing. He lived in a place and time where publicly proclaiming one’s biblical convictions had real-world consequences. John stood on business, and it cost him his life. However, his eternal reward was what is sometimes referred to as a martyr’s crown. Biblically, this is called the crown of life.

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬)

In the New Testament, there are two Greek words for crown, and they indicate very different crowns. First is diadem, the crown of royalty. The second word is stephanos, which refers to the victor’s crown. Think of the wreath placed on the head of the winner of an early Olympic competition. There was a distinction between the stephanos of the Olympic champion and the stephanos received by God’s faithful servants. Paul addresses this distinction in his first letter to Corinth, home of the biannual Isthmian games (a mini Olympics):

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable stephanos, but we an imperishable stephanos.” (‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭9‬:‭24‬-‭25‬, emphasis added)

The costly faithfulness of John the Baptist and the admonition of Paul encourage me to press on for Christ today, walking faithfully in the power of the Spirit, exercising self-control and wisdom.

Father, help me not fade away today from fear of losing social credit for being a recognizable Christian. Instead, please help me faithfully represent you today in the hope of glorifying you and being awarded an imperishable stephanos. Amen.