At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.

6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. Matthew 14:1-12

John the Baptist was killed for telling the truth bluntly to the reigning authorities. For John to have known about the illicit relationship, it must have been information that was out in the public.

John said what he needed to say regardless of the consequences.

The truth can be hard for many people to swallow. Some might even argue that if John had kept his mouth shut, he would have lived much longer. Perhaps.

But for some reason, John needed to confront Herod with the truth and he needed to do it in the way that he did it.

On occasion, we are called to speak hard truth to those who have no desire to hear it. It’s not fun and bad things could come out of it, but it is necessary. In fact, many who you thought were on your side could turn against you, but you still have to do it because nobody else will.

For some, this may be more of a reality than others.

You need to hear this.