29/08/2026
*WHERE ARE THE PROPHETS: A REFLECTION FOR THE MEMORIAL OF THE BEHEADING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (Mark 6:17-29)*
(Read and S )
Chidiebere Okechukwu.
Today the Church calls to mind the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist. By the way, what was the offense of John the Baptist? It is simply because he told Herod the prophetic truth that the high priest, ministers of different portfolios, with ministerial appointments, governors, Senators, counselors, house members, priests,Cardinals, ArchBishops
Bishops, Deacons, Evangelists, Pastors, Reverends, Kings, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, Queens, Princes, Princesses, Healing ministers, Singing ministers, Teaching ministers, Stewards, and ushers could not tell him, namely: "It is unlawful for you to have Herodias your brother Philip's wife." Can you imagine: some of them were at the table wining and dinning with him, telling Herod, he was doing well and praising his administration, and collecting illegal fat envelops, then sweeping evil under the carpet, while the flocks are hungry. That was all! Mark 6:18.
But thank God, the Voice of Prophecy Stood Tall and can NEVER BE SILENCED! It has an enduring Gene-Athanatos. (unkillable) Even if you Kill the messenger, the message will resurrect (Mark 6 :17 - 29).
In Jeremiah 1:17ff, the Lord told Jeremiah the prophet, as He tells you, "prepare yourself for action. Stand up and tell them all I command you... and in their presence I will make you fearless." That was the divine mandate that empowered Prophet Jeremiah and indeed all the prophets including John the Baptist whose demise we celebrate today.
According to William Barclay, *"A Prophet is one who comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable."* Socrates, describing the prophets says: "God ...uses the diviners and holy Prophets, in order that we who hear them may know them to be speaking, not of themselves who utter these priceless words in a state of unconsciousness, but that God Himself is the speaker, and that through them, He is conversing with us." I call a prophet someone who dares the danger and endangers the dared, who troubles your trouble and a trouble to your troubler. This is what it means with the signs of the time.
Prophetically, John had told Herod the King : 'It is against the law for you to have your brother's wife'. He may likely have said it in public and that's why Herodias was terribly hurt and intended to kill the man of God. But the Bible says that Herod was in awe of John, knowing him to be a good and upright man and gave him protection. When he heard him speak, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
Such is the power of a prophet. He has the wisdom of God in his mind, the courage of God in his heart and the truth of God in his lips always. In his mode of living, he has no fear of persons.
'They will fight against you but will not overcome you for I am with you', Yahweh declares, 'to rescue you'. But in the case of John the Baptist, it was such a tragic story.
It took three (3) wicked factors to bring down the great man of God John:
1. The drunken oath of a shallow minded king. Beware of what you say and vow when you are happy, and what you say when you are angry, for it may choke you.
2. The seductive dance of a beautiful girl. Many of such dances and songs abound today and many go by it. No wonder in any music video now on TV, you must see the artist with a woman, either Ifeoma, I love you or Baby' i love you". That sells more. Well that aside, everyone with their own! On the last day only God knows, because some parents wear those clothes and dangerous fashion in the street, eg. Bumshots, showbursts, showbra, etc, even kids wear them to birthday parties for erotic dance. Hmmmmm odi egwu! What you sow you reap!
3. The hateful heart of a bitter Queen. Some are like this queen in bitterness. Your friend told you not to date that married man/woman, because of that hatred came. Who will pay my bills? You ask. Etc, what truth have you and I heard but you created hatred? Buy the Truth and sell it not!
See the courageous witnessing to the truth and justice by this hero, John the Baptist that we celebrate today. His dictates of his life remain points of contact for the modern day challenge of prophetism. Let me state it clearly here now that there are two (2) types of 'Prophets' roaming around the Church of today. One is authentic for the children of God and the other is for the wicked leaders.
(1) The one that challenges authorities (whether civil or ecclesiastical) when they are in error without fear but with prudence/ respect. This one is the voice of the people in the midst of marginalisation. This is the one some leaders will like to kill, and call "the troubler of Israel" (1 Kings 18:17-19). These are the John the Baptist and the Elijah of old. This kind discomforts the comfort of wicked leaders.
(2) The one that praises the authorities like sychophants even when they are in error without shame and integrity. I detest the latter more than the former. This one is for the wicked leaders and are out for their pockets.
My dear reader, who will tell our leaders the truth and not take sides with them? I can still hear the likes of Chinua Achebe crying out loud that 'The problem with our country is purely and squarely that of lack of leadership', cm corruption. If you speak, trouble, you keep quiet, a case. But there is a need to voice out. Where then are the Elijahs?
With Nigeria and most African, and other countries still surrounded by the Herods, Herodias, the Pilates, the Ahabs, the Jezebels, of our time, history keeps repeating itself, but we are not discouraged. With so much homilitic prudence, epiphanic, philosophical, logical, theological refinements and linguistic niceties, I am afraid whether the 'Johns' can still tell the 'Herods' the raw truth namely: 'It is against the law for you to have your brother's wife'.
Beloved one, What is that "take of brother's wife" you needed to speak out against in your church, work place, family, country? It could be bribery, gossip, stealing, injustice etc. But be wise as a Serpent and as gentle as a Dove!
We need more John the Baptists who will be good and upright, courageous and wise enough to do just this now in our country and other countries, because our people are dying. We need those that will trouble the troubles of Nigeria and truly speak against marginalisation and poor governance with the grace of the pulpit.
*Let Us Pray*
*Oh God, send another Elijah here to bring your power down, send the fire, also send the rain to heal the sick, raise the dead, speak against ills in the society and thus, glorify your name; in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!*
