Dem Kill Person for Birthday Party

Jesus disciples dey preach for Galilee, but the person wey prepare the road for Jesus no get that kind chance. E don almost reach two years since John the Baptist dey prison.

John no fear to talk about the bad thing wey King Herod Antipas do. Herod divorce im first wife so that e go marry Herodias wey be the wife of im half-brother, Philip. Herod dey claim sey e dey obey the Law of Moses. But the Law no support this kind marriage, and e bad for God eye. Because of wetin John talk, Herod put am for prison. E be like sey na Herodias push am to do am.

Herod no know wetin e go do John, because the people see am as prophet. (Matthew 14:5) But Herodias know wetin to do. E get bad belle for John and the truth be sey, e dey find how e go take kill am. (Mark 6:19) Last last, the chance don come.

Sometime before the Passover of 32 C.E., Herod arrange one big party for im birthday. All the big men wey dey work for am, im army officers and the people wey get high position for Galilee come the party. As dem dey eat and drink, dem send Salome, the pikin wey Herodias born for Philip, make e dance for the visitors. The men really enjoy theirself because the girl dance well.

Herod happy well well for wetin im step-daughter do. E come tell am sey: “Ask me anything wey you want, and I go give you.” E even swear sey: “Anything wey you ask from me, I go give you, even if na half of my kingdom.” Before e answer Herod, Salome come go ask im mama sey: “Wetin I go ask for?”—Mark 6:22-24.

This na the opportunity wey Herodias dey find since! Quick quick, e answer sey, “John the Baptist head.” At once, Salome go back to Herod and tell am wetin e want: “I want make you give me the head of John the Baptist for tray, now now.”—Mark 6:24, 25.

This thing worry Herod for mind well well, but im visitors hear when e dey promise Salome. So na shame for am if e no do as e promise. But instead make e bear the shame, e come agree to kill person wey no do anything. Herod send one of im bodyguard go the prison. E no tey, the bodyguard come back with John head for tray. E give am to Salome, and Salome carry am go give im mama.

When John disciples hear wetin happen, dem come carry John body go bury. Later, dem report the matter give Jesus.

Later, when Herod hear sey Jesus dey cure people and dey drive demon from people body, e come dey fear. E dey wonder whether Jesus wey dey do this miracle, na John the Baptist wey “come back to life.” (Luke 9:7) So, Herod Antipas come dey hungry to see Jesus. No be sey e want hear Jesus preaching. But, e want dey sure whether the thing wey dey worry am for mind na true.