The story of the martyrdom of John the Baptist is really about peer pressure. The daughter of Herodias, the wife of the king, (we know her name, Salome, from extra-Biblical sources) asked for the head of John the Baptist “on a platter.” The king, Herod Antipas, who had promised ahead of time to grant “whatever you wish” knows this is an unjust action but, “because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her.” He went along with the execution so he would look good to his companions. Peer pressure is not just something teens experience but we all do every day. We don’t want to get anyone upset so we tolerate hateful speech just to get along.
