There
is no doubt that blessed John suffered imprisonment and chains as a
witness to our Redeemer, whose forerunner he was, and gave his life
for him. His persecutor had demanded not that he should deny Christ,
but only that he should keep silent about the truth. Nevertheless, he
died for Christ. Does Christ not say: “I am the truth”?
Therefore, because John shed his blood for the truth, he surely died
for Christ. Through his birth, preaching and baptizing, he bore
witness to the coming birth, preaching and baptism of Christ, and by
his own suffering he showed that Christ also would suffer. Such was
the quality and strength of the man who accepted the end of this
present life by shedding his blood after the long imprisonment. He
preached the freedom of heavenly peace, yet was thrown into irons by
ungodly men. He was locked away in the darkness of prison, though he
came bearing witness to the Light of life and deserved to be called a
bright and shining lamp by that Light itself, which is Christ.
– Saint
Bede the Venerable
from a homily about the death of Saint John the Baptist
