John heard a rustling in the darkness and opened his eyes. But instead of darkness he saw shadows cast against the dungeon wall by a strong light. He turned to the light and saw a man -- a man in white with golden hair. The man himself was the source of the light. John sat up instantly awake.
"My Lord!" he gasped.
"Greetings, prophet of God!" said Belfaire.
John hung his head and dropped his eyes toward the dungeon floor. "I am no prophet," he said.
"But you are a prophet. You are chosen of God to prepare his people for the Kingdom of the Messiah."
"He chose the wrong man," replied John. His downcast eyes avoided the messenger of God. "I have failed. All I ever wanted was to do God's work, but I am shut away in this prison, all but a few followers have forgotten me, and I do not even know for certain who the Messiah is. For all I know I may die here -- a worthless failure to God."
"John, you have served God faithfully, and your mission is almost complete. You see defeat and disappointment, but you do not see as God sees. Let me speak to you clearly. The people of Israel honor you above any man. They know you to be a prophet of God. Joshua is indeed the Messiah. His ways may be puzzling to you, but only because they are beyond your understanding. Because of your preparation, God's people in Israel will know him, and the Kingdom will grow in Israel, and beyond to the gentiles, until it covers the entire world. And when Herod's name is all but forgotten, people everywhere will recall that you were the one who prepared the way for God's anointed and witnessed him."
John was overcome by Belfair's words. Had he not disappointed God after all! His chest began to heave and tears burst forth. Belfaire was silent as John was convulsed with racking sobs. "All I ever wanted was to do God's work," he groaned.
When John was silent, Belfaire continued. "You have prophesied truly in another matter. You will die in this prison. In fact, you will die this very night. You have one more mission to complete."
Surprisingly this news did not even startle John. He was in a state of deep peace. "Whatever you say, Lord."
"One other thing," said Belfaire. "You are released of your vows, and need not concern yourself with them any longer."
John was puzzled. "If I am a dead man, what possible significance can there be to abandoning my vows?" he asked.
Belfaire smiled. "Enjoy the good things of God," he said. And he was gone, and the room was dark.
Heavy boots clumped down the corridor to the door of the dungeon. The heavy door opened and two of Herod's soldiers appeared. Stephen held a platter.
"Tonight this platter will serve two functions," said Stephen menacingly. "First it brings you your last meal, Baptist. If you will eat it!" he smirked.
He thrust the platter in John's face. Grapes! A big pile of grapes. And beside them a goblet of wine. John began to eat them. Delicious, he thought. Better than he had ever imagined. Then the wine. Unbelievable. God was the author of such good things.
Stephen and his companion were shocked to silence as they watched John leisurely eat every grape and finish the wine.
When he was finished, Stephen spat, "Now this platter will carry your head to the audience in the banquet hall. Do you have anything to say before we lift your head?"
"Yes," said John calmly. "I will prophesy concerning you, soldier. When you become a follower of Joshua, you will teach his followers regarding the Messiah, so that they will not be lost when the temple is no more. Furthermore, you will bring to Joshua the man who will take the message of the Kingdom to all the nations."
Stephen grimaced. "Enough words, crazy man." He turned to the other soldier. "Take off his head."
"How can I chop through all that hair without making a mess," he asked. "This is a present to Herod’s favorite. He would not look kindly on a sloppy job."
"Then cut his hair," said Stephen. The soldier took out his dagger and began to cut John's hair, dropping the locks in big piles on the floor. John's head felt light as the hair fell away. It was really quite comfortable. The soldier did not cut the beard.
When he had finished cutting, the guard positioned John with his neck extended. He pulled his heavy sword and raised it high in the air. The soldier asked, "What of me, prophet?"
"I do not know," replied John.
The sword swooped down, and John's mission was completed.
