29  He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. (Jn 3:29)

“What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?  8  What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.  9  What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. (Matt 11:7-9)

11  Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. (Matt 11:11)

34  “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.  35  For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  36  And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.  37  Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  38  And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.  39  Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matt 10:34-39)

14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus,  2  and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”  3  For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,  4  because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”  5  And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.  6  But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod,  7  so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.  8  Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”  9  And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.  10  He sent and had John beheaded in the prison,  11  and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl,
and she brought it to her mother.  12  And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. (Matt 14:1-12)

16  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16)

19  Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,  20  that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19-20)

“It is not lawful for you to have her.” (Matt 14:4)

18  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18).

Letters from Birmingham jail
33  So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:33)
11  And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. (Rev 12:11)