Mark 6: 21-29 (NLT)
Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!” She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!” So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!” Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb.
Few in the Bible have entered the scene with more bang than John. We see him first flipping in his mother’s belly when he came near the embryonic Jesus in Mary’s belly. Then we witness him explode back into the Gospel story by departing into the wilderness and shouting about repentance and the coming of the One who will rescue the world from their transgressions. He baptizes this Savior and then disappears before springing back up in prison. Although in jail for serving the Savior, we have no record of Jesus going to visit John. We only have Jesus’ response to John’s soul searching questions, in which he affirmed that He was Messiah and the blind were seeing and the lame walking. But still no personal visit from the Savior.
Have you ever felt like John? Like you were chosen by God to do a great work? Like you had been faithful to do and complete the work? And then, for some reason you can’t explain, God abandoned you? Like he failed to come visit, failed to offer encouragement, failed to say thank you, failed to release you from whatever prison you’re incarcerated in? We have all been rocked by these emotions at some point. We have all, like John, asked God if He is indeed the Savior and thereby, given the lonely sentiment that we’re feeling neglected.
Similar to our learning from Herod yesterday, we can learn from John today.
Despite not understanding fully the plan of God, John remained faithful. He trusted God and endured to the end. He questioned but never quit. And he was never truly abandoned or alone. And he is enjoying the prize now!
