Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:8-14 (NIV)
If we believe in the goodness of God, it also means we believe that evil is a real thing. This world is both beautiful and horrific. Everyday, there are amazing things that happen and really terrible things. In the passage above, Herodias used her daughter to request that John the Baptist be beheaded and have his head brought out to her on a platter. There’s manipulation and murder in this short passage. I imagine how grieved John’s disciples were when this happened and also how grieved Jesus must have felt.
When it happened, the Bible says Jesus withdrew by boat to a solitary place (v. 13). John had a special role in Jesus’ ministry. He prepared the way for Jesus’ coming. He baptized Jesus. They worked together to accomplish the work of the Lord. I bet that kind of working together gave them a great closeness. They did meaningful work together.
Then not only is John killed, but his head is brought out on a platter at a dinner party. Paraded around like a trophy of triumph for King Herod and his wife Herodias. You see, John told Herod that he shouldn’t marry his brother’s ex-wife. But instead of heeding John’s rebuke, Herod and Herodias wanted John dead and succeeded. They finally got rid of the one who told them they should not have what they desired.
Jesus was grieved. He withdrew to be alone with the news of his friend’s murder. Then the crowds followed him. I imagine the scene as something similar to when my kids follow me around the house. “Where are you going? What are you doing? I need you for something.” Thankfully Jesus wasn’t annoyed with the crowds when they followed him. Instead, he saw the crowd and had compassion on them and healed their sick (v. 14). Seeing their need shifted his heart and his mind back to bringing the goodness of God to the people.
I’ve grieved a lot about the things I miss since Covid started. I miss friends. I miss adult conversations without my kids around. I miss working at school. Some days I just feel like staying in bed and sitting in my sadness. But when I see my kids (who have followed me into my room) and think of my friends and family, I’m reminded that God still has work for me to do while I’m here. And that helps me get out of bed and carry on with life.
The same is true for you. There are people who need to experience the goodness of God through your interactions with them. “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works he has prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). This verse is true in non-Covid and Covid times. I pray the Lord would help you to see the good works he has prepared for you to do and that knowing he is still using you for good work will help you to carry on today.
Savina Steimlosk was born and raised in Hawaii, where she met and married her husband, Barry. They have lived in Washington for the past 10 years and have called LifeWay their home church for 6 years. They have two beautiful daughters, Elena (9) and Emily (7). Savina loves singing and dancing.