David Bahn – Reflections

Thanks to the original author of this prayer that is found in the Lutheran Service Book. Thanks to President Emeritus Jerry Kieschnick for sharing this last week and reminding me of it. Thanks to The World and Everything In It podcast for inviting listeners to pray. And thanks for allowing me to share this prayer on today’s podcast (November 4, 2020).

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. ³² And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. ³³ Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. ³⁵ And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. ³⁶ Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” ³⁷ But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” ³⁸ And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 
³⁹ Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. ⁴¹ And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² And they all ate and were satisfied. ⁴³ And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. ⁴⁴ And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. – Mark 6:30-44

Have you ever worked in a soup kitchen? I was once on a team that served dinners at a local night shelter. I also helped lug 50 pound bags of beans from one locker to another in the basement of a food shelter in Moscow, Russia. It’s amazing what people will do when they’re hungry, and they know their behavior will have an immediate impact on how quickly they will be fed. 

On the other hand, maybe you’ve seen the clamoring that goes on, and sometimes violent struggles when the UNICEF truck arrives in the refuge camps. Makes me sigh even to think of that now.

I’ve never been that hungry. And I suspect the people who had followed Jesus on this occasion were not “that hungry” either. But there was hunger. There was a need. And Jesus was there too. 

Maybe they didn’t realize what he was about to do. Perhaps they thought he was going to continue teaching them. It could be that they thought it was simply a time to take a break. But it seems clear that when Jesus had them sit down in groups they did so. There is no evidence of a struggle, nor even murmuring. Mark just tells us that they sat in groups of 100’s and 50’s. 

Recall how Jethro advised Moses to divide the people into groups so that they would not wear out Moses as they sought his counsel (cf. Exodus 18:1-27). Moses could not do it all. Neither will Jesus. He will involve his disciples in this miraculous feeding. They will watch as Jesus takes the loaves and fish and blesses them. Then they will help distribute these gifts to the hungry people. 

More significant than their apparent disciplined behavior is Jesus’ involvement of the disciples in the miraculous feast. So too today: Jesus involves us in bringing the bread of life to others. 

A favorite description of evangelism is One beggar telling another where to find bread. Let me tell you, it’s here. It satisfies deeply. And it will never run out. 

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. ³² And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. ³³ Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. ³⁵ And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. ³⁶ Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” ³⁷ But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” ³⁸ And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” ³⁹Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. ⁴¹ And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² And they all ate and were satisfied. ⁴³ And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. ⁴⁴ And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. – Mark 6:30-44

See how the mighty have fallen! This is no prediction of the US Elections being held today…specifically. But this truth applies to all people, great and small. Powerful and weak. There will come a day when every knee shall bow to Jesus Christ, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The mightiest king. The most powerful emperor. The strongest president. The most ruthless dictator. 

It even happened to Jesus’ closest followers. Look at the turn of events recorded above. They start with a report of stunning and exciting success. Jesus takes them on a retreat. But as soon as they retreat, they are followed by the people who wanted and needed Jesus’ attention.

Then the fall begins. From the glory of a successful mission trip to a series of fails. A misguided suggestion: Send the people away. A faithless unwillingness to obey, Shall we blow more than a half-year’s wages for bread for this crowd? Then comes their participation in a miracle beyond their imagination. 

Perhaps they’re not goats after all. But take a peak some time later. Jesus has to ask how they will feed a smaller group of people in the wilderness (Mark 8:1-4). They may not be goats in the sense of Matthew 25’s account of the final judgement. But they are certainly not paragons of faithful expectation. 

Of course it’s not our righteousness that recommends us to God. Faith, however, finds pure goodness in God, perfect trustworthiness in his promises, and mercy, grace, and forgiveness in Jesus. He is the glorious one, and will ever be so. He is the foundation of all our faithful expectations.

The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. ³² And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. ³³ Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. ³⁵ And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. ³⁶ Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” ³⁷ But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” ³⁸ And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” ³⁹ Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. ⁴⁰ So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. ⁴¹ And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. ⁴² And they all ate and were satisfied. ⁴³ And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. ⁴⁴ And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. – Mark 6:30-44

The mother of young children knows the drill. The nurse on his third overtime shift can write a book. The single mom working three jobs to keep her family in tact sighs knowingly. Sometimes we simply must tell exhaustion to take a back seat to needs beyond our own. 

Jesus knew this better than anyone. He spent his life doing good, healing diseases, teaching God’s truth, and responding to people’s needs. And following an intense time of ministry he seeks some solitude with this disciples. They had no time even to eat. So he goes away with them. 

Only one problem with this; or perhaps two. The crowds see Jesus. They are excited about his ministry. They want to get in on some of the excitement. They are swept up in the religious fervor.

So Jesus is not able to have some down time with his disciples. No time to reflect. No time to debrief. No opportunity to rest. The people are relentless in pursuit of Jesus. They will insist on hearing him teach. Or if not that, Jesus’ commitment to seek and save the lost will propel him to the front of the line of meeting people’s needs.

This is the other problem with Jesus’ attempt to get away for some rest. Needs of lost people never wane. Needs for healing. Needs for teaching. Needs for forgiveness. These will always present themselves. And Jesus will not ignore our needs. 

Here are verses from Psalm 1; 31; 61; 91; 121 for your Sunday morning meditation and edification.

Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish

Psalm 31:1-5
In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.

Psalm 61:2-4
Hear my cry, O God,
    listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you
    when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
    that is higher than I,
for you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the enemy.
Let me dwell in your tent forever!
    Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! Selah

Psalm 91:1-2
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Herod…had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.  – Mark 6:17-29

Maybe you remember Dymo label makers – the old kind with raised white letters on strips of colored, adhesive-backed plastic. I used one to make a little reminder: SMILE. GOD LOVES YOU.

When I was in high school, our family dynamics were chaotic and often relationally-strained. Financial challenges conspired with the tragic death of my little sister to raise the emotional temperature in our home. Add to that the seething anger of a teenage boy who thought he knew more than his parents (especially more than his mother), and you can imagine. 

I decided, however, to try to lighten the mood. So I made the label and posted it on the mirror above the sink in our kitchen. I don’t recall whether it helped the mood in our home. But it helped me to have done my part to fix the problem in my mom. Lord, have mercy on me! I wish I had a bigger heart for her and my dad than I did during those days.

Sometimes evil is so obvious and clearly-present that the target of righteous anger and indignation is appropriately-focused. Herodias. Herod. Herodias’ daughter. The king’s guests and their excesses. The cruel oppression of the truth of God that was coming from the last Old Testament prophet, John the Baptist. All these are obvious sources of evil. All deserve condemnation.

God used all this evil for his ultimate purposes no doubt. But what a sad commentary on the broken state of the world of that day. And ours. There is nothing new under the sun. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is no one righteous. Not even one. All we like sheep have gone astray. We are carriers of the disease we are trying to overcome. 

SMILE. GOD LOVES YOU may seem a trite slogan for times such as this. But this truth is our only hope. Without God’s love we would be eternally lost in the mire of our own making. We add daily to the troubles of this world by our thoughts, words, and actions. Make no mistake: “All have sinned” includes us all. 

Events such as the beheading of John point us to the obvious evil that is in the world. The fact that these events are recorded for us may serve as a reminder, however, not only of our broken world, but also of God’s awareness of it. And the fact that these murderous actors were not immediately smitten by God, is a reminder of God’s patience. He is not slow about his promises (for redemption or retribution) but he is patient, seeking our repentance. 

There is nothing good about John’s beheading – except John’s unwavering commitment to the truth of God. And we have hinted at in this moment something more substantial than a Dymo label. For John’s death hints at a more substantial evidence of God’s love: the cross of Jesus. God’s love writ large.

Herod…had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.  – Mark 6:17-29

I won third place in the Ford Punt, Pass, and Kick competition when I was 12 or 13 years old. With that came a plaque. That was it. I won the Photographer of the Year competition on more than one occasion. Again, another plaque…and maybe some bragging rights. But that’s seriously very little to brag about! 

Herodias’ victory over John yielded a much more gruesome trophy. It’s difficult for me to imagine that on any level. What a sad win for her. Surely it was a horrible tragedy for John. But she would live with the sad results of her own actions for a time to come. A life built on deceit, resentment, manipulation, and murder is no life at all. Those are the spoils of her victory.

There is another Champion who fought an unimaginably-difficult battle against deceit, manipulation, murder, and all manner of sin. He chose to fight that battle by faithful obedience to the Heavenly Father. He chose to win that battle by losing his life. He chose to conquer in spite of all the fury of hell being thrown at him. He chose to vanquish sin and death by his own sacrifice and death. 

The rewards of his victory are many. His obedience, faithfulness, and sacrifice grew from a perfect faith and love. For that he was raised from the dead. He was vindicated and proclaimed his victory in the very stronghold of Satan. He was exalted above everything in heaven and on earth, and given the name that is above every name. At his name, every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth. Every tongue will confess – in the end, even Herodias – that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. 

We, too, are the rewards of his victory. We have been redeemed. We belong to him. This is truly good news. Never manipulative. Never self-serving. Never faithless. But good, kind, merciful, just, true, and gracious is his perfect love. And his is the ultimate and eternal victory over every kind of evil we may experience in this life.

Herod…had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.  – Mark 6:17-29

If you could write a blank check – ask for anything you wish – what would be your request? And just for the purposes of this little experiment, let’s rule out asking for world peace, a cure for cancer, or an immediate end to the COVID-19 pandemic. All these are worthwhile requests, and are no doubt the subject of many prayers. But for the sake of this moment and this exercise, think more specifically. Your specific need. Your urgent desire.

When Herodias’ daughter was offered anything, and heard the words, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” she did not know what to ask for. In fact, she goes to her mother and seeks her advice in the matter. The advice is chilling. And deadly. John’s head on a platter. I shake my head even as I write this. 

The request reveals the heart of the one making it. In this case, Herodias’ heart is filled with resentment, anger, bitterness, guilt, and pride – all unrestrained by the fear of God, love, righteousness, humility, or mercy. 

It is precisely those characteristics that will restrain our requests. We will not request someone’s head on a platter – even figuratively-speaking. We will not ask for favorable treatment at someone else’s expense. We won’t ask for something that would harm ourselves or others. 

But sometimes our hearts – darkened by the lingering and recalcitrant influences of our sinful nature – are lured toward things that do harm ourselves and others. A difficult day – or season! – makes a resort to mind-numbing chemicals, entertainment, or escapes appealing. A desire for the corner office or work-from-home opportunity takes us all too close to the edge of a chasm of dishonesty and scheming. We can so easily desire the wrong things.

Two things come to my mind in the face of these kinds of temptations. The Old Testament prophet Micah offers one corrective:

The Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.

– Micah 6:8

The great missionary Paul of Tarsus offers the other:

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. – Philippians 4:11

Jesus once asked a blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” The man answered, “That I may receive my sight.” 

What would you like Jesus to do for you?

Herod…had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.  – Mark 6:17-29

This hymn is not well known, but a beautiful reminder that even those whose lives have been taken from them will yet sing God’s praises.

Behold a host, arrayed in white, Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright,
With palms they stand. Who is this band Before the throne of light?
Lo, these are they of glorious fame Who from the great affliction came
And in the flood of Jesus’ blood Are cleansed from guilt and blame.
Now gathered in the holy place, Their voices they in worship raise,
Their anthems swell where God doth dwell, Mid angels’ songs of praise.

Perhaps you have lost a loved one – maybe even to so-called natural causes. No special martyrdom status. No heroic confession of faith. Just a simple, faithful believer. A humble servant. A Jesus-lover. Sunday school teacher. Mother. Father. Sinner, yet saint. 

John’s disciple’s buried his body after he was beheaded. This was an act of respect and love. I’m sure it was difficult. I’m sure they had to deal with realities of his death that none of us would wish to encounter. But they did. When we bury a loved-one who died in the faith we do so “In the firm and fervent hope of the resurrection on the Great Last Day.” Perhaps that was their hope as well.

Even before Jesus was raised from the dead, the hope of the resurrection and the promise of eternal life was fundamental to the Jewish faith. Jesus teaches as much. Jesus told the Sadducees (who rejected the idea of the resurrection), “But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Luke 20:37).

Today, when a loved one dies, we have a more certain hope. Jesus has come. Jesus has died. But Jesus rose from the dead. Lives and reigns at the right hand of the Father. The Holy Spirit has come and called us to faith. And in that call is the seed of our hope for the life of the world to come.

We will celebrate All Saints Day this coming Sunday at St. John. We’ll remember those who have gone before us. We’ll rejoice in the truth of Revelation 13:14 – And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

They, just as John, will not be forsaken. 

Herod…had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

²¹ But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. ²² For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. 

February 12, 2015. 21 Coptic Christian construction workers from Egypt were beheaded. These martyred Christians have much in common with John. Beheaded. Jesus followers. Unjustly treated. Victims of sin and hatred. 

I wish such things would never happen. I wish it would never be that God’s people had to suffer the full brunt of evil and sin. I wish there was no sin in the world – my enemies, my world, my heart. But it lurks everywhere. Too close for comfort. Too close even for an expert in denial to ignore. 

God doesn’t ignore sin. He doesn’t require that we pretend all is well when in fact it is not. He doesn’t ask us to get to a place of mind over matter to block out the evil that is everywhere around us. Mary Baker Eddy – who said that evil was an illusion – notwithstanding. 

Herodias’ daughter dances. Herod offers a foolish promise. Herodias incites Herod. John is beheaded. That is a chain of evil and injustice. 

But it does not thwart God’s purpose and plan. No matter how evil might intrude it will not have the last word. No matter how unjustly people may act, truth and justice will prevail. John will be buried. Jesus will continue his mission. Herod will be a forgotten blip on history’s screen. John will be remembered. God’s kingdom remains.