Morning reading

Matthew 14:1-14 (TNIV) -

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.

6 On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist." 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

13 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. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

My thoughts -

First, a lesson to be learned from Herod: Never let your emotions, your mouth, and your pride get the best of you. Herod got a little too taken with a dancer, made a promise he didn't realize the significance of, and refused to go back on it for fear of what others would think. We do the same thing all of the time. Usually that doesn't lead to a beheading, but still...

Second, a lesson to be learned from Jesus: Grief is powerful. Even Jesus sought solitude when grieving the loss of John here. Solitude, however, was not happening. People got word of where Jesus was headed and a large crowd followed him. If it were me I would have been pissed. Jesus was not. Verse 14 says that Jesus "had compassion on them and healed their sick". Grief is powerful. Frustration and anger are very natural responses to this situation. Jesus responded not with frustration and anger, but with compassion. That's something I think we can all learn from.