Following Jesus Through MatthewSample

Matthew records for us several demonstrations of faith, from people trusting Jesus to feed them and heal them, to Peter having faith enough to walk on water, to the Canaanite woman who asks Jesus to heal her child. But all of these acts of Jesus came after a moment of deep grief.

John the Baptist was beheaded.

John had baptized Jesus. He had called people to repent. He was in jail for that very reason, having told Herod, the governor, that he was wrong to sleep with his brother’s wife. Herod didn’t like that and threw John in prison. His brother’s wife was so mad she wanted him dead, and eventually she got her way.

Was Jesus sad because a man was beheaded for speaking truth? Yes. But Jesus was also sad for personal reasons. John was his cousin. Luke’s gospel tells us that when Mary was pregnant, she went to her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John at the time. When Mary, with Jesus in her womb, came into the house, the baby within Elizabeth leapt for joy. John’s death is deeply personal for Jesus.

Even so, he turned to those around him with compassion. And this is a beautiful foreshadowing of the Garden of Gethsemane. Before he was crucified, Jesus went to the garden to pray, saying, “Not my will but yours be done.” He didn’t want to go to the cross. It would be agony. But he did it, giving up himself, for us. As he always does.

Do you put your faith in the one who works miracles, or the one who left heaven for our sake? Endured the cross for our sin? Rose again to give us eternal life? Thankfully, they are one and the same: Jesus Christ, the son of God.

Prayer: Jesus, you endured the cross for my sake, because you love me that much. Let me never forget that you are God and also a man who walked this earth and felt joy and sadness. You were tempted, just as I am, yet you did not sin. When I grieve, you know what that feels like. When my body hurts, you have compassion. Thank you for that. Amen.