Matthew 14:1-14
14:1At 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 John a prophet.
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests 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. [1]
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This passage is a sobering reminder that there can be rather harsh consequences for faithfulness. John was faithful. And the outcome was his brutal slaying in prison. But John is not alone in being so “rewarded” for his faithfulness. All of Jesus’ apostles met death similarly, with the exception of John who endured years of prison and exile. Many Christians in history and today also have suffered greatly, to the point of death, for their faith in Christ.
The reason why these accounts are so disturbing is that we forget or take too lightly that Jesus calls those who would follow Him to take up their own crosses. He invites those who would call themselves by His name to take up His cross, not just as a message, but as the shape of their lives. Sometimes this means taking up a cross nearly literally, and so live and die in imitation of the One whose death has brought salvation and life to all creation. As Jesus died for His faithfulness to His Father, so we are called to take up our cross today.
The sobering truth is that our faithfulness may not yield any reward in this life. Our faithfulness will result in the peace of knowing that we are walking with our God, that He is using our lives, even our suffering for His kingdom, that His love never leaves us even in the darkest hours, that He will provide for all our earthly needs, and on and on. These are not small rewards. In fact they outweigh anything this life can offer. But they may be all that our faithful suffering offers. Other “rewards,” such as earthly happiness, fulfillment, wealth, health and life itself may be stripped away. But these – the spiritual rewards – remain.
And also what remains is the chief outcome of our faithfulness: Bringing glory to Christ now in this life and in the new creation. The New Testament is quite clear and consistent in pointing us to the goal of glorifying God, and the glory to come to us in the resurrection and the new creation. At which times the suffering of the present age – including the death of John the Baptist – will not seem worth comparing (Romans 8:18).
Lord Jesus, keep me faithful to You. No matter what. Keep my eyes fixed on You and bringing honor to You. Keep my heart filled with the hope of the resurrection and the promise of the New Creation. I pray this for myself, but also for all who are facing persecution for Your Name today.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
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[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Mt 14:1–14). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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