An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. When Herodias’s own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” He promised her with an oath: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” she said. At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter immediately.” Although the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her. The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb. (Mark 6:21-29)
So here’s the ugly death story and I’m sorry you had to read it. Not everything in the journey of faith is happiness. There are evil people and evil powers that oppose the kingdom of God. John the Baptist was a great prophet, the very forerunner of Christ, but his end was tragic. So also was the end of Christ, whom the world rejected by nailing him to the cross. But the cross was a victory and Jesus rose from the dead. John’s life was also victorious, as God used him to prepare multitudes of people for the coming of the Messiah. Here then is the lesson for us. The success or victory of our lives is not defined by what the world thinks or does to us; it is defined by our purpose in God. If we fulfill God’s purposes, all is well.
Prayer:
Lord God, teach me not to fear what the world thinks or can do to me. Instead, teach me to fear you and to enter into the life you have prepared for me. Let me fulfill your good purposes for my life so that when I die, I might be satisfied that I have lived fully for you.