Monday Thought -- January 7, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

John the Baptist makes an interesting case study in how God works in the lives of men.

One of the first things the Bible tells us about John is that He was specially selected by God from before his birth for a unique and essential assignment in God’s Kingdom.  Before John’s birth God told John’s father several things about John.  “He will be great in the sight of the Lord.” (Luke 1:15)  “Many of the people of Israel he will bring back to the Lord their God.” (Luke 1:16)  “He will go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah.” (Luke 1:17)

Jesus made an amazing statement about John.  “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John.” (Luke 7:28)  There were some amazing people to consider as Jesus thought about the greatest person who had lived to His day.  He could have selected Abraham, Moses, David, Daniel, Elijah, or any number of other great people of God.  Among all the choices He had, Jesus declared John to be the greatest in the sight of God.

So when we come to Mark 6 we find a surprising story – the end of John’s life.  He didn’t go out like Enoch did – God just taking him away to heaven.  He didn’t go out like Elijah – taken to heaven in a chariot and a whirlwind without seeing death.  He didn’t die like Moses did, alone with God on a solitary mountain with God performing the burial rights.  Instead, he died a cruel death – beheaded by a king who did not like John’s message.  “So Herod immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head.  The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter.” (Mark 6:27-28)

There are many things that we can learn from John’s life.  There are many things that we can learn from John’s teachings.  And, no doubt, there are many things that we can learn from John’s death.  Here’s the one thing that strikes me most from John’s death – being loved by God and chosen by God and used by God doesn’t guarantee a life of ease and peace and comfort.  In fact, it may be quite the opposite – that’s what it meant for John.

God loved John.  God used John in amazing ways.  God chose John for a unique and very essential assignment.  God considered John to be greatest man who had ever lived.  Yet God allowed John’s life to be taken prematurely and unjustly and with cruelty.

God’s perspective on the things of this world are often different from our own.

His, by Grace,

Steve