“The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted and had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.” – Matthew 14: 9-12
This was one of my saddest stories in the Bible growing up. I just couldn’t understand how someone like John the Baptist, the man Jesus declared to be the greatest born of a woman (The Greatest Man Born of A Woman), could perish in this way.
And sometimes it seems the faithful perish in mysterious ways and we do not seem to understand. How come? How could this happen to us/them? I do not have all the answers, but I hope to share with you this short word that I believe will be a blessing to you.
"The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." - Isaiah 57:1-2
There seems to be a divine reason why John the Baptist died at the time that he did. John had fulfilled his calling to be the voice in the desert preparing the way of the Lord, and now Jesus had come and was to begin His ministry. Remember John himself said, “He must increase and I must decrease.”
John the Baptist was as faithful as any man has yet been to his calling, but He was from a different time and a different covenant than what Jesus was establishing. So ultimately, God allowed or permitted him to exit the scene. (Remember that even Jesus, to the outside world, died or exited the world prematurely; as a young man full of life).
In Rick Joyner’s prophetic vision written in his book, When God Walked The Earth (I strongly recommend for you), God showed him how the angels were given a command not to stop the devil’s attempt to kill John the Baptist. A few lessons from this:
"If he is not able to tempt the Holy One (Jesus) to follow him, he will be so enraged that he will try to kill the Baptist (John). You must let him do it.” “What?” gasped the commander. “Yes. You must let the evil one kill the Baptist.” - Quote from When God Walked The Earth
- Dear friend, God has His eyes on those who diligently seek Him (Psalm 34:15, 2 Chronicles 16:9).
- If you are His own, be rest assured that His angels are keeping charge over you and He is aware of whatever is happening.
- If not even one sparrow falls to the ground without God’s will, how much more will He watch over you. Remember, even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
- Death is not an end for the believer; it is the gateway to eternal life.
- Apostle Paul was faithful, yet he ended up in prison and was martyred in the end. John the Baptist was faithful, but he was beheaded.
- Millions of faithful people have been martyred, have lost everything, or have come to the end of life with “nothing to show for it”. But the end of life here on earth is not the end!
In God’s eyes, the greatest heroes of faith are not those who achieve prosperity, success, and power in this life, but those who treat this life as a temporary assignment and serve faithfully, expecting their promised reward in eternity.
“Well done good and faithful servant” remains the ultimate reward for the believer. I pray that you and I will be faithful to the end.
May we be comforted by the scriptures and by the Holy Spirit when the faithful perish here on earth, knowing full well that they are enjoying a far greater reward in Heaven (“those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death”). Hey, you’re blessed!
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