Poor Jesus! It was early in His own ministry when He got word that King Herod had cut off the head of John the Baptist. John was more than just Jesus’ cousin; He was the fore-runner God sent to get things ready for Jesus’ own work. He was a prophet, the greatest of them all according to Jesus. And now He was dead. No wonder Jesus withdrew to Galilee, out of Herod’s reach!
But He did more than that. He moved to a new headquarters, to Capernaum, at least for a while. He took disciples. And He Himself began preaching the same message as John: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Did Jesus grieve for John? Surely He did. But He also saw the signal for His own work to begin in earnest. The same death that took John would be coming for Jesus in just a few years. Jesus was getting ready.
You see, Jesus was thinking of us—of you and me, and all the people God had sent Him to rescue. Jesus had three years to preach the Good News, to teach His disciples, and to lay the foundation of the Christian church. Then—He would be arrested in the garden. He would be mocked and tortured. He would be crucified, die, and be buried. And He would rise again.
And then? Then the race would begin. Then, in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ followers would run to take the Good News around the world—to people in every country and nation, to you and to me. They would be ready. Jesus made sure of it in those three years. He loves us that much.
WE PRAY: Dear Lord, thank You for all the care You took to prepare Your disciples, and to make sure we could learn of You and believe. Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Reflection Questions:
1. What feelings do you think went through Jesus’ mind and heart when He heard about John’s death?
2. Is there an event in your own life that touched off a change in how you lived and what you did? If you are willing, tell the story.
3. Would you trust 12 ordinary people to carry an important message around the world? Why do you think God did?