Hello again, my apologies for the inadvertent break again.
For the week of March 25-31 we were reading Matthew 14-15, Mark 6-7, John 5-6 and I would like to focus on Matthew 14: 10-14
And he (Herod) sent, and beheaded John in the prison. And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
The bold interjection was one I inserted for clarity.
Let's take a look at what is happening here. John the Baptist was just beheaded in prison due to a whim of Herodias (the brother of Philip) when John told Herod that he shouldn't be with her because she was married. Herodias had her daughter go dance for Herod who was so pleased that he promised her anything she wanted. Her mother Herodias had instructed her to ask for John's head.
Jesus is John's cousin, see was just told that his cousin was killed. He immediately went out on a ship and then out to the desert. Jesus is the messiah and the son of God but he is still human. He mourned for Lazarus before resurrecting him. I believe Jesus wanted some time to mourn his cousin. He wasn't given that time. He was followed by a "great multitude" he took compassion on them and healed their sick.
I am really of two minds about this. I am upset that these people didn't respect the fact that Jesus needed a moment to himself. I am grateful that Jesus healed the sick and demonstrated that we can show compassion even when we have our own problems going on.
Even in the midst of our own tragedy, we can still show compassion to our fellow man.
