Today, in our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan, we read the account of the death of John the Baptizer. We read of the promise that Herod had made to the daughter of his illegal "wife" that she could have anything she wanted because her dance for his birthday had pleased him. We read that she asked for the head of John on a platter. Here are verse 10-13:
10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 And his head was brought in on a platter and given to the little maid, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And John’s disciples came and took up the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 13a When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there privately in a boat to a solitary place.
Remember that John was a cousin of Jesus. Jesus went to be by Himself after the news came. How do YOU handle stressful or sorrowful situations? Do YOU get alone with God to hear His heart on the matter? THAT is the first thing that we should do! Then we can receive not only Holy Spirit comfort for our situation, but we can receive the definite Wisdom that comes from God alone on how to go forth! THIS is what Jesus did, and what He ultimately ended up doing is found in verses 13b-14:
13b When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there privately in a boat to a solitary place. But when the crowds heard of it, they followed Him [by land] on foot from the towns. 14 When He went ashore and saw a great throng of people, He had compassion (pity and deep sympathy) for them and cured their sick.
Jesus put aside His own personal feelings and emotions and he ministered healing to all who came to Him! As if THAT wouldn't be enough, Jesus defied the enemy even further by what He did next! Verses 15-21:
15 When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, This is a remote and barren place, and the day is now over; send the throngs away into the villages to buy food for themselves. 16 Jesus said, They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat. 17 They said to Him, We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish. 18 He said, Bring them here to Me. 19 Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and blessed and broke the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve [small hand] baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about 5,000 men, not including women and children.
Jesus not only healed the sick, but he miraculously fed over 5,000 men, along with their families! HALLELUJAH! Don't you think the enemy suffered a HUGE melt down at that one? Our lesson for today should be that we will NEVER allow the enemy to WIN! He may APPEAR to come out on top in a few skirmishes, but WE are the ones called "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37) by Almighty God Himself! And, as you continue to read on in this chapter of Matthew, you will see some more pretty miraculous things that happened to those who served the Lord Jesus! Let's refuse to give in to that horrible spirit of grief and its twin, fear! Let's turn the tables on the enemy and use the times that normally set people back to unleash all of the power of Heaven on the enemy of Heaven! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "When The Fight Calls":
Shalom in Him!
