WWJD? WWYD?
John the Baptist was probably the only friend that Jesus had that knew anything about who Jesus was.
His conception was miraculous; He was filled with the spirit in His mother’s womb the scripture as He leapt with joy when He heard the words of Mary. Mary spent 6 months with her cousin Elizabeth and we can only speculate about the conversations they had but I would be willing to say that a lot of them were about the miracle children that both of them were carrying They had to have been devout Jewish women to have been chosen for such a wonderful honor.
The scriptures may be silent about the particulars of Jesus’ boyhood but we know a lot about the customs and culture of the times. I am led to believe that is why there isn’t much said about his childhood because it was very much like the other little Jewish boys. But as he was able to understand more I’m sure that He was told many times about the miracles of his conception and the many Messianic prophecies that His life had already fulfilled. Both He and John were “different” and I’m sure they spent many hours together speculating on their futures
As I stated earlier the particulars of their pre ministry lives can only be guessed at but one thing for sure they were probably very
close if for no other reason than because they knew they were called to something very different from the others around them so they must have had a very special bond.
We can only imagine how Jesus must have felt on that fateful day when His disciples came and told Him about the horrible death of John. How He was beheaded because of a seductive dance that stirred the lust of Herod and His head was presented to the girl on a platter! How gruesome this must have been. Johns disciples went and got His body, placed it in a tomb, then went and told Jesus what had happened ( Matt 14: 1-14)
We are told that Jesus was tempted in every point and this was probably one of those opportunities to become outraged at the perverseness of Herod and His imagination could have gone wild thinking about how hideous the whole thing was. Had He yielded to those thoughts our redemption would have been lost. Instead Our Lord had a better way to fight the injustice that was done to his beloved cousin and friend.
He tried to get away privately, perhaps to calm himself, surely to talk to His Father for He knew that He would carry the punishment for this wicked act that He would take the blame. That He would cry out to the Father to forgive them for they didn’t know what they were doing. For He understood His warfare was not against flesh and blood but against the rulers of darkness in the heavenly sphere.
When He and His disciples reached the shore the crowds were so large and needy that instead of being moved with anger at those who had killed John He was moved with compassion and healed all who were sick. Instead of playing into His flesh He dealt the devil a blow by delivering the people from his power.
What a tremendous lesson for us to learn. What would Jesus do? He would be moved with compassion. What would you do?
In his Dust,
Lois
John the Baptist was probably the only friend that Jesus had that knew anything about who Jesus was.
His conception was miraculous; He was filled with the spirit in His mother’s womb the scripture as He leapt with joy when He heard the words of Mary. Mary spent 6 months with her cousin Elizabeth and we can only speculate about the conversations they had but I would be willing to say that a lot of them were about the miracle children that both of them were carrying They had to have been devout Jewish women to have been chosen for such a wonderful honor.
The scriptures may be silent about the particulars of Jesus’ boyhood but we know a lot about the customs and culture of the times. I am led to believe that is why there isn’t much said about his childhood because it was very much like the other little Jewish boys. But as he was able to understand more I’m sure that He was told many times about the miracles of his conception and the many Messianic prophecies that His life had already fulfilled. Both He and John were “different” and I’m sure they spent many hours together speculating on their futures
As I stated earlier the particulars of their pre ministry lives can only be guessed at but one thing for sure they were probably very
close if for no other reason than because they knew they were called to something very different from the others around them so they must have had a very special bond.
We can only imagine how Jesus must have felt on that fateful day when His disciples came and told Him about the horrible death of John. How He was beheaded because of a seductive dance that stirred the lust of Herod and His head was presented to the girl on a platter! How gruesome this must have been. Johns disciples went and got His body, placed it in a tomb, then went and told Jesus what had happened ( Matt 14: 1-14)
We are told that Jesus was tempted in every point and this was probably one of those opportunities to become outraged at the perverseness of Herod and His imagination could have gone wild thinking about how hideous the whole thing was. Had He yielded to those thoughts our redemption would have been lost. Instead Our Lord had a better way to fight the injustice that was done to his beloved cousin and friend.
He tried to get away privately, perhaps to calm himself, surely to talk to His Father for He knew that He would carry the punishment for this wicked act that He would take the blame. That He would cry out to the Father to forgive them for they didn’t know what they were doing. For He understood His warfare was not against flesh and blood but against the rulers of darkness in the heavenly sphere.
When He and His disciples reached the shore the crowds were so large and needy that instead of being moved with anger at those who had killed John He was moved with compassion and healed all who were sick. Instead of playing into His flesh He dealt the devil a blow by delivering the people from his power.
What a tremendous lesson for us to learn. What would Jesus do? He would be moved with compassion. What would you do?
In his Dust,
Lois
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