John the Baptist's Disciples Bury Him - Matthew 14:12

Matthew the apostle wrote how Herod Antipas was pleased at his birthday party with the dancing of his wife Herodias' daughter. This caused him to make a vow to give the damsel whatever she would ask, and being coached by her mother, she asked for the head of John the Baptist to be brought to her on a platter. Because of his oath before his guests at his party, 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 in chapter fourteen and verse twelve of his book, Matthew wrote how John the Baptist's, “came, and took up the body, and buried it” where we read:

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

The verse reads, “And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and his disciples” which means “John the Baptist's students, pupils and attendants” “came” or “approached, drew near and assented”, “and took up” which means “and raised, elevated and lifted up” “the body” or “John's corpse”, “and buried it” which means “and interred his body into the ground”. Matthew shared how John the Baptist's “students” came, carried his body off and buried it.

The verse goes on to say, “... and went and told Jesus.” Matthew continued with the words, “and went” which means “and arose, left and departed” “and told” or “and brought word, report and tidings to” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is the “Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate”. Matthew shared how the disciples of John the Baptist went to tell Jesus about his death after they buried him.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we can imagine the sorrow and grief borne by the disciples of John the Baptist as they carried off their teacher and buried him. This one who was the fore-runner of the Messiah Jesus Christ was now dead, and the students were left to care for his body. God Almighty desires to have a personal loving relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and although they give their lives to Him, there is no promise they shall be exempt from persecution, sorrow or woe. God has an eternal plan in mind, and whenever we face situations that are beyond our explanation and understanding, we do best like the disciples of John to simply go and tell Jesus about it.

Next time we see Matthew shares, “when Jesus heard of it, he departed there by ship into a desert place apart”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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