Herod's wife, Herodias, soon held a very special birthday dinner for Herod. Her daughter danced at the party and made Herod very happy; he promised her anything she asked for. After consulting with her mother, the girl asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter! Reluctantly, under pressure, Herod complied.
News of John's death was delivered to Jesus. He immediately withdrew to a private place to grieve and pray.
Crowds of persistent people followed Him with their sick and lame friends and family.
[The Voice, 14:14] Though Jesus wanted solitude, when He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, and healed the sick and the lame.
Immediately after this, the disciples wanted Jesus to disperse the crowd so they could go and find food. Jesus insisted on feeding them - there were 5,000 men there, not to mention all the women and children (v.21).
After everyone was satisfied, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on to the other side of the sea while He dismissed the crowd. Then after the crowd had gone, Jesus went up to a mountain alone (as He had intended from the start). As evening descended, He stood alone on the mountain, praying (vs.22-23).
Sometimes ministry's demands come before personal needs! Jesus suppressed His need to grieve because the crowd's needs were so great. Then, after meeting those needs, He withdrew and took care of His own needs!
Anyone in ministry has experienced this reality. Ministry entails long days at times. It involves pushing yourself beyond your limits and depending on God to give you strength to get through.
But then, there's always that mountain time! That's when you rest in God and He refills you with His peace and strength!
"It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ.
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase
So bravely run the race 'til we see Christ." [Esther Kerr Rusthoi]
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