Matthew 4:12-13 “Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested and put in prison, He withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He went and dwelt in Capernaum by the sea, in the country of Zebulun and Naphtali-”
There was a rhythm and balance in Jesus’ life that is frequently lacking in our lives. John baptizes Jesus, anointing Him for ministry with the Holy Spirit descending. Jesus withdraws into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After overcoming the temptations that struck at the foundation of his ministry, Jesus is ready to move forward. According to the account in John 3:26 – 30, Jesus and His disciples also have begun baptizing at the Jordan. When John’s disciples come to him in consternation about Jesus’ infringing on John’s ministry, John clearly tells them, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the groomsman who stands by and listens to him rejoices greatly on account of the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my pleasure and joy, and it is now complete.”
And it is at this point that John the Baptist is put into prison by Herod the governor, the son of Herod, the King of Judea. Herod wanted to marry his sister – in – law and John told him it was wrong, so Herod threw John in jail. (Later Herod would have John beheaded at his sister – in – law’s request.)
Why was it necessary for John the Baptist to be put in prison? John himself had told his followers “I baptize you with water; but He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” In another place, John also told his disciples, regarding Jesus, “I must decrease, but He must increase.” John 3:30 John had played his part, calling people to repent. But now Jesus was bringing a new message: “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 From this point forward, Jesus begins announcing the coming of the Kingdom of God and the need for preparing hearts.
Sometimes we balk at the way things move in our lives. We are frustrated because things are either going too slowly or too rapidly. And if something happens that seems to frustrate us or to keep us from moving forward and progressing as we think we should, we gripe and complain. Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins and very close in age. It’s likely that the two men had grown up together. But John had a clear sense of the limits of his ministry. Once John saw that dove descending on Jesus when John baptized Him, John knew that his (John’s) time of ministry was nearly over. So why did John have to be thrown into prison?
In this case, the problem might not have been John at all, but John’s disciples. Andrew was one of John’s disciples who went out and brought his brother Peter to Jesus. If John had still been available, would Andrew have introduced Peter to Jesus? And there were undoubtedly many others of John’s disciples who reluctantly transferred their loyalties to Jesus, once John was no longer accessible to be followed.
Today, ask yourself if you have been fretting because something in your life has not been moving the way you wanted it to or on a particular schedule. And then give your worries to God. Relax. In His perfect timing, things will come about.
PRAYER: Father, today we wonder about what will happen and we worry that things aren’t going to happen quickly enough. But You are the God of time, and our times are in Your hands. Give us peace in our hearts so that we will be able to rest in you and trust that you really will “make all things beautiful in Your time.” In Jesus’ mighty Name. Amen.
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