Times Jesus Prayed- Part 3
We have been looking at times Jesus prayed. Perhaps the saddest time that Jesus prayed was when he heard that his cousin, John (the Baptist), had been beheaded by King Herod.
It was a ridiculous story, really. This wicked king, who had stolen his brother’s wife, threw a big birthday party for himself. At the party, his new wife convinced her daughter to dance seductively for her stepfather.
He was so pleased with her dance that he promised to give her “anything she wanted”. What she wanted was what her mother had told her to want- the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter. (Her mother was mad at John for telling Herod that it wasn’t lawful for the two of them to be married.)
Well, the King had made a promise in front of everyone at his party and he was embarrassed to say, “Not a good idea. I changed my mind.” So he had the dastardly deed done.
John’s disciples were at least allowed to come get his body and bury it.
When Jesus heard that John had been killed, he was very sad. So he did the natural thing a grieving person should do, pray. In Matthew 14:13, we see that he went to his “desert place alone”. That was his special prayer place where he and his Father could discuss the loss.
Interestingly, the crowds of folks who were following him to hear him preach and see him pray for the sick, missed him and went looking for him. It did not take long for his quiet place to be discovered and throngs of people surround him.
Do you know how he handled it? He preached, prayed for them, then fed them. (This is the story of the feeding of the 5,000.) This is true example of overcoming evil with good.
When are the times of sadness when you have felt compelled to pray? Can you think of times when you overcame some evil with a good act?
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