Bible Stories For Big Kids
  • Home
  • Introduction
  • About Karina
  • Cover Art
  • Media
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Connect
  • Sample Story

STRANGE THINGS DO HAPPEN

7/4/2021

0 Comments

 
Why did Jesus allow John the Baptist to die in prison? I can't answer that question.

Jesus and John were cousins; they would have played together as children; John was the last prophet, preparing the way for the Messiah, Jesus; John baptised Jesus, acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, yet Jesus made no attempt to save John from being imprisoned, let alone save him from being executed. Why? I find that hard to fathom, especially when Jesus healed so many people, fed thousands, even raised people from the dead. Why not save John the Baptist?

John was a rather rough character - the new Elijah as foretold by the prophets much earlier - and his role was to prepare the people for the long awaited Messiah, Jesus. Despite his forthright nature - he called the Pharisees and Sadducees 'you brood of vipers' and condemned Herod for his illicit marriage, landing him in prison, - he was very humble, publicly stating that he, John was not worthy to untie Jesus' sandals, let alone baptise him.

While John was in prison, he started to question what was really  going on with Jesus and while  some commentators  suggest John was  starting to doubt if  Jesus really was the Messiah, I wonder if John was questioning why Jesus did nothing to save  him let alone visit him in prison ( we don't have a record of that happening). John managed to send a message to Jesus' disciples asking if Jesus really was the Messiah, and Jesus' reply was to reassure  John that Jesus was fulfilling all the prophecies of the promised Messiah - not even a direct 'yes'. 

The next thing we know is that Herod's wife conspired to have John's head on a platter, and as Herod had made a promise he could not cancel, John was duly executed. Why did Jesus save so many people yet not save John the Baptist?

That really puzzles me.  I realise most of Jesus' disciples  became martyrs for their faith, but John was not martyred. All I can deduce from this is that despite so many promises of God's care and protection, unjustified bad things will still happen, and we must concentrate on our ultimate goal of heaven - being with Jesus. 

​Strange things do happen!




0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    I have always loved telling Bible stories, especially those from the Old Testament. For the past 25 years I have been teaching Religious Education in the local State School.  Each time I revisit these stories, I still find there's something more for me to learn. That's what I find so refreshing about the bible. 

    Karina Shim, Author
    Bible Stories For Big Kids

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.