The death of John the Baptist is recorded in two passages: Matthew 14:1–12 and Mark 6:14–29. Matthew’s account begins with Herod hearing about the fame of Jesus. Mark says that His name was known. Herod and some said that Jesus was John the Baptist who was raised from the dead since He was performing powerful, miraculous works. Both accounts tell us that it was Herod who seized John and bound him in prison because he said to Herod that it was not lawful for him to have his brother’s wife, Herodias. She had a grudge against John and wanted to put him to death, but she couldn’t since Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. Herod even kept him safe. 

When Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he commanded it to be given. John was beheaded in prison, and his head was brought on a platter as a gift to Herodias’ daughter. Afterwards the disciples told Jesus what had happened.

What would Jesus do? When John the Baptist, His cousin, was beheaded, how did Jesus respond to that injustice? Matthew records that when Jesus heard the news, He withdrew by boat to a desolate place by Himself. While some might argue that this passage is not meant to be prescriptive, it is striking that Jesus, who could have called down legions of angels, chose instead to seek solitude. Yet even as the crowds followed Him, He continued to show them compassion. In the face of deep injustice, Jesus withdrew to be alone, but His heart remained tender toward others. From His perfect example, we too can learn how to respond when wrongs are done.

Today, instead of seeking desolate places to be with God when injustice happens, we are quick to voice our opinions. We want to be heard and to influence others to take our side. Our stances have become tribal, and the need to be with the Lord has been replaced with an aggressive push to win consensus. The priority of being alone with God, so that we might remember what is most important, has been lost. We keep a catalogue of wrongs against one another, even against people we barely know, since they are only digital faces and names we don’t interact with daily. Culture has begun to dictate Christian conviction, and division has run rampant in the visible church. Like in John the Baptist’s time, people are pushed either to be zealots or are rejected because they choose solitude in order to have the right heart and mind in the matter.

What is happening in our world has always been happening. The human heart has not changed. Injustice and the unlawful taking of lives continue because the world is broken. Sadly, some Christians live as if this life is all there is. But Jesus knew of the world to come, for He came from it. He took on flesh, yet He has always existed. He knew He would see John again, and His response to John’s unjust death was to withdraw in solitude. Still, when the needy crowds followed Him, He continued to show compassion. That is how I want to respond in times of loss, death, and division. I pray for the Kirk family and ask the Lord to draw near. I have also prayed for other families who have suffered loss through assassination or the unjust taking of life. To politicize such moments as Christians is to lose sight of our calling to be witnesses. 

We must live as people in the times we are in, yet not let the times define or strip us of our role within them. To be transparent, I have struggled with fear of being misunderstood—even as I write this. It seems that even when taking a biblical stance, my words are quickly forced into the tribal categories of left or right. For some, withdrawing to a desolate place may appear as complicity, while for others it may look like choosing sides. But this is exactly why I need time with the Lord. I cannot live trying to fit into either side. I am not of this world, though I live in it for now. Like Jesus after John’s death, I must show compassion and love to those in need. My heart breaks for the Kirk family and their loss. My heart breaks for where our culture and world are today. But if I am to be of any good to them, I must first be with my God so that I might share His heart for those in need.