Today’s gospel (Matt 14:1-12) is about the martyrdom of John the Baptist. Herod had a party with many distinguished guests. His daughter danced beautifully before the guests, and in his delight Herod promised to give her anything she asked including half of his kingdom. Then following her mother’s advice, she asked for the head of John the Baptist whom Herod was holding in prison. And that was the end of John the Baptist.
There are many lessons to be learned from this short incident. But for us, today, I want to focus on what happened next. In verse 12, Matthew reports that: “John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.”
So here’s my question. I wonder what was going on in the minds and hearts of the disciples of John after they buried him.
The passage simply says, “They went and told Jesus.” It sounds like they had to report to him about what had happened, and maybe to warn him … because maybe he might be next. Maybe, yes. But I think there is a deeper lesson here for all of us.
I think they were grieving, and they wanted to be comforted. Their beloved leader, whom they kept company while he was in prison, had just been executed almost without warning. And who better to share that shock and grief with, than with Jesus – the one who had famously said, “Come to me.”
I remember the grief that my sisters and Daisy and I felt at the hospital bedside of my mother when she passed away. We all just wanted to embrace her in our grief. If only our children were there, I’m sure we would have run to them and sought comfort in each other’s arms to grieve.
I’m sorry if I bring up sad memories for those of you who have grieved the loss of a loved one. But whether we lose a loved one, lose a job or anything else of great personal value, there is grief. Even when we experience disappointments and frustrations, in a sense we grieve the loss of peace of mind, we lose control, we lose a desired future. And in all these situations, we need relief and comfort.
And for the disciples of John? Well, “They went and told Jesus.”
My friends, when anything troubles us or afflicts us, or even grieves us, let us be sure to tell Jesus about it. There’s no one better to understand us, and to console us, and to comfort us than Jesus Himself.
Now, I know it’s not part of today’s gospel passage, but if you read the next verse, you will learn that after Jesus heard the news about the death of his cousin, John, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. I believe that Jesus felt extreme grief as well, and He ran to His Father.
For us who grieve, there is great consolation in knowing that Jesus knows and experiences our grief with us. And in our grief, let us allow Jesus to accompany us to seek consolation from God the Father, from whom even Jesus gains comfort and strength.
And I am almost sure that when Jesus was grieving the loss of John, He must have remembered this verse from Psalm 34:18, which proclaims,
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
And this is why Jesus promises in His sermon on the mount: “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Yes, I sincerely believe that the disciples received comfort from Jesus. And Jesus Himself received comfort from God the Father.
Now what about us? Well, for those of you who may be going through great loss right now, go and tell Jesus. Go and tell Jesus. Then He will share your grief with you, and together both of you can go and tell His Father, who is the source of all comfort.
August 1, 2026
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