John the Baptist Got Beheaded: Sometimes God Doesn't Show Up Like You'd Think

Growing up, one of my favorite books was Robin Hood. I think every young boy loves Robin Hood. The idea of this wily, crafty bandit with exceptional powers of archery outsmarting his foes in order to redistribute immorally seized resources from corrupt local governments strikes at the heart of every blooming economist...er...boy.

My favorite story in those tales was when Robin’s third in command, Will Scarlet, is captured by the villainous Sheriff of Nottigham. Knowing that killing Scarlet would demoralize Robin Hood’s band, the Sheriff plans to hang the man for treason. But the Sheriff also feels as though killing Scarlet publicly could draw Robin Hood out into the open, so he sets a trap for him, just in case he tries something.

Of course, because he’s Robin Hood, he has to go attempt to save Will Scarlet’s life. The men dress up like friars, in brown robes and mill about inconspicuously among the crowd. But they can’t move too soon, or their cover will be blown.

Scarlet is led to the gallows. His young face feverishly scans across the massive crowd for signs of hope – signs of familiar faces, a signal that help has come and will rescue him.

But he sees no such sign. Terror overwhelms him as he is pushed off the platform. The rope around his neck grows taut and Scarlet knows that no help is coming to save him. His close calls have finally caught up with him.

At that moment, Robin Hood blows his horn. The men spring into action. Robin Hood draws his longbow and lets fly a single arrow. It soars through the air, lancing the rope holding Will Scarlet’s flailing body. Scarlet drops to down, right into the arms of Little John, who is in a wagon, galloping past the gallows.

The guards attempt to stop the Band the Thieves but it is no use. Once again, they have been outsmarted.

This scene resonates with me for a number of reasons. First off, it speaks to the heroism and dedication that all young men dream of in their friends. We all long to belong to a devoted band of friends willing to all risk their life for you, if it came to that.

But secondly, it reminds us that in the end, Good wins. Even when it looks like Evil is going to win, Good will come through with a daring, last minute rescue.

HOW THIS RELATES TO THE BIBLE

So, how does this relate to the Bible? Well, I am in the process of reading through the New Testament using a Bible companion called the “Jewish New Testament” written by Rabbi David Stern (not the NBA Commissioner, but a devout Jew who came to accept that Christ really was the Messiah after studying the life of Jesus).

So, right now, I am in Matthew 11. I didn’t say I was very far.

Anyway, reading through that, I came across this passage, which has always perplexed me a bit.

Matthew 11
Jesus and John the Baptist
1After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 2When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"

Now, this verse makes me go wha-what for a number of reasons. First off, there’s no way that John the Baptist really needs to know the answer to this question. He was there when Jesus was baptized and a loud voice said, from the sky, “This is my son, with whom I am well pleased.”

If that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is.

Also, it says that John knew Jesus in utero. In Luke 1, it says:

39A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

So clearly, John doesn’t need any additional information that Jesus is the Messiah. So what is going on here?

Stern says it’s code. According to all the old Rabbis who had combed the Scriptures, there were 7 Key Things that the Messiah was definitely going to do. These things were all taught because the Rabbis wanted to make sure good Jewish boys and girls could grow up to recognize the Messiah when He came. Those seven things were.

1. Make the blind see (Isaiah 35:5, 29:18)
2. Make the lame walk (Isaiah 35:6, 61:1)
3. Make the deaf hear (Isaiah 35:5, 29:18)
4. Raise the dead/Heaven with Life (Isaiah 11)
5. Help the poor (Isaiah 61:1)
6. Heal the infirm/sick (Isaiah 61:1)
7. Free the captives (Isaiah 61:1)

Notice the last one. Free the captives.

John was asking, in code, “Are you going to rescue me, because it’s not looking too good and I even hear they might think about killing me if they get the chance.”

He was saying, “If I go to the hangman’s noose, can I count on you to save me?”

What’s amazing to me is the response of Jesus. Look what He says.

4Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."

Jesus goes though every single one of the signs of the Messiah. But He leaves one out. He leaves out the Free the Captives. In code, Jesus responds to the question of John the Baptist by saying, “No. No, you won’t be rescued.”

Sometimes, God doesn't save us in the way that we expect. Sometimes, God doesn't show up in the way that we would have planned. Sometimes, cancer wins. Sometimes, AIDS wins. Sometimes, she leaves and there's nothing you can do about it.

But Jesus goes on to say that among those born of man, John the Baptist is the greatest. But that even the least in the Kingdom of Heaven are greater than he was. Why? John the Baptist was the greatest because he came at the end of a long line of prophets, but he alone got to actually see and speak with God incarnate.

But John didn't have something that all of us have: the knowledge of the end of the story.

John didn't know that God would lay down his life for all of us.

John didn't know that Jesus would conquer the one obstacle that no man had ever been able to defeat: death.

John didn't know that in the end, love wins.

But we do.

And that should give us hope.