When It Rains, It Pours
The Arrest of St. John the Baptist by Pieter Van Der Heyden
Matthew 4:12 - Jesus Withdraws Into Galilee
“Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.”
—
How did Jesus hear that John the Baptist had been arrested? Who told Him?
Maybe a friend, maybe a family member.
What was going through His mind when He found out?
At face value, the situation in this verse has the conditions for extreme discouragement.
What would it be like, on the heels of the most intense physical and interior battle of your life, to find out a loved one has been arrested for his witness to the Truth?
How often in your life have you experienced a series of defeats in quick succession?
When it rains, it usually pours.
But in this scene, the God-man sharpens His mission focus.
“…he withdrew into Galilee…”
What’s Jesus doing? Why didn’t He intervene in the situation of John’s arrest?
Being fully God, He could easily intervened and righted the wrong.
Why didn’t He?
A “withdrawal” has the appearance of disappearing or retreating, but that’s not what’s happening here.
John’s arrest marks a hinge in history; Jesus is pivoting.
While temporal powers attempt to silence the forerunner’s word, the eternal Word maneuvers into position to launch His public ministry.
Sometimes when seasons of extreme challenge go from bad to worse, we might be tempted to take matters into our own hands and do everything in our earthly power to make things “right.”
In circumstances that might otherwise be extremely discouraging, our strength will rise when we wait upon the Lord.
“But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” - Isaiah 40:31
Onward and upward,
Ted
Check out my latest piece on Substack, “The Parade Deck and the Liturgy: What Marine Corps Drill Teaches Us About the Traditional Latin Mass”
A Book Worth Reading
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis is one of the most beloved and enduring guides to the spiritual life. Written in the 15th century, it calls the reader to turn away from worldly vanity and instead seek interior peace through humility, obedience, and union with Christ. With quiet power, Thomas à Kempis reminds us that holiness is not found in brilliance or success, but in daily faithfulness - following the way of the cross with patience, simplicity, and love. The book’s timeless message is that the soul’s deepest joy and freedom come from surrender: to know Christ, to imitate His virtues, and to rest entirely in God’s will.
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