Come to a Desolate Place and Rest
"Feeding the Multitudes" by Bernardo Strozzi The text for today is Mark 6:31: “And [Jesus] said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile.” Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our text begins with the apostles returning to Jesus and telling Him all that they had done and taught during their two-by-two mission tour upon which Jesus had sent them. But something important happens during this brief “vicarage internship.” We dare not pass over it or we’ll miss the full impact of this passage. St. Mark records the death of John the Baptist. John, the forerunner of Christ, has been executed thanks to birthday boy Herod and his hasty oath. John’s head is served on a platter, a gruesome party favor for Herodias and her daughter the dancer. John’s disciples come and take his body and lay it in a tomb. The beheading of a prophet like John is big news. J...