For more than twenty years, LearnTheBible.org has consistently provided free content from a Bible-believing perspective to our thousands of annual visitors. We do not run ads or charge for access to this wealth of Bible study materials, outlines, preaching, teaching, and so much more! Expenses to maintain our hosting, servers, etc. are provided by the generous donations of God's people. If you have been helped and blessed by LTB through the years, would you help us continue to maintain and support this growing ministry by partnering with us with a onetime or monthly gift?
To those who read, listen, and share our content, we are extremely grateful! Please continue to pray for us and "Thank You!" for 20 great years!
When He Heard, He Departed - Matthew 14:1-13
When He Heard, He Departed - Matthew 14:1-13 [1] At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
[2] And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
[3] For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
[4] For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
[5] And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
[6] But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
[7] Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
[8] And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
[9] And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
[10] And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
[11] And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
[12] And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
[13] When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
See All...
See All...
INTRODUCTION
Life is full of pressures. At times, these pressures are so overwhelming that man must get alone. The Lord Jesus cared dearly for his cousin John. When He learned of John’s death, He was so moved at the event that He desired to get away. According to the scripture, He got in a ship and departed "into a desert place apart" (Matthew 14:13When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
See All...). If the Lord Jesus dealt with a difficult event in His life by departing and seeking some quiet rest time, it would behove Christians to consider the same. At times, life is going to present difficult situations where the reasonable solution is to take a step back and regroup mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
- (For smaller children) When the following men heard unpleasant news, they got alone with God to heal, and mend, and get courage to go on: Jacob (Genesis 32:6-7 [6] And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
[7] Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
See All..., 9-11, 22-24); David (1 Samuel 30:3-6 [3] So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. [4] Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. [5] And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. [6] And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
See All...); Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:14And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.
See All...). Before Jesus became sin for us, He wanted to be alone (Matthew 26:36-44 [36] Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. [37] And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. [38] Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. [39] And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. [40] And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? [41] Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. [42] He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. [43] And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. [44] And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
See All...). - Have you recently endured heartrending events? Have you taken the necessary quiet time and rest to properly recover?
- When the Lord sought to depart and find a time of rest, the people heard of His departure and followed Him. What will likely happen when you seek a time of rest and quiet?
PRAYER NEEDS
- Ask God to help you get your alone time.
- Thank God for ministering to you in your times of need.
HYMN
Does Jesus Care?
LTB DEVOTIONS ON FACEBOOK
Receive the daily devotions on your facebook wall by clicking "Like" on http://www.facebook.com/kingjamesbibledailydevotions.
Proverbs 29:20
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.