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“Doing Right and Suffering Anyway”
As we continue our walk through the life and ministry of Jesus as told by the Gospel of Mark, this week we reach a passage that rarely features on anyone’s list of favourite bible stories: the recounting of how Jesus' cousin and forerunner, John the Baptist, was killed because of his faithful witness to what was right and true. The conclusion of the passage, with John’s head being presented on a platter, makes it feel a bit odd to then proclaim “Word of God, Word of Life” after it. And yet, in the story, we see a glimpse of the good news of God: an ambassador for God’s kingdom, speaking truth to oppressive power despite all consequences, even his own death.