Article December 30, 1996 Issue

The second dispatch

Nathan A. Talbot

If a friend passes on, it's a time that may bring some deep soul-searching. A time when one might want to be alone for a while, or with a few close companions, just to think things through.

Of course we can only speculate about how Jesus felt, but there was a time when he had to deal with the loss of a good friend. John the Baptist had lost his life in the most difficult circumstances. The disciples cared for his body. Then they went to give Jesus the sad news.

We don't know exactly what Jesus said to them, but the book of Matthew tells us, "When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart" (Matt. 14:13).

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