Lenten Reader | Day 13

March 4th, 2026

King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Others said, “He is Elijah.”

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”

They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”

“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”

When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”

Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

Mark 6:14-44

Get Some Rest

So many times, Lent is known as the sacrifice or the fasting month. We think we should give up something in our life that could be associated with being addicted: social media or committing to not complain for the whole 40 days. So many times, we get caught up in the rituals of doing “good works” that we forget about “rest.”

In this Scripture passage, the disciples had just gotten back from doing good works such as healing and preaching. And even though that was all good, Jesus knew that they were exhausted. So, he invited them to step aside and rest for a bit. Take a “chill pill” regroup and rejuvenate with Him.

This “chill pill” reveals that rest is not just a reward for faithfulness, but it is a part of faithfulness. Jesus understands the need for ministry, but he also understands the need for taking time and just chilling - “rest.”

My father has a picture hanging up in his office called the “Laughing Jesus.” Every time I see it, I imagine Jesus just putting up his feet and cracking jokes with the disciples, laughing at a story that was just told. I can imagine that this passage gives us a glimpse of one those times that Jesus and the disciples just hung out. Just chilling and enjoying each other.

I pray that you find this Lenten season is more than a ritual of self- sacrificing, but also a time to chill in God – to rejuvenate for the work ahead. And remember, while working for God is great, so is resting in Him. Rest is not doing nothing, but making time to be quiet with God, to listen to Him. When we take the chill pill, we remember that we are not servants striving to prove ourselves of value. We are Children of God, and He has invited us to sit down and chill with Him.

Debbie Sturgill