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Please read the following sentences and respond with the first thing that comes to your mind. There are no right or wrong answers, and there is no "hook". I am curious what thoughts/reactions are elicited by this information. Thanks!

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John...And Herod sent, and beheaded John in the prison. (John 1:6; Matthew 14:10)

It can be dangerous to be sent by God.

Jesus, his cousin, and most of his leading followers, all suffered death at the hands of the authorities. Moses would have too, but he left his native country ahead of the death warrant, and had some divine assistance getting away.

Since there's nothing about who sent this man from God, he may have deserved punishment. If he was sent BY God, that's another ballgame.

The truly righteous often suffer at the hands of power.

When you live sacrificially for the Lord, and accept the cost of discipleship you will have to sometimes pay with your life. We shouldn't be content to be fans of Jesus, we should seek to be his disciples- denying ourselves, giving all we have to the poor, to take up our cross to follow him.

Thanks for all the thoughts thus far.