1 Maccabees 16:18-24: a reflection

18Ptolemy wrote these things and sent to the king, that he should send him forces to aid him, and should deliver him their country and the cities. 19He sent others to Gazara to do away with John. To the captains of thousands, he sent letters to come to him, that he might give them silver, gold, and gifts. 20He sent others to take possession of Jerusalem and the temple hill. 21One ran before to Gazara, and told John that his father and kindred had perished, and that he has sent to kill you also. 22When he heard, he was greatly shocked. He seized the men who came to destroy him and killed them; for he perceived that they were seeking to destroy him. 23And the rest of the acts of John and of his wars and of his valiant deeds which he did, and of the building of the walls which he built, and of his achievements, 24behold, they are written in the chronicles of his high priesthood, from the time that he was made high priest after his father.

In a time of treachery, John, the high priest, suffers a terrible blow: word comes that his father and kindred have been murdered by Ptolemy, who has also sent men to kill him. When he heard, he was greatly shocked. It was a betrayal and a grief, the loss of his family by treachery, and a threat to his own life. Yet John did not collapse into despair or abandon his calling; he acted to protect himself, and the account goes on to record his continued achievements, his wars, his building of walls, his faithful work as high priest. Even after betrayal and grievous loss, John continued in his faithful work.

Notice that John continued in his faithful work even after betrayal and grief. The blow he suffered was terrible: his family murdered by treachery, his own life threatened. He was greatly shocked, as anyone would be. Yet he did not let the betrayal and grief end his faithfulness; he continued in his calling, his work, his building, his service as high priest, and these are recorded among his achievements. The betrayal and loss did not stop him; he carried on his faithful work through the grief. Even in the midst of such a blow, John continued to serve, to build, to do the work before him. The grief did not end his faithfulness; he pressed on in his calling.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can continue in faithful work even in the midst of betrayal and grief. When we suffer betrayal, loss, grief, blows that shock and wound us, we can be tempted to collapse, to abandon our calling, to let the grief end our faithfulness; but John continued in his faithful work even after his family was murdered by treachery. Betrayal and grief need not end our faithfulness; we can carry on the work before us even through them. When betrayal and grief strike you, do not let them end your faithfulness; continue in the work God has given you, as John carried on his calling even after grievous loss. Continue in the faithful work God has given you even in the midst of betrayal and grief, not letting the blow end your faithfulness, as John carried on his calling and achievements even after his family was murdered by treachery; for betrayal and grief, however wounding, need not stop us, and there is a faithfulness that carries on the work through even the hardest blows.

Lord, in a time of treachery, John, the high priest, suffers a terrible blow: word comes that his father and kindred have been murdered by Ptolemy, who has also sent men to kill him. When he heard, he was greatly shocked. It was a betrayal and a grief, the loss of his family by treachery, and a threat to his own life. Yet John did not collapse into despair or abandon his calling; he acted to protect himself, and the account goes on to record his continued achievements, his faithful work as high priest. Show me that John continued in his faithful work even after betrayal and grief. The blow he suffered was terrible: his family murdered by treachery, his own life threatened. He was greatly shocked, as anyone would be. Yet he did not let the betrayal and grief end his faithfulness; he continued in his calling, his work, his service, and these are recorded among his achievements. The betrayal and loss did not stop him. Take that to my heart, for I too can continue in faithful work even in the midst of betrayal and grief. When I suffer betrayal, loss, grief, blows that shock and wound me, I can be tempted to collapse, to abandon my calling, to let the grief end my faithfulness; but John continued in his faithful work even after his family was murdered. Betrayal and grief need not end my faithfulness. When betrayal and grief strike me, keep me from letting them end my faithfulness; help me continue in the work you have given me, Lord, as John carried on his calling even after grievous loss.