Of John and Jesus

John the Baptist. Jesus. 

Two miracle births, two promised sons.The first came through old and barren parents; the second, a virgin.

Angelic visitations announced their coming birth. Both had a great call and destiny.

Of John the Baptist, it was said: He will be great in the sight of the Lord...He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from His mother's womb...He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God (Luke 1:15-17).

Of Jesus, it was declared: He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest...of His kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:32-33).

Judging by these prophecies of greatness, no one would have foreseen the way they would die. 

John was beheaded over an oath given by King Herod, in a moment of drunken folly.

The prophet was in prison for confronting the king over his relationship with his brother's wife.

Jesus died on the cross.

Two promised sons died a painful death in the prime of their lives, thus fulfilling the plans of God to redeem the world. 

I imagine Elizabeth and Mary who carried these sons in their wombs, watched them grow, and witnessed these events unfolding, and the degree of surrender they offered up to God as a promise was birthed, and seemingly, cut short in such a tragic way. 

I imagine them being utterly heartbroken at the suffering of their promised sons, bewildered by the tragedy of their deaths and somehow, still finding the strength to carry on.

Somehow, I can imagine Elizabeth and Mary among the "great cloud of witnesses" watching and cheering us on earnestly.