Sometimes in this life, the good guys don’t win. This is true of many of the heroes in the Old Testament. Righteous Abel was killed. Humble Moses was rejected and ultimately missed out on the promised land. The prophet Jeremiah was imprisoned and accused of being a traitor. Other prophets were tortured, mocked, whipped, chained, and imprisoned; others were stoned to death, killed by the sword, and even sawn in two! (see Heb. 11:35–37). These heroes of the faith did not receive all God’s promises in their lifetimes, but they knew he had more to offer them. They knew he would provide for them, after their deaths, “something better” (Heb. 11:40).

Today’s lesson is about John the Baptist, whom Jesus calls a great man (see Matt. 11:11). John was certainly one of the “good guys” also. And as one of the good guys he did good things and spoke good words. He announced that everyone should repent and be baptized. He also told Herod—an evil king—that he should start living by God’s rules not his own. Over and over, he preached, “It is not right for you, Herod, to divorce your wife and marry your brother’s wife” (see Mark 6:17–18). How do you think Herod received that? What do you think might happen to John? Let’s find out.