After hearing that Herod had beheaded John the Baptist, the Bible records that Jesus responded to this tragic event in the following way: 

When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 

 Matthew 14:13–14, New King James Version  

By this time in His ministry, Jesus had significant influence. Multitudes were following Him. If I were Jesus, I certainly would have considered using my influence with the masses as an instrument of revenge. I think I would have been tempted to gather them together and remove Herod from his throne. When bad deeds by bad dudes happen in my world, revenge—getting even—is the first reaction of my flesh. 

Notice Jesus’ response: “He departed from there by boat to a deserted place.” What was He doing? The same thing you and I should do in times like these: He was spending time with God in prayer in order to get His emotions under control. He could not afford to react to this evil deed by letting anger rule His decisions and actions. Instead, He needed to hear from His Father how He was to respond by the Spirit. 

Jesus knew His real enemy was not flesh and blood—Herod—but Satan who instigated this evil scheme of murder. The way the Father led Him to respond to the enemy’s evil deeds was by moving with compassion and healing the sick among the multitudes. Instead of reacting in the flesh, He responded in the Spirit and set scores of people free from satanic bondage and control. 

The score at the end of that day was: the devil: one; Jesus: thousands.  

Think about it the next time some bad dude perpetrates a bad deed in your world. Determine to respond by the Spirit instead of reacting in the flesh. The enemy will end up the loser he is again because you chose to manifest Jesus instead of something else.