Week 20 Day 4

April 14, 2022

Herod Wonders if Jesus is John Raised from Dead

Scripture: Matthew 14:1-2, Mark 6:14-16, Luke 9:7-9 (NIV)

Matthew 14:1-2
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Mark 6:14-16
King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.” But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

Luke 9:7-9
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.

Devotional

When Herod Antipas had John the Baptist executed, he no doubt was filled with anxiety. Remember, Herod was afraid of the people who thought John to be a prophet and was intimidated by the bold holiness he saw in John’s life. Still, what’s done is done.

Meanwhile, Jesus had been growing in popularity. Massive crowds followed Him everywhere. Word spread about his healings and miracles. People hung on every word. They followed Him like a throng of paparazzi. Reports about Jesus were brought to Herod, “for Jesus’ name had become well known” (Mark 6:14).

Rumors were flying around about the identity of Jesus. Some thought Jesus was the reappeared Elijah, who had lived some 900 years earlier. Others thought Jesus was one of the other Old Testament prophets, resurrected and performing miraculous signs. But Herod himself agreed with those who figured Jesus was the resurrected John the Baptist, whom Herod had beheaded just recently.

Confusion over the identity of Jesus is an ongoing theme in the gospels. People look at what Jesus said and did, then try to make sense of it. Jesus Himself claimed to be God’s Messiah (Christ), the very Son of God. Yet this self-revelation didn’t satisfy many of the people of His day, nor does it in our day. We try to make sense of Jesus’ identity, even if the logical conclusion is that He was a resurrected prophet who had been beheaded!

Once again, take some time to consider the identity of Jesus. Who do you say that He is?