Luke 9:7-9
"Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; And of some that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him," Luke 9:7-9. Who is Herod, and why did he want to see Jesus? This Herod is known as Herod the tetrarch, or Herod Antipas. Tetrarch is a rule of one fourth of a country. He was basically a puppet for the ruler of Rome, Tiberius Caesar, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He is one of Herod the Great's sons. He ruled Galilee and Perea, and he was hated by the Jews. As a result of his position, Herod had much money, much power, and this aided him in fulfilling his lustful desires. Herod could care less about holiness, and he despised the true and living God. He was his own god, and sought to fulfill his own lust at any cost. Herod was comfortable in his sin, and did not like to be made uncomfortable.
"Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead," Luke 9:7. Herod was in a state of surprise or confusion. He heard about the miracles that Jesus continually did, and he heard what the people were saying about Jesus, "because it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; And of some that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again." There is much chatter about who Jesus is. Jesus even goes on to ask His own disciples this question in verses 18-20. This also shows us that many people were not convinced that Jesus Christ was the long awaited for Messiah. The religious leaders also hated Jesus Christ and they also accused Him of doing miracles in the name of and by the power of the devil. People are quick to draw their own conclusions and share them with others as if they are fact.
In Herod's mind there was no way this could be John the Baptist because he had John beheaded, unless John came back from the dead. "And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him," Luke 9:9. This is also recorded in Matthew 14:1-12 and Mark 6:14-29. Let us turn to Mark 6:14-29. Herod is governed by his sinful lusts. Herod loved sin; therefore, he hated righteousness. What was John the Baptist's crime? John simply spoke the truth (Mark 6:18). Herod and Herodias, what y'all are doing is sin in the eyes of God. Regardless of your status in society, it is still sin. Herod and his wife did not like to be called out for sinful living. They were ready and willing to silence anyone who opposed them. The preaching of John exposed and called them out on their sinful behavior. John did not hold back because of their status in society. John spoke truth according to the Word of God. The heathen world approved and applauded the lifestyle of Herod and Herodias, but God's Word condemned their lifestyle. They were confronted with truth.
Truth, by God's grace, will cause people to become broken over their sins, or truth causes people to become hardened because of their sins. God's word always accomplishes that which He pleases (Isaiah 55:8-11). We also see this in Romans 9:10-24. "Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth," Romans 9:18. "Hardeneth" in this verse means to harden, to make obstinate, perverse. Pharoah heard what God commanded, and his heart was hardened towards God, and God's people. So much so that he brought much sorrow on his people, and went after God's people to destroy them. Pharoah was not broken over his sins, nor over the sins of his people. Only God can cause the sinner to be broken over their sins. This is a working of God's grace. God replaces the heart of stone with a heart of flesh. It is God who quickens (saves) the lost sinner (Ephesians 2:1). By God's grace He interrupts our lives and saves our souls. But what about those He does not save, people like Herod, Herodias, and Pharoah? God left them to themselves, to do what they desired to do. Turn to Acts 2:23-24; 3:11-19; 4:26-28; Acts 7:51-60. There was no effectual grace shown to them. They heard the gospel message, but that seed did not enter and take root in the heart, and their life showed it. Picture a few people living like this, then more, and more, and more, until the majority of a nation is living like this. Preacher after preacher is sent to them, but they will not hearken, so they will not repent. Instead, they wax worse and worse (Romans 1).
Herod had the authority to kill John the Baptist, and he did. Just as his father, Herod the Great, had all the male children two years old and under slaughtered, and he had loyal soldiers who would carry out the orders, Herod Antipas gave the order to behead John the Baptist, and the loyal soldiers did what they were commanded to do. Think about it this way, if it was legal to kill Christians in America simply for being a Christian, and proclaiming truth, we would be killed daily. The church would also look different, and it would be purged. Being baptized would be a death sentence. Only those whom the Lord truly saved would join a local church. Herod may have appeared outwardly to be sorry, but he was glad to get rid of the one who kept pointing our his sinfulness. How do we know this? Turn to Luke 13:31. If Jesus would have been John the Baptist, like some said, Herod would have had him killed again.
John was separate from this world. Jesus Christ was separate from this world, as was the disciples, and all Christians through the ages. It wasn't considered radical for Christians to live for Jesus Christ and tell others about Him, no, it was normal, and expected. It was also normal for the world to hate Christians (John 15:18-23). Note: we are not on a mission to make the world hate us; instead, we are simply proclaiming truth, and the lost world hates truth. Truth offends. John the Baptist was bold, and he loved the Lord. He also loved people, which is another reason he told them the truth.
How does the world view you, and how do you view the world? Herod is a good representative of the world. Are you a good representative of Christianity? Are you saved according to the Scriptures? Have you trusted Christ alone to save you? Not Christ plus works, experiences, feelings, emotions, etc., but Christ alone. If so, praise be to God; go forth and serve Him. If not, I beg you to repent and believe the gospel. Turn from your sins, and turn to Christ. He is faithful to save all who come to Him. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37.
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Soli Deo Gloria.
