"WHEN Herod heard of the wonderful works of Christ in healing the sick, casting out devils, and raising the dead, he was exceedingly troubled and perplexed. His convictions were that God, whom John preached, was indeed present in every place, and that he had witnessed the wild mirth and wicked dissipation in the royal banqueting-room, and that his ear had heard his command to the executioner to behead John, that his eye had seen the exultation of Herodias, and the taunting and insult with which she had reproached the severed head of her enemy. And many things which he had heard from the lips of the prophet now spoke to his conscience in louder tones than the preaching in the wilderness. He had heard from John that nothing could be hidden from God, therefore he trembled lest some terrible punishment should be visited upon him for the sin he had committed.
"When Herod heard of the works of Christ, he thought that God had resurrected John, and sent him forth with still greater power to condemn sin. He was in constant fear that John would avenge his death by passing condemnation upon him and his house. 'And king Herod heard of him [Christ] (for his name was spread abroad); and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded; he is risen from the dead.'
"The Lord followed Herod as is described in Deuteronomy: 'The Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind. And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear, day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life. In the morning thou shalt say, Would to God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would to God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.'
"In these words is presented a vivid picture of the criminal's life. His own thoughts are his accusers, and there can be no torture keener than the stings of his own guilty conscience, which give him no rest night nor day."-Mrs. E. G. White in Great Controversy.
"It is most wonderful that Herod and his courtiers should not have known of our Lord's preaching and miracles at an earlier period, especially as he spent most of his time in Galilee. Some think that Herod had been absent at Rome during the former part of our Lord's ministry; but if this were so, his nobles and counselors had not all been absent likewise. Others think that he at this time attended to the report, because Christ had just sent forth his disciples to work miracles in his name. But the supposition that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead implies that Herod had never heard of him before or known that such a person existed; for how could he who had lived about thirty years in Galilee, be John the Baptist who a short time before had been put to death? In fact, nothing can solve the difficulty but the consideration of the general disregard which persons in high rank show to the concerns of religion, and the astonishing ignorance in which most of them remain of what goes forward in that respect."
"The fate of John might have remained undecided for a considerable time, had not an incident taken place, which determined it. The folly, the rashness, and the madness of such an oath as Herod's on so foolish an occasion, could be exceeded by nothing but the horrible purpose to which it was perverted. Herodias had a passion to gratify stronger perhaps than any other, when it takes full possession of the human heart, and that is revenge. She had been mortally injured, as she conceived, by the Baptist; and she not only felt the highest indignation at this insult, but was afraid that his repeated remonstrances might at length prevail. Herod conceiving himself, most absurdly, bound by his oath to comply even with this inhuman demand, preferred the real guilt of murder to the false imputation of perjury. Herodias 'had a quarrel against John; according to the original 'she fastened and hung upon him,' and was determined not to let go her hold till she had destroyed him."-Scott's Commentary.
"As the sun was setting, Jesus saw before him five thousand people besides women and children, who had been all day without food. He inquired of Philip concerning the probability of obtaining bread for so large a number, that they might not return to their homes unrefreshed nor faint by the way. This he did to test the faith of his disciples, for he himself was at no loss how to provide food. He who would not work a miracle to satisfy his own hunger in the wilderness, would not allow the multitude to suffer for lack of food. Philip looked over the sea of heads and thought how impossible it would be to obtain sufficient food to satisfy the wants of such a crowd. He answered that two hundred penny-worth of bread would not be nearly enough to divide among them so that each one might have a little. Jesus inquired how much food could be found among the company. He was told that Andrew had discovered a lad who had with him five barley-loaves, and two small fishes. But this was nothing among so many, and they were in a desert place, where no more could be obtained.
"Jesus commanded that this meager store should be brought to him. This being done, he directed his disciples to seat the people upon the grass in parties of fifty and one hundred, to preserve order, that all might witness the miracle that he was about to do. This marshaling of five thousand people into companies, was at length satisfactorily accomplished, and they were all seated in the presence of the Saviour. He then took the loaves and fishes, and, having given thanks, distributed them to the disciples and to the multitudes, in quantities sufficient to satisfy their appetites.
"The people had arranged themselves in the required order wondering what was to be done, but their amazement knew no bounds when the problem was solved, and they beheld food portioned out to that vast assembly from the slender store scarcely sufficient for a score of persons. The food did not diminish, as Jesus handed it to his disciples, who in their turn served the people. As often as they returned to him for a fresh supply, it was furnished them. After all had been satisfied, he directed the disciples to gather up the fragments that nothing might be lost; and the broken fragments filled twelve baskets.
"During this remarkable feast, there was much earnest reflection among those who were so miraculously served. They had followed Jesus to listen to words such as had never before fallen upon their ears. His teachings had sunk into their hearts. He had healed their sick, had comforted their sorrow, and, at last, rather than send them away hungering, he had fed them bounteously. His pure and simple doctrine laid hold of their minds, and his tender benevolence won their hearts. While eating the food he had provided for them, they decided that this was indeed the Messiah. No other one could do so mighty a miracle. No human power could create from five barley loaves and two small fishes, food sufficient to feed thousands of hungry people. His teachings and work of healing had already nearly convinced them of his divinity, and this miracle crowned their growing conviction with entire belief."-Mrs. E. G. White.