But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
When Herod heard reports of the mighty works done by Jesus, he declared that Jesus was John the Baptist whom he had beheaded risen from the dead, and that this explained the powers at work in him. He spoke in fear and terror from a guilty, troubled conscience over murdering John, thinking John had returned with greater power to condemn him and his household and expecting divine punishment for his crime. He had heard John preach and knew him to be a true prophet, and had very nearly become his disciple, yet at the point of decision he turned from light into darkness, rejected the truth, and ordered his death to gratify Herodias' daughter after his rash promise at his birthday feast. Though his conscience had once trembled with horror and remorse at the demand for John's head, his continued licentious life dulled his conscience and degraded his moral perceptions until his sins seemed like trifles to him. His course proves that those capable of the worst crimes are those who, once convicted by the Spirit of truth, turn away from truth after conviction.
Herod's Words and Setting
When Herod heard reports of Jesus' miracles and mighty works he declared that Jesus was John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded, risen from the dead, and that therefore mighty works were displayed in him. His speaking as if then first learning of Jesus is difficult to explain, since Jesus had lived and preached in Galilee for years, a difficulty that reflects the indifference of people in high rank toward religion and their ignorance of religious events. He had never met Jesus but had long desired to see him and witness his marvelous power.
He was pleased when Jesus was later brought to him as a prisoner, making no doubt he could force him to work a miracle as the condition for saving his life, and he wanted to see Jesus partly to escape the memory of his bloody deed. The saying belongs to John's martyrdom at Herod's birthday feast, where impaired by wine and captivated by the dancing of Herodias' daughter Herod promised her whatever she asked and then ordered John's death. Though he had heard John preach, he was horrified and could not bear the sight when the bleeding head was brought before his guests.
Tidings of the beheading reached Jesus and the disciples just after they returned filled with joy over their success as heralds of the gospel on their first missionary tour. The news turned joy to bitter sorrow and disappointment and severely tested their faith that Jesus had left John to die in prison. With pitying tenderness and tears Jesus met their sorrow, calling them apart into a desert place to rest awhile. He took them by boat to a lonely retreat near Bethsaida at the northern end of Galilee for fellowship and opening of treasures of truth to give them divine power, hope, and courage for more effective labor.
Conscience, Fear, and Warning
Herod's declaration that the beheaded John had risen was spoken in fear and terror, not in calm conviction. He thought John had returned with greater power in order to condemn him and his household. His guilty conscience left him expecting punishment for his crime and fearing divine judgment. That fear sprang from terror and remorse and a guilty, troubled conscience over ordering John's execution and murdering him. His terror was stirred when he first heard of Jesus and the mighty works wrought by him, and he later wanted to see Jesus partly to escape the memory of his bloody deed.
His conscience had once trembled with horror at Herodias' request for John's head and had felt keen stings of remorse afterward. Continued licentious life and sin made his moral perceptions more and more degraded and dulled his conscience until his sins looked like trifles to him. He had heard John preach, had very nearly become his disciple, and knew him to be a true prophet. Yet at the very point of decision he turned away from light into darkness of iniquity, rejected the truth, fell into Satan's snare, and put him to death. Impaired by wine and captivated by the dancing of Herodias' daughter, he had promised her whatever she asked, and when the bleeding head was brought before his guests he was horrified and could not bear the sight.
The event shows the consequences of intemperance among people entrusted with great authority. His course proves that men capable of the worst crimes are those who, once convicted by the Spirit of truth, turn from truth after conviction.
When Herod heard reports of the mighty works done by Jesus, he declared that Jesus was John the Baptist whom he had beheaded risen from the dead, and that this explained the powers at work in him. He spoke in fear and terror from a guilty, troubled conscience over murdering John, thinking John had returned with greater power to condemn him and his household and expecting divine punishment for his crime. He had heard John preach and knew him to be a true prophet, and had very nearly become his disciple, yet at the point of decision he turned from light into darkness, rejected the truth, and ordered his death to gratify Herodias' daughter after his rash promise at his birthday feast. Though his conscience had once trembled with horror and remorse at the demand for John's head, his continued licentious life dulled his conscience and degraded his moral perceptions until his sins seemed like trifles to him. His course proves that those capable of the worst crimes are those who, once convicted by the Spirit of truth, turn away from truth after conviction.
Herod's Words and Setting
When Herod heard reports of Jesus' miracles and mighty works he declared that Jesus was John the Baptist, whom he had beheaded, risen from the dead, and that therefore mighty works were displayed in him. His speaking as if then first learning of Jesus is difficult to explain, since Jesus had lived and preached in Galilee for years, a difficulty that reflects the indifference of people in high rank toward religion and their ignorance of religious events. He had never met Jesus but had long desired to see him and witness his marvelous power.
He was pleased when Jesus was later brought to him as a prisoner, making no doubt he could force him to work a miracle as the condition for saving his life, and he wanted to see Jesus partly to escape the memory of his bloody deed. The saying belongs to John's martyrdom at Herod's birthday feast, where impaired by wine and captivated by the dancing of Herodias' daughter Herod promised her whatever she asked and then ordered John's death. Though he had heard John preach, he was horrified and could not bear the sight when the bleeding head was brought before his guests.
Tidings of the beheading reached Jesus and the disciples just after they returned filled with joy over their success as heralds of the gospel on their first missionary tour. The news turned joy to bitter sorrow and disappointment and severely tested their faith that Jesus had left John to die in prison. With pitying tenderness and tears Jesus met their sorrow, calling them apart into a desert place to rest awhile. He took them by boat to a lonely retreat near Bethsaida at the northern end of Galilee for fellowship and opening of treasures of truth to give them divine power, hope, and courage for more effective labor.
Conscience, Fear, and Warning
Herod's declaration that the beheaded John had risen was spoken in fear and terror, not in calm conviction. He thought John had returned with greater power in order to condemn him and his household. His guilty conscience left him expecting punishment for his crime and fearing divine judgment. That fear sprang from terror and remorse and a guilty, troubled conscience over ordering John's execution and murdering him. His terror was stirred when he first heard of Jesus and the mighty works wrought by him, and he later wanted to see Jesus partly to escape the memory of his bloody deed.
His conscience had once trembled with horror at Herodias' request for John's head and had felt keen stings of remorse afterward. Continued licentious life and sin made his moral perceptions more and more degraded and dulled his conscience until his sins looked like trifles to him. He had heard John preach, had very nearly become his disciple, and knew him to be a true prophet. Yet at the very point of decision he turned away from light into darkness of iniquity, rejected the truth, fell into Satan's snare, and put him to death. Impaired by wine and captivated by the dancing of Herodias' daughter, he had promised her whatever she asked, and when the bleeding head was brought before his guests he was horrified and could not bear the sight.
The event shows the consequences of intemperance among people entrusted with great authority. His course proves that men capable of the worst crimes are those who, once convicted by the Spirit of truth, turn from truth after conviction.