We come into this study just coming off of the sending out of the twelve disciples of our Lord. It is believed to be somewhere in this timeframe that Herod orders the beheading of John the Baptist. We will look at that briefly in our study seeing that our text speaks of Herod and his wonder at who it is that is going around preaching and healing. Of course this is the continual news of the fame of Jesus throughout this region of Galilee. As we will see in our text, there is still many people that have not seen who this miracle worker is or even who it is.
To guide us into our text I want to build the context and chronology for us to have in mind. We do not have an exact time of when John was beheaded but many believe that it was somewhere in the past month at least if not sooner. We know for sure that John was still alive back in Luke 7 which would have been around 4 to 6 months before our timing here in chapter 9. So somewhere in this 4 to 6 month period, John was beheaded. We find the story in both Matthew 14:1-12 and Mark 6:14-29. Here we find out that John was arrested because of his bold condemning of Herod’s marriage to his brothers wife. The deal was that Herod had stolen his brother’s wife, Herodias. This woman was not only his brother’s wife but also both of their niece. This was an act of complete defiance against God’s law and John stood up to Herod concerning this.
Mark 6:19 says Now Herodias was holding a grudge against him and was wanting to put him to death and was not able.
Herod had some sort of respect for John even though he did not like his condemnation of his marriage. Even though he had respect for him he used his power to have John arrested simply because of his condemnation of his marriage. To be clear John was only operating from the standpoint of what the law of God said. In our story we find out that during Herod’s birthday dinner that Herodias’ daughter had danced for Herod, most likely in a provocative fashion. This pleased Herod so much that he told Herodias’ daughter in Mark 6:22b-23 “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” 23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.”
With this she went to her mother for advice and her mother said plainly to ask for the head of John the Baptist. Because of the oaths he took Herod had this done even though this was not something that he wanted to do personally. So John dies, his disciples took his body and laid him in a tomb. So this gives to us the complete context in understanding what we will see in our text for this study.
I know that was a long introduction but it was needed to build the context of what was happening at this time. Let’s look now at our first point.
1.Jesus’ fame reaches to Herod.
Look with me at Luke 9:7-9 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. 9 And Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.
First let’s find out who this Herod the tetrarch is. He is one of the sons of Herod the Great who was the king at the time of the birth of Jesus. Herod the tetrarch is also known as Herod Antipas. He is the Herod we see throughout the ministry of Jesus. The only time Jesus and Herod crossed paths face to face is when Pilate sends Jesus to Herod right before His crucifixion. It was obvious though that Herod had heard of this Jesus or someone that was performing miracles.
Herod was one of the four tetrarch that split the kingdom once ruled by his father. Antipas was given the regions of Galilee and Perea in which we know Jesus spent nearly 20 months or so in this area ministering. In fact if you think back to earlier in Jesus’ Galilean ministry when He healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath that Mark 3:6 says And the Pharisees went out and immediately began taking counsel together with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.
Here we see that Herod and his supporters were aware of Jesus back then. The Pharisee’s looked to come together with the Herodians to move Herod’s mind towards having Jesus arrested just like he did John.
Back in our text in Luke 9:7 we see that Herod is very concerned about who this is. In our text we see that Herod was greatly perplexed. The Greek word for perplexed is the word diaporeó (dee-ap-or-eh’-o) that refers to one who goes through the whole list of possible ways, and finds no way out. What Herod was hearing was very concerning because as we see in Luke 9:7b-8 that it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again.
Of course this bothered him because he knew that he had no real justification for having John beheaded. Almost every person understands the sense of justice that needs to be exercised in matters like this. But we know he had John beheaded simply because of oaths that he made at a time when he probably should not have been making decisions. He clearly states his concern in Luke 9:9 that says And Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.
I think he wanted to make sure that this was not John. His conscience was not clear concerning how he had John beheaded but of course this does not prove any sense of remorse but only that he had a guilty conscience. It is no different than any of us that may have done something illegal or in secret, when we think we might get caught that intensifies the guilt even more.
Notice that the last part of that verse says And he kept trying to see Him. He never saw Jesus until the last day of Jesus’ life. There were times when there were messengers from Herod to Jesus but never did they cross paths until the end of Jesus’ ministry. Unlike John that spoke directly to Herod, Jesus did not speak to Herod, I think simply because of his rejection of the message of John in the first place. This brings us now to our next point.
2.The Apostles return from their mission.
Look with me at Luke 9:10 And when the apostles returned, they recounted to Him all that they had done. Taking them with Him, He slipped away by Himself to a city called Bethsaida.
This point will be brief but this serves as a connection of how Jesus’ fame continues to grow. Not only was Jesus going from town to town but He had just sent out the twelve to do the same. We do not have a detailed list of all they did but we do know from Luke 9:6 that they went throughout the villages, proclaiming the gospel and healing everywhere.
Mark 6:12-13 says And they went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.
This of course was for their internship in a sense but no doubt that many more people and man more areas were now being reached as Jesus begins His direction away from this area towards Jerusalem. I do want to make mention that we do not see this in the text in Luke but Matthew’s Gospel goes into a detail of how Jesus warned His disciples of the promise that they would be persecuted. I believe on this trip in Luke they saw success but Jesus was readying them with the idea that their journeys will not always end so well. Matthew 10:22-23 says And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. 23 “But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.
The promise of persecution was real and so was the fact that they would be those that would be the group to take the message of the Kingdom and the Gospel to the ends of the Earth. We are still fulfilling this promise today as distant disciples from that time. Are you sharing the Gospel? Will you continue to share the Gospel in spite of opposition? This will be what happens in many different forms of persecution until Jesus returns.
At the end of verse 10 we see that Jesus takes His disciples and goes to Bethsaida. This is the area where Jesus would have first met Philip and Nathaneal. This is believed to be their birth city along with Andrew and Peter as well. This city is located on the Northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee and was another fishing city in that region. Jesus was trying to get away with His disciples to this place but as we will see that did not happen.
Let’s look now at our last point for this study.
3.Jesus’ fame continues to grow.
Look with me at Luke 9:11 that says But when the crowds became aware of this, they followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.
Jesus and His disciples slip away to Bethsaida but not for long. The crowds found out that they had left and went after them. Jesus as always is open to the crowds being there. He was never like us that may find ourselves frustrated if people begin to follow when we are trying to get away for a while. Just imagine if you planned a trip for you and your spouse just to find out when you get to your destination that they brought everyone from your workplace along with the work for you to do while you are there. It would not be very welcoming. Here though our text says and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.
Jesus did not get frustrated but only did as He always did and that was preached and healed. It is amazing to me to see that we often look for opportunities to get away even from ministry. I think it is good at times to get away but while you are away you should still be doing ministry through the reading of the Word of God or witnessing.
Never do we find in Scripture that we are to take breaks from what God has called us to do. Now please do not think that it is sinful to go on a vacation because I like them too but what I am saying is that we should always be ready and willing to do what our Lord does here. This will be even more evident as we move along in our next section of Scripture where we will see the amazing feeding of the 5000. What we see here and what we will see in our next Scripture is what we have seen often about Jesus, that is His compassion for people. This is the example that we must strive to live by everyday.
Disciple's Direction 