7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. 12 Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” 13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 And they did so, and had them all sit down. 16 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” 20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” Luke 9: 7-20 ESV
Luke 9: 7-20
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed - Herod referred to himself as a king, and you have this man, Jesus, going around preaching about a Kingdom. Before Jesus you had John the Baptist preaching about making the way straight, preparing for this Kingdom, a call to repentance. Interestingly, Luke, the scholarly doctor that he is, calls Herod a tetrarch which is the "governor of one of four divisions of a province", so basically a face, someone to enforce Roman rule, a lackey of the empire. When it says perplexed here it is like saying confused, but with a touch of anxiety. He is a ruler, who sees himself as a king, and so like his father he wants no rivals. When the Maggi announced the birth of a King, following His star from the east, Herod's father tried to find Jesus and kill Him. Now this Herod has just killed John the Baptist, a prophet who confronted this incestuous ruler, warned him about his adultery and his standing in reference to a Holy God. Some people are saying this Jesus is John the Baptist come back from the grave, and the tetrarch is thinking this plausible because of his guilt; he spilled innocent blood. He killed a messenger of God.
He loved wickedness. He, like his father, was murderous and wicked. Back in chapter 3, for a minute, we just got to get all this detail and then we'll fly through what's left. Back in chapter 3 verse 18, John the Baptist was preaching and preaching the gospel to the people when Herod the tetrarch was reproved by him on account of Herodias, his brother's wife. You know, Herod was a fascinating guy but he lived his life in this public way and he was the most notable public sinner. And he would be, you know, sort of the Bill Clinton of his time. He was sinning...He was sinning and the whole world knew it. He was sinning blatantly and everybody knew it. And so John just confronted him and it says, "He reproved him," present participle. Continually Herod was the theme of John's preaching. He exposed Herod not just for his sin with Herodias, his brother wife...brother's wife, but on account of all the wicked things that Herod had done. He had a whole litany of things, just a wretched individual. And so John just made him the leading illustration of iniquity. Love the boldness of that. I guess it would be inevitable for certain, verse 20, he locked John up in prison. He's not going to take that, so he imprisoned John. That was the end of John's mobility, right there. It was really the end of his ministry, except that his disciples could come to him and interact with him. - J Mac
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus 2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,… Matthew 14: 1-3
Who is this about Whom I hear such things - The miracles were undeniable, and the question is one everybody should ask, "who is this Jesus?" Herod would have had no problem with John if John were silent, and everyone loves someone Who can heal people, feed people like Jesus can, but there is this call of repentance. The Pharisees would not participate in John's baptism because they were self righteous, and Herodias, Herod's wife, took similar issue with John calling her a sinner. Who Jesus is happens to be the most defining question of all history, it is made known to us in the gospel, but the answer is in stark contrast to what we as sinners want to believe. It is nothing to just ask the question, and it is essential to ask it of someone who actually knows Him. It is everything to believe the truth about Him and repent. Herod is more concerned about his throne, about someone with such power to perform miracles, who may contest his rule, and or hold him accountable for the murder of John the Baptist.
…5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. 7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.… Hebrews 11: 5-7
…8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works.… John 14: 8-10
We have no more than five loaves and two fish - The disciples had just returned from their first mission of preaching the gospel, a mission which they went on taking no support for themselves. They preached the Kingdom, the need of repentance, and Jesus has just taught the crowds about the Kingdom again. Remember back before, in the last chapter we saw that the miracles coincided with the Kingdom. The miracles demonstrate His ability as God to reverse the trajectory of sin. In a world that knows both rich and poor, fertile and infertile land, drought and famine, Jesus is the only One to ever show the ability to reverse things back to their original state, the state of the Garden, where God looked at all He had created and said, "it is good." We were put over His creation as caretakers, with the mandate to work and keep the garden, but then man sinned and took not only himself but everything in his care down with him. As humans on this planet we should be good stewards of the things around us, even in a fallen world, but our hope to restore the world is only Jesus Christ.
…14The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it runs along the east side of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. 15Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. 16And the LORD God commanded him, “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden,… Genesis 2: 14-16
Who do the crowds say that I am - A truly important question, Who is Jesus, but look at the answers from the crowd, are they the best place to go for an answer? Even considering all that Jesus has done, all that they have witnessed of Him, the answers are still all over the place. You can't just accept the miracles, you have to except the Witness as well, what is Jesus saying? So you saw a miracle, but did you receive the message, the call to repentance?
John the Baptist - Herod believed this in his guilt and fear. John the Baptist didn't perform miracles though, and he testified of the One Who comes after him that is before him. John was the one that the OT prophets prophesied as the herald to announce the coming of the Messiah.
1“Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts. 2But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. 3And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.… Malachi 3: 1-3
Elijah - Other people thought he was Elijah because of the OT scriptures about John the Baptist, and Jesus clarifies this.
…13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15He who has ears, let him hear.… Matthew 11: 13-15
One of the prophets of old has risen - Yet another supposed possibility, everyone had an opinion, and they were all wrong. Not much has changed today, even in Evangelical circles some would preach a Christ that is no different than Buddha, Mohammad, or any host of people who claimed to be enlightened. It is not just important to ask the question. It's not just important to get an answer; it has to be the right one, it has to be the truth, and as far as God is concerned that is no relative thing.
5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”… John 14: 5-7
But Who do you say that I am - Each person must come to hear the gospel, and then ask the question. The disciples have been taught by Him, have witnessed many miracles, and they have the prophecies of Scripture which tell of Him. Did Jesus fulfill what was written about Messiah? Peter answers for the group.
…16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.… Matthew 16: 16-18
…57Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and You have seen Abraham?” 58“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59At this, they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple area.… John 8: 57-59
…2I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ. 4For if someone comes and proclaims a Jesus other than the One we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit than the One you received, or a different gospel than the one you accepted, you put up with it way too easily.… 2 Corinthians 11: 2-4
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