“Who then is this?”

Read Luke 9:7-9

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Luke has already mentioned that John the Baptist’s ministry ended with his imprisonment by Herod, the puppet ruler of Galilee (3:19-20). In calling people to repentance John had allowed no exceptions and his forthright denunciation of Herod’s relationship with his sister-in-law, Herodias, could not be tolerated. Herod hadn’t intended to execute John but Herodias had trapped him into having John beheaded (Mk.6:17-29).

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Now the widespread ministry and popularity of Jesus throughout Galilee was causing much speculation about who Jesus was and some were suggesting that he was John, returned to life again (7). Such a prospect stirred both Herod’s guilt and his interest, for he’d respected John as a holy man (Mk.6:20). But his interest had been superstitious rather than religious.

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His curiosity about Jesus was now stirred similarly, so much so that he “tried to see him” (9). But this was only in the hope that Jesus would perform a miracle for him (Lk.23:8-12). True faith in Jesus should not be confused either with superstition or with spectacular signs – rather it focuses on who he is and on his message, with its call to follow him whatever the cost (Lk.9:23-25).