Herod's Fears

Church history: Herod's Fears At The Growing Greatness Of Our Lord Jesus; Luke 9:7-9.
What great perplexity it created in the mind of Herod: When he had heard of all that was done by Christ, his guilty conscience flew in his face, and he was ready to conclude with them that John was risen from the dead. He thought he had gotten clear of John, and should never be troubled with him anymore, but, it seems, he is mistaken; either John is come to life again or here is another in his spirit and power, for God will never leave himself without witness. "What shall I do now?" saith Herod. "John have I beheaded, but who is this? Is he carrying on John's work, or has he come to avenge John's death? John baptized, but he does not; John did no miracle, but he does, and therefore appears more formidable than John." Note, Those who oppose God will find themselves more and more embarrassed. However, he desired to see him, whether he resembled John or not; but he might soon have been put out of this pain if he would but have informed himself of that which thousands knew, that Jesus preached, and created miracles, a great while before John was beheaded, and therefore it could not be John raised from the dead. He desired to see him; and why did he not go and see him? Probably, because he thought it below him either to go to him or to send for him; he had enough of John Baptist, and did not want to have anything to do with any more such reproves of sin. He desired to see him, but we do not find that ever he did, till he saw him in Jerusalem, and then he and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him, Luke 23:11. Had he gone to see him earlier, who knows what changes of opinion he might have had in him? But, delaying it now, his heart was hardened, and when he did see him he was as much prejudiced against him as any other.