A Shadow of the Future
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Matt. 14:1, 2, NIV.
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot. Verse 13, NIV.
A new threat to Jesus arises in Matthew 14:1, this time in the person of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee. Although Herod was quite familiar with John the Baptist's ministry, he seems to be relatively ignorant of Jesus. Thus, probably as a result of both superstition and an overwrought conscience, Herod confuses the two men and fears that perhaps Jesus is a resurrected John.
And he had good reason for an inflamed conscience. Some time earlier the prophet of repentance had confronted Herod regarding his unlawful liaison with his brother's wife. The upshot was that the ruler had John arrested and would have put him to death had he not feared the people, who had held the Baptist to be a prophet (verse 5).
A weak man, Herod not only feared the people but also his lover, who maneuvered him into beheading John against Herod's better judgment. Because he also feared the opinions of his guests, he allowed himself to be manipulated (verses 6-11).
The story shows Herod Antipas to be an irresolute person who more than once in a short period goes against his conscience. As a result, his imagination gets the best of him when he learns about Jesus' ministry.
Herod is hardly a man to be trusted. Thus it is little wonder that Jesus "withdrew...to a solitary place" after John's disciples report his death to Jesus (verses 12, 13). But the crowds follow Him. He soon feeds some 5,000 of them, which results in a desire to make Him king.
Meanwhile, we need to return to the significance of John's death. There is a reason that Matthew and Mark spend so much precious space on it. Namely, the telling of John's end is integrally linked to Jesus' own forthcoming death. The death of John foreshadows that of Jesus. Just as John had been Jesus' forerunner in ministry (Matt. 3:1-11), so will he be His forerunner in death. Jesus understands that and begins to withdraw so that He can more fully prepare His disciples for what is to come.
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Matt. 14:1, 2, NIV.
When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot. Verse 13, NIV.
A new threat to Jesus arises in Matthew 14:1, this time in the person of Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee. Although Herod was quite familiar with John the Baptist's ministry, he seems to be relatively ignorant of Jesus. Thus, probably as a result of both superstition and an overwrought conscience, Herod confuses the two men and fears that perhaps Jesus is a resurrected John.
And he had good reason for an inflamed conscience. Some time earlier the prophet of repentance had confronted Herod regarding his unlawful liaison with his brother's wife. The upshot was that the ruler had John arrested and would have put him to death had he not feared the people, who had held the Baptist to be a prophet (verse 5).
A weak man, Herod not only feared the people but also his lover, who maneuvered him into beheading John against Herod's better judgment. Because he also feared the opinions of his guests, he allowed himself to be manipulated (verses 6-11).
The story shows Herod Antipas to be an irresolute person who more than once in a short period goes against his conscience. As a result, his imagination gets the best of him when he learns about Jesus' ministry.
Herod is hardly a man to be trusted. Thus it is little wonder that Jesus "withdrew...to a solitary place" after John's disciples report his death to Jesus (verses 12, 13). But the crowds follow Him. He soon feeds some 5,000 of them, which results in a desire to make Him king.
Meanwhile, we need to return to the significance of John's death. There is a reason that Matthew and Mark spend so much precious space on it. Namely, the telling of John's end is integrally linked to Jesus' own forthcoming death. The death of John foreshadows that of Jesus. Just as John had been Jesus' forerunner in ministry (Matt. 3:1-11), so will he be His forerunner in death. Jesus understands that and begins to withdraw so that He can more fully prepare His disciples for what is to come.
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