Who is this guy?

“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?”” (Luke 9)

Poor Herod.  He had a problem.  Y’see, he married his brother’s wife, while his brother was still alive.  I guess that didn’t jive with God’s archaic laws or something.  C’mon, God!  This is the first century!  B.C. is so last year.  Divorce is cool now. 

But it was not cool.  Not with a guy named John.  John was one of those Bible thumping fundamentalist types.  Kind of ran with the “in-your-face,” school of preaching.  A real throwback, black and white, no gray area kind of guy.  For a guy who ate nothing but honey and locusts, he wasn’t very sweet.  Must have been the locusts. 

So Herod locked him up.  Funny thing though.  That didn’t really solve Herod’s problem.  “20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.” (Mark 6)  It would seem, like Seinfeld’s Kramer, Herod thinks of John, "He is a loathsome, offensive brute, and yet I can't look away"!  It makes you want to sit in on some of their conversations doesn’t it?

So, during an episode of first century Palestine’s So You Think You Can Dance, Herod gives the winner, his stepdaughter, anything she wants up to half his kingdom as a prize.  She, being the typical teenager of the times, asks for the head of John the Baptist on a platter.  Hey, ipads weren’t invented yet. He being a good dad, obviously gives the poor little thing what she wants.  No one likes to see a little girl cry and you have to maintain a system of positive reinforcement once you’ve started it.  Consistency is the heart of good parenting.

So now John’s dead and all Herod’s problems are over.  Right?  I mean, sure, he’s lost his debate rival but now he and the kingdom should get some peace.  Nobody likes a fundy, always stirring people up, proponents of high moral standards no one can maintain.  Sticks in the mud.  Ruining other people’s fun.  They just can’t play nice in civilized society, no tolerance, no compromise.  They don’t quite seem to realize people are just doing the best they can and you gotta let God work at His own speed.  We’ll all get there; some are just taking different paths.

Then this Jesus guy came along… ”7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two,”… “12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.  14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”  You get the feeling, if he had read it, Herod would have understood MacBeth.  Is it guilt?  Out, out damn spot!  Or is it just confusion?  How can there be two of these guys? 

Herod feared John because he knew, KNEW, him to be a righteous and holy man.  Righteous, holy men don’t threaten folk with much more than a stern talking-to.  Why would this scare Herod unless Herod also feared God?  He didn’t fear Him enough to honor Him, no, just enough to be scared of losing what He had if he irked God too greatly.  Herod seemed to believe in a distant God who allowed men their own way and possibly didn’t pay very much attention to men like Herod as long as He didn’t do anything TOO bad to really upset Him.  Like say, kill one of His prophets?  Keep in mind, this is a man whose father was eaten by worms.  He may have not have had a healthy sense of respect for God’s laws but he had possibly seen His wrath!

So here we are.  Amidst a people very content to speak of God and spirituality but only as long as He doesn’t interfere with their own plans.  A people who do not believe in a God of law.  A God of Justice, though they do believe in Mercy, which seems odd, since without Justice, from what or for what is one receiving mercy?  They believe in Love as long as Love puts no limitations on them.  They have taken marriage, the ultimate expression of love: covenantal, life-long, exclusive, sacrificial, fruitful; and exchanged it for romanticism and sex.  They remake God in their own image and God, for the most part seems willing to let them…

But Jesus.

Jesus doesn’t play nice.  Jesus isn’t content with the status quo.  He won’t let those who come to him remake him in their image.  “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.”  He’s not just a messenger.  Not a herald.  Not an angry, wrathful god sent to punish the really, really naughty.  He’s not one of many paths.  Not fuzzy-feelgood teddy bear Jesus.  Not Rockstar healer Jesus sent to bring you peace and prosperity.  He is, “the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14)

Are you in him?  Is He in you?  Then upon these points we must not quibble.  We cannot water down who he is.  The Truth is the Truth.  The world will not like this.  The world will feel convicted by Jesus.  Where a God can be vague and fuzzy, Jesus is clear, tangible, real and disturbing.  His words are recorded by reliable witnesses.  And they are not comforting words for those who wish to have their own way, their own truth and their own life.  There is no compromise.

“23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9)