NOTES for Luk 9:9

Herod always feared the coming of the Messiah. However, he most likely did not really believe in the Messiah. It would be more accurate to say that he feared any messianic movements, which periodically flared up in different parts of Palestine. This happened more often in Judea, but sometimes also in Galilee, which Herod ruled. Herod hardly believed seriously in God, but he fully believed that another messianic movement could lead to his losing power.

Meanwhile, in Gospel times many popular legends and images were connected with the Messiah. They were not always rooted in the sacred books: no less often, if not more often, their sources were precisely popular traditions, legends, sometimes strangely interwoven with mythological plots. One such plot was connected with the image of the great prophet of antiquity, Elijah. The early prophetic books, in 4 Kingdoms to be exact, mention Elijah's ascension to heaven. Among the people, on the basis of this story, a legend arose that before the coming of the Messiah, Elijah would return to earth in order to foretell His coming.

Herod was not a believer, but judging by the testimony of contemporaries, he was quite superstitious. He feared the dead. Not those, of course, who rested in their tombs, but those who, as it seemed to him, could come out of these tombs and take revenge on him. Herod, of course, did not believe in resurrection, but he feared shadows emerging from tombs. Likewise he feared the heroes of popular legends descending from heaven. And now he was perplexed.

He had already executed John the Baptist. And he regretted this execution: it appears it was not part of his plans. The decision had been made, as often happened with Herod, in the heat of the moment, through foolishness and frivolity. And now it seemed to him that this Unknown One had come to avenge John. Herod did not understand the meaning of what was happening, but by some subconscious feeling he guessed the connection between the executed John and this incomprehensible new threat. However, this did not bring him nearer to understanding what was happening. Instinct and intuition are not enough for understanding; here clear spiritual sight is needed, the sight that faith gives. Sight which Herod did not have and could not have.