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Day 32 Luke 9:7-9 Luke 9:7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; 8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. 9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. When a famous person dies, and people see a public funeral, stories will crop up that the person never died, and his death was a myth. Yet, you know the person is dead. Herod knew John the Baptist was dead, he beheaded him. Yet people rumored that he was alive, or Elijah or one of the prophets had risen from the dead. He heard many rumors and wanted to see Jesus in person. His opportunity wouldn’t come until Jesus’ trial. Why would the people believe a prophet had risen from the dead? Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (KJV) Jesus alluded to Elijah’s return. Matthew 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. (KJV) Jesus did not say it was Elijah, He said if you receive it, this is he. Meaning: John the Baptist would preach with the same power as Elijah, not that He was Elijah. You need to consider one major fact. Jesus and John the Baptist were cousins. Jesus is younger than John by six months, therefore he couldn’t be John the Baptist. John also proclaimed him as their Messiah. John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. 30 This is he of whom I said, After me comes a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 32 And John bear record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost. 34 And I saw, and bear record that this is the Son of God. 35 Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, Behold the Lamb of God! It was because John’s ministry was powerful, that the people were reminded of Elijah, therefore, when Herod asked about Him, people told him Jesus was John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. All major Indian religions teach reincarnation. It is found in many ancient cultures and several Greek philosophers believed in reincarnation – Pythagoras, Socrates, and Plato among them. It is also found in Orthodox Judaism. Therefore, it wasn’t a stretch of the imagination for people to tell King Herod it was John the Baptist or Elijah come back to life. As Christians, you know that absent from the body is present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. When you know the truth, it will set you free. John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say thou, Ye shall be made free? 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin. 35 And the servant abides not in the house forever: but the Son abides ever. 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Jesus is the Son of God. When you die, you will be with him in heaven, not reborn to live this life over again. Let’s pray: Father, help me live every day with the knowledge that I will be with you when this life is over. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 23 September 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Some information gleaned from Wikipedia Image courtesy of Pixabay