PT-2 “A Christian Messenger Exercises Discernment” (Luke 9:5-9)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/11/2026 9:19 AM

My Worship Time                        Focus:  PT-2 “A Christian Messenger Exercises Discernment”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                     Reference:  Luke 9:5-9

            Message of the verses:  “And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”  Departing, they began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.  Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that Joh had risen from the dead, and by some that  Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again.  Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?”  And he kept trying to see Him.”

            I continue quoting from John MacArthur’s commentary: “In obedience to all those instructions, the Twelve began going throughout the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.  The details of their mission are not recorded, but the response they received highlighted their need for discernment.  Galilee’s response to their mission was symbolized by the reaction of its ruler, Herod the tetrarch.  The Herod referred to here is Herod Antipas, a son of the notorious Herod the Great.  Antipas ruled Galilee from 4 B. C., to A.D 39, so his rule encompassed Jesus’ entire ministry.  Tetrarch refers to a ruler of a fourth of a region. After Herod’s death in 4 B. C., his domain was divided among three of his sons, Archelaus, Antipas, and Philip, and a man named Lysanias (Luke 3:1), of whom little is known.  Antipas was made ruler over the region of Galilee and nearby Perea and is the Herod  referred to in the Gospels’ account of Jesus’ ministry.  It was Antipas who imprisoned (Luke 3:20) and executed (9:9) John the Baptist.”

(Luke 3:20)

“20  added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.”

(Luke 9:9)

“9  Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.”

            “When Herod heard of all that was happening in connection with the preaching ministry of the Twelve, he was greatly perplexed.  The Twelve were giving all glory and credit for their powerful preaching and miracles to Jesus (cf. Acts 3:11-12).”

(cf. Acts 3:11-12)

“11  While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 ¶  And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?”

“But who was Jesus? That it was said by some that He was John the Baptist risen from dead was particularly troubling to Herod (see the discussion of v. 9 below).  Adding to the confusion, it was being said by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again (cf. v. 19; Matt. 16:14; 17:10).”

(cf. v. 19; Matt. 16:14; 17:10)

“19  And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.”

“14  And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

“10  And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”

“Yet Herod, haunted by his wrongful execution of John, whom even he acknowledged to have been ‘a righteous and holy man’ (Mark 6:20), said, ‘I myself had John beheaded.”  Accordint to Mark’s account, Herod, plagued by his guilty conscience, ‘keep saying, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has risen!’  (Mark 6:16)….Uneasily, Herod wondered, ‘Who is this man about whom I hear such things.”

            Lord willing I will finish this section in this evening’s SD.

10/11/2026 9:42 AM