Sermon Tone Analysis

Who Is He?

Introduction

In the first chapter of Luke, at the meeting of Mary and Elisabeth, when each was pregnant (with John the Baptist and Jesus respectively), Mary spoke prophetic praise to God that touched upon the work of God through her own son.

This predictive psalm included the idea that Jesus would face opposition from those in powerful places: “he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.”

One of the primary powerful persons in opposition to Jesus was Herod Antipas.

The “Herod” in the passage we consider today is Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great who ruled Galilee and Perea from 4 BC– AD 39.

Herod would later be instrumental in the murder of Jesus.

In Luke 13 we will see that he was plotting to kill Jesus.

In Luke 23 he and his lackeys mocked and ridiculed Jesus as they passed on the opportunity to save him but instead delivered him back to Pilate.

Luke introduces Herod into this part of his narrative about Jesus as a figure of worldly and wealthy opposition to God’s work.

More importantly, Herod is used to signify the main theme of this entire section: Who is Jesus?

Luke 9:7-9 ESV

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?”

And he sought to see him.

Main Idea: Jesus’ miracles and message—including those of the disciples—give rise to the question, “Who is he?” We, with all humanity, must wrestle with this question understanding it has eternal ramifications.

Reports about Jesus

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening …

Herod

Luke 1 – the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus was in the time of Herod’s father, Herod the Great

Luke 3 – the ministry of John the Baptist was in the time of Herod Antipas who would imprison John for speaking against him

Luke 8 – a household manager of Herod is following and supporting Jesus

Not mentioned: the beheading of John the Baptist (due to focus on Jesus)

Luke introduces a dark cloud to his mostly positive and upbeat narrative.

This is a bad omen in the form of the entrance of Herod into the storyline.

All That Was Happening

Message of Jesus (and the disciples)

• Luke 4:42-44 ESV 42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place.

And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”

44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

• The good news of the kingdom of God is that through Christ’s work in his life, death, resurrection, and ascension a way has been made by which men are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; we have forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God.

Miracles of Jesus (and the disciples)

• Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law: Luke 4:38-39

• Many Healed After Sabbath Sunset: Luke 4:40-41 ESV 40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!”

But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

• Miracles in Luke Large Catch of Fish: Luke 5:1-11

• Jesus Cleanses a Leper: Luke 5:12-14

• Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic: Luke 5:17-26

• Healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath: Luke 6:6-11

• Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant: Luke 7:1-10

• Widow's Son Raised from the Dead at Nain: Luke 7:11-17

• Wind and Wave Obey Jesus: Luke 8:22-25

• A Demon-Possessed Man Healed: Luke 8:26-33

• Jairus Daughter Brought back to Life: Luke 8:41-42,49-56

• Woman Sick for Twelve Years Healed: Luke 8:43-48

• Disciples Healing and Casting Out Demons: Luke 9:6 ESV And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

What would Herod have heard in regards to what had happened?

He would have heard of Jesus’ message which was clearly similar to that of John the Baptist.

He would have heard of the unprecedented miracles of healing, deliverance, and power over natural forces.

Reflections on Jesus

... 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.

Was Jesus the reincarnation of John, Elijah, or some other prophet?

• Jesus clearly wasn’t John the Baptist.

If their presence together in the baptism of Jesus wasn’t proof enough, Herod rightly recognizes that Jesus couldn’t be John the Baptist since he had John beheaded.

o It is interesting to note that Luke only mentions this as an aside whereas other authors of Gospels give John’s beheading its own report.

This is likely due to the fact which we have already noted: Luke is overwhelming concerned with—in this section and in his Gospel as a whole—the identity of one person: Jesus Christ.

• Jesus also wasn’t Elijah.

o First, Luke gives his nod to John the Baptist being the Elijah-like prophet when he reports the words of the angel to Zechariah: Luke 1:16-17 ESV 16 And he [Zechariah’s son] will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

o Second, soon in Luke’s gospel-account we will see Jesus standing on the mountain of transfiguration with Elijah: Luke 9:28-31 ESV 28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white.

30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

• Though Jesus was not a reincarnated Old Testament prophet, he was a prophet like those from Israel’s history as we will see.

Was Jesus a prophet?

Sam Storms: “A prophet’s primary function in the Old Testament (OT) was to serve as God’s representative or ambassador by communicating God’s word to his people.

True prophets never spoke on their own authority or shared their personal opinions, but rather delivered the message God himself gave them.”

John 12:49 ESV For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.

Luke 9:22 ESV 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Prediction: His Own Betrayal By One Of His Disciples

Prediction: All Of His Disciples Would Leave Him

Prediction: Peter Would Deny Him Three Times

Prediction: He Would Suffer Because Of The Religious Rulers

Prediction: He Would Die In Jerusalem

Prediction: He Would Die By Crucifixion

Prediction: He Would Die During The Passover

Prediction: His Resurrection From The Dead On The Third Day

Was Jesus only a prophet?

The New Testament epistles never refer to Jesus as a prophet.

Theologian Wayne Grudem speculates that this may be the case because Jesus far greater than any of the Old Testament prophets, in two ways:

1.

He is the one about whom the prophecies in the Old Testament were made.

2. Jesus was not merely a messenger of revelation from God (like all the other prophets), but was himself the source of revelation from God.

So Jesus was the prophet par excellence, but was he even more than that?

John Calvin brought to prominence a structure that helped theologians study the work of Christ which was called the munus triplex (triple function).

The munus triplex offered a perspective that took the Old Testament offices of prophet, priest, and king and employed them as a lens through which to study Christ.

Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology: “Christ fulfills these three offices in the following ways: as prophet he reveals God to us and speaks God’s words to us; as priest he both offers a sacrifice to God on our behalf and is himself the sacrifice that is offered; and as king he rules over the church and over the universe as well.”

I think this structure of considering and studying Jesus Christ and his saving work of redemption is edifying, enlightening, and enjoyable.

There are many biblical connections that theologians have made that will enrich our understanding of Jesus.

For instance, one theologian brought to light that the three offices of Christ correspond with the threefold misery of men brought on by sin-ignorance, guilt, and bondage.

Ignorance is healed by the prophetic; guilt by the priestly; the tyranny and bondage of sin by the kingly office.

Riddlebarger: “Prophetic light scatters the darkness of error; the merit of the Priest takes away guilt and procures a reconciliation for us; the Power of the King removes the bondage of sin and death.

The Prophet shows God to us; the Priest leads us to God; and the King joins us together and glorifies us with God.

The Prophet enlightens the mind by the Spirit of illumination; the Priest by the Spirit of consolation tranquilizes the heart and conscience; the King by the Spirit of sanctification subdues rebellious affections.”

I commend to you studying, contemplating, and meditating on how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament offices of prophet, priest, and king.

Reaction to Jesus

9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?”

And he sought to see him.

Many commentators recognize the reaction of Herod—“Who is this?”—being emblematic of a paradigm which incorporates the entire Gospel of Luke; the identity of Jesus.

The questioning response of Herod is undoubtedly the emphasis in this section.

“Who is he?”

In this section of Luke, the emphasis began on the sea of Galilee when the disciples were witness to Jesus’ miraculous calming of the wind and waves.