Saturday 31st May
Read Luke 9:7-9
“Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life. 9 But Herod said, ‘I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?’ And he tried to see him.” (NIVUK)
Apparently one of the most trusted sources of information in the world is the BBC news service. More people will believe what they report than just about any other media outlet. That doesn’t mean that most people have the app on their phone. The actual source of information for many people, particularly the younger generation, is TikTok or YouTube. They may not believe it but it certainly influences their thoughts.
One can’t help reflecting on the news sources in ancient Palestine. Herod, the ruler, heard lots of reports about Jesus. They were clearly mixed up and the truth of what he heard was difficult to disentangle. He did not know what to believe. The common thread to these rumours is fascinating. They all in some way involve resurrection. Life from death. Jesus is not someone in His own right, He is the re-embodiment of someone else, John, Elijah or another prophet from long ago.
Rumours can easily get out of hand. They spread like memes these days. What would someone glean about Jesus from listening to you?
