The works of Jesus rouse Herod’s conscience regarding the murder of John the Baptist. For political reasons (due to their tolerance of Roman authority), he allied with the Sadducees, a Jewish religious group who denied the resurrection, yet when the news of Jesus reached him, he believed that John had been resurrected (see Matthew 16:14, Luke 9:7).
This Herod’s interest in Jesus is not appreciation. He does not even pretend to seek to honour the great miracle worker as his father had (see Matthew 2:8).
By means of the ministry of Jesus, the conscience of Herod is awakened with regard to the murder of John the Baptist. For political reasons (due to their tolerance of Roman authority), he wanted to be allied with the Sadducees, a Jewish religious group who denied the resurrection, yet when the news of Jesus reached him, he believed that John had been resurrected (see Matthew 16:14, Luke 9:7).1
As is apparent from Matthew 14:2, this Herod Antipas’s interest in Jesus should not be understood as positive appreciation. He does not even pretend to desire to honour the great miracle worker as his father had (see Matthew 2:8). He is also rather quick to make up his mind about who Jesus is: This (man) is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.
2
2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”