This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why mighty powers are at work in him. The reign of Herod the tetrarch as ruler of Judaea was graced by the ministry of two great prophets: John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth. Herod had met John the Baptist, and although he didn’t care much for him because of John pointing out his mistake(s), he nonetheless regarded him as a man of God. He feared him. Even the unfortunate execution of John was instigated by Herod’s wife, Herodias. For all intents and purposes, it can be said that there was some sort of relationship between Herod and John. But the same cannot be said about Herod and Jesus. Herod had never had the chance to meet Jesus. He was yet to hear Jesus preach. However, he must have been made aware of this individual called Jesus. And what he heard of Jesus reminded him of his old nemesis, John the Baptist. Maybe it was the content of Jesus’ teachings. Maybe it was the works that Jesus was performing. Whatever it was, Herod knew that this man Jesus was also a man of God.
Herod was right in “confusing” Jesus with the Baptist. Both were prophets of God, sent with a message of conversion of hearts and repentance. However, Herod’s confusion points to something that is even greater. Even though Jesus was God-incarnate, to his contemporaries, he was a teacher, a prophet, a man sent by God. As a prophet, he was participating in the call of the great prophets of Israel, the last of them being the Baptist. As a prophet, Jesus was careful to let his work point, not to himself, but to God. As a prophet, he understood that his ministry had to be a continuation of the ministry of the prophets of old. As such, when people listened to him, they had to hear echoes of Jeremiah’s oracles. When people witnessed his mighty works, they had to see in him a re-incarnation of Elijah. This is because prophets do not send themselves but are sent from above.
Our baptism initiates us into the long ministry of the prophets. We too must therefore be on guard to ensure that we fulfill the requirements of the prophets. Any word that issues forth from our lips must remind people of the great prophets of Israel. Any action that issues from us must bring to the minds of those watching us the great actions of the prophets.