Getting to Know Jesus More #6

The end of Luke 8 is one of those places where there really should not be a chapter break, as Luke continues with the next logical step in the opening paragraph of chapter 9:

And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3 And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.[a] 4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

In chapter 8, Jesus had really picked up speed in His ministry: going more places, getting more followers, doing more dramatic miracles. To continue on, He needed help, so he gave them power and authority to be His ambassadors, preaching and performing miracles, so the Good News could travel farther and faster. Luke now ties in something Theophilus, the Roman official he is writing to, can check out:
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.

As we saw earlier, one of Jesus' woman followers had connections to Herod's court. She could attest to the fact that Herod wanted to meet Jesus but was afraid of Him. That says a lot about a person who was willing to kill anyone who got in His path. Herod in one sense was asking the same question the apostles had asked on the ship: "Who is this man?", but as he does, he is not willing to get close enough to find the answer.  How about you?