Who Do You Say Jesus Is? (Luke 9:7-9)

In today's Gospel reading, we encounter Herod the tetrarch in a moment of profound confusion and curiosity. The news of Jesus's ministry has reached even the corridors of political power, and people are buzzing with speculation about this remarkable teacher from Nazareth.

The Question That Haunts

Herod's predicament is deeply human and strikingly relevant to our own spiritual journey. He has heard the rumors: some say Jesus is John the Baptist raised from the dead, others claim He is Elijah returned, and still others believe He is one of the ancient prophets come back to life. But Herod knows the truth about John's fate—he himself had ordered the Baptist's execution.

This leaves him with a haunting question: "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?"

The Persistence of Curiosity

What strikes me most about this passage is the final line: "And he kept trying to see him." Despite his guilt, despite his fear, despite the political complications that knowing Jesus might bring, Herod cannot shake his curiosity about Christ.

This persistent seeking reveals something profound about the human heart. Even when we've made mistakes, even when we've acted against our conscience, something within us continues to reach toward the divine. Herod's curiosity about Jesus represents that inextinguishable spark of spiritual longing that exists in every human soul.

Our Own Question

Today, we face the same fundamental question that confronted Herod: Who is Jesus to us?

Is He merely a historical figure we've heard about? A teacher whose words we admire from a distance? Or is He something more—someone who continues to challenge, comfort, and transform lives today?

Unlike Herod, we don't have to wonder from afar or rely on secondhand reports. We have the complete revelation of who Jesus is through Scripture, through the Church, and through our personal relationship with Him in prayer.

The Invitation to See

Herod "kept trying to see" Jesus, but his attempts were motivated by curiosity rather than faith. We, however, are invited to see Jesus with the eyes of faith—to encounter Him not as a puzzle to be solved, but as a person to be loved and followed.

Today's reading reminds us that the question of Jesus's identity is not merely academic or historical. It's personal and immediate. It demands a response from each of us.

A Call to Decision

As we reflect on Herod's confusion and curiosity, let us ask ourselves: Are we content to wonder about Jesus from a distance, or are we ready to encounter Him personally? Are we seeking Him out of mere curiosity, or out of genuine desire for relationship and transformation?

The same Jesus who puzzled Herod continues to work in our world today, calling each of us to move beyond speculation to relationship, beyond curiosity to commitment.

Who do you say He is?