God
is good.
He
gave His grace in order to make Himself known,
for the world could not see or know Him (Hos 6:3).
God chose Moses to give the Law
so that He could first show Himself to Israel (Ex 20:1-3).
The people of Israel knew about God
through the Law, but knew Him as the One to fear (Ps 22:23),
and He was preached by the prophets to the descendants of Israel.
The Law and the prophets were fearful
to the people (Ex 7:1).
The love of God sent Jesus
to those who were in fear.
This was to make God’s compassion known
through Him (1 Jn 4:8).
At that time, people saw demons
being driven out in Jesus’ name and whispered
that John the Baptist was raised and at work in His disciples,
or that the spirits of dead prophets were raised.
They clearly acknowledged the spirits of the dead (Mk 6:14-16).
This is how Jesus’ name was made known.
○ Herod was oppressed by his sins and was afraid,
and other ministers said the Lord was a dead prophet from Jerusalem.
They believed that the spirit of a dead person was raised and at work.
○ The Bible says, “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.”
Those who are oppressed under the Law tremble in fear.
○ Jesus said, “Satan cannot drive out Satan”
and “someone stronger than the owner of the house will drive him out.”
Jesus’ name is the power of heaven.
※ King Herod and his ministers were highly educated intellectuals.
With their own lips, they unanimously asserted that the spirits of dead people
entered people’s bodies and did their work.