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In Ecclesiastes Solomon observed that there was nothing new under the sun. From his perspective this was a problem not so much he was seeking novelty as because it meant the world was continuing in its fallen state with nothing to interrupt the cycle, nothing to truly satisfy the deepest desire embedded in the human heart. Speaking about it didn't help. Eyes would continue to look for something different. Ears would continue to listen for something new. But there was nothing to be found. All that was was vanity that vanished like the clouds. There was nothing lasting that could be attained. There was only desire, grasping, and then loss. Solomon observed the problem. But in spite of his wisdom he couldn't foresee the solution.
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.
Other people tried to categorize Jesus as someone who had already existed. They assumed that they knew from the context exactly who he was and what they could expect from him. From this they assumed he was nothing to worry about, and that they needn't reckon with who he was at a deeper level.
There was a lot about Herod the tetrarch that wasn't great, obviously. But he didn't buy into the crowd's assessment of Jesus. He recognized in Jesus something truly new and without precedent in the history of Israel and indeed of the world. But in spite of what appeared to be intense interest his curiosity never progressed to a point where he sincerely sought to learn about Jesus. He sought knowledge about Jesus without truly opening himself to an answer that was beyond his comprehension. He needed to have an experience of revelation, as Peter did, to understand who Jesus was. But instead, he tried to figure it out on his own, using what intelligence and resources he had, as he would try and solve any other problem or riddle. But just as Jesus couldn't be predicted by the wisdom of Solomon neither could the truth of his identity be identified by Herod's power.
Jesus came into the world as a gift of salvation. To receive this gift one would need to accept the truth of his identity by faith. But this faith was itself a gift from God, not something for which one could work, or something that could be earned. But let us not remain in the state of Herod. Faith is available to all who will open their hearts, just as Peter did.
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe (see First Corinthians 1:20-21).
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