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BACKGROUND FOR THIS EPISODE

(In Order of Appearance)

NEW TESTAMENT OF THE BIBLE:
  • John 3:23, 26-29 – John was immersing people in the town of Aenon (which is not far from the town of Salim) because there was plenty of water there. People continued coming to be immersed…26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the man you have endorsed, who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, look, he is immersing people, too. Everyone is coming to him!” 27John answered, “No one can receive anything if heaven has not given it to him. 28You yourselves know that I told the truth when I said, ‘I am not the Messiah!’ I have been sent ahead of him. 29The groom is the one who will get the bride. The best man is the one who stands by and listens. He is glad when he hears the groom’s voice. This is my joy; it is now complete.
  • Tiberius was built by Herod Antipas about AD 26 as a new capitol, moving it from Sepphoris.  It was a brand new marble city full of Roman majesty.
  • Luke 1:79 – God will help those people who don’t understand,people who dread death. He will lead us in the way which goes toward peace.”
  • Matthew 4:16 – The people who live in darkness have seen a great light.The light has dawned upon the people who live in that country and in the fear of death.” (Isaiah 9:1-2)
  • Matthew 14:6-9 – When it was Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in front of everyone. She pleased Herod. 7So, he vowed to give her anything she asked for. 8Her mother suggested this to her: “Give me—here on a plate—the head of John the Immerser!” 9The king was very sad, but, because of the vow and the guests, Herod ordered that it be done. 
  • Ephesians 5:25 – Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved those called out by God. He gave his life for them. 
  • John 3:30-33 – Jesus must become more important; I will become less important.” 31The one who comes from above is greater than all things. The person who comes from the earth belongs to the earth and talks about the earth. The one who comes from heaven is the most important. 32He tells the truth about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his proof. 33The person who does accept his proof confirms that God is real. 
  • Hebrews 11 – (Read the whole chapter. It tells of the amazing things others in the Bible believed about God and the afterlife – Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses.  It end with this.) 11:33-38 – 33By faith…They shut the mouths of lions. 34They put out a great fire. They escaped from people who were trying to kill them with swords. Their weakness became strength. They became powerful in war. They completely defeated foreign armies. 35Some women received their sons back from death. Other people were told to turn against God, but they refused. So, they were not set free. Instead, they were tortured to death. They chose to have something better—when they rise from death. 36Some people were beaten and laughed at. Others were tied up and thrown in jail. 37Some people were stoned to death. Others were sawed in two. Some were murdered with swords. Others went around in sheepskins and goatskins. They really needed help. They suffered. They were mistreated. 38They wandered around in deserts, on mountains, in caves, and in holes in the ground. The world was not worthy of having these people!
  • John 3:34-36 – 34God sent Jesus. Jesus speaks the words of God, because God gave him the Spirit without limit. 35The Father loves the Son and has put everything in the Son’s control. 36The person who commits himself to the Son has eternal life, but the person who does not obey the Son will not see eternal life. Instead, God’s punishment stays on that person.
  • John 16:13 – When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own authority. He will say whatever he hears. He will tell you about things to come. 
  • John 17:17 – Your message is the truth. May the truth make them holy!
  • Luke 3:19-20 – (Later, John denounced Herod Antipas, the ruler, by saying, “You were wrong to marry Herodias. Herodias is your brother’s wife!” John also rebuked Herod for the many other evil things which Herod had done. 20Then Herod did another evil thing (it was the worst thing of all)—he put John in prison).
  • Matthew 14:3 – Before this time, Herod had ordered his men to arrest John, to tie him up, and to put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’sa wife. 
  • Luke 3:23 – Jesus was about 30 years old when he began to teach. People thought that Jesus was Joseph’s son. Joseph was Heli’s son. 
  • Mark 6:20 – Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John was a good, holy man. So, he protected John. When Herod heard John proclaim, Herod was in doubt about many things, but Herod liked to listen to John. 
  • Matthew 3:13-17 – Then Jesus traveled from the land of Galilee to the Jordan River where John was, so that John could immerse him, 14but John was trying to stop him. John said, “I need you to immerse me, yet you are coming to me!?” 15Jesus answered him, “Allow this for now, because this is the proper way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John did so. 16After Jesus was immersed, he came up from the water immediately. Look, the sky was opened for him. He saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. 17Listen, a Voice came from heaven and said, “This is My Son, and I love him, I am very pleased with him!”
  • Luke 7:18-30 – John’s followers told John about all of these things. He called for two of his followers. 19John sent them to the Lord Jesus to ask, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for someone else?” 20So, the men came to Jesus. They said, “John (the one who immerses people) sent us to you with this question: ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we wait for another person?’ ” 21At that time, Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits. And, he gave sight to many blind people. 22Then Jesus said to John’s followers, “Go tell John the things you have seen and heard. Blind people can see again. Crippled people can walk. Those with leprosy are made well. The deaf can hear. Dead people are given life. And, the Good News is given to the poor people. 23The person who is not ashamed of me is truly happy!” 24After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to tell the crowds about John: “What did you people go out into the desert to see? A reed being blown by the wind? 25Why did you go out there? Did you go to see a man dressed in fine clothes? Listen, the people who have fine, nice clothes are in palaces. 26Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, John is even more than a prophet. 27This was written about John: ‘Listen! I am sending my messenger to go ahead of you. He will prepare the way in front of you.’ (Malachi 3:1) 28I tell you, John is greater than any man ever born. However, the person who is the least important in God’s kingdom is greater than John!” (29All of the people and the tax collectors who heard this agreed that God’s command was good; they had allowed themselves to be immersed by John. 30But the Pharisees and teachers of the law refused to obey God’s plan; they did not allow themselves to be immersed by John.)
  • Matthew 14:4 – John had been saying to Herod, “It is not right for you to have her!”
  • Mark 6:18-19 – John was always saying this to Herod: “It is not right for you to have your brother’s wife!” 19So, Herodias held a grudge against John. She wanted to kill him, but she was not able to.
  • OLD TESTAMENT OF THE BIBLE:
  • Micah 5:2 [PREDICTED 700 YEARS BEFORE JESUS]
  • Jeremiah 31:15 [PREDICTED 700 YEARS BEFORE JESUS]
  • Hosea 11:1 [PREDICTED 750 YEARS BEFORE JESUS]
  • Isaiah 54:11-12 
  • Ezekiel 1:26-28 
  • Psalm 148:2 
  • Psalm 23:1,4 

OTHER JESUS QUOTES IN THIS EPISODE

FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS:
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK. 18, 5:1 – Herodias…who was the daughter of Aristobulus their [Herod’s and Philip’s] brother, and the sister of Agrippa the Great.  [NOTE:  This is the Aristobulus who was even more cruel than his father, Herod the Great, and was banished by Caesar when Jesus was eleven years old.]  SEE ALSO VOLUME I, BIRTH OF A MIRACLE, “Lost in Wonder”
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK. 18, 2:1; 4:6 – Philip…advanced the village Bethsaida [Decapolis, not Galilee] situate at the lake of Gennesareth [Galilee] unto the dignity of a city, both by the number of inhabitants it contained, and its other grandeur, and called it by the name of Julias, the same name with Caesar’s daughter….He died at Julias.
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK. 18, 4:6 – Philip…showed himself a person of moderation and quietness in the conduct of his life and government.
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK. 18, 5:1 – He fell in love with Herodias, this last Herod’s [Philip Herod’s] wife….This man ventured to talk to her about a marriage between them; which address, when she admitted, an agreement was made for her to change her habitation, and come to him as soon as he should return from Rome; one article of this marriage also was this, that he should divorce Areta’s daughter.
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK. 18, 5:1 – So Antipas, when he had made this agreement, sailed to Rome; but when he had done there the business he went about, and was returned again, his wife having discovered the agreement he had made with Herodias….Accordingly Herod sent her thither, as thinking his wife had not perceived anything; now she had sent a good while before to Macherus….she soon came into Arabia…to her father.
  • WARS OF THE JEWS, BK. 7, 6:1,2 – Macherus…elevated to a very great height…not be easily ascended…valleys on all sides….When Herod became king…built a city there,…that led up to the very citadel…erected towers…in the middle of which place he built a palace.
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BOOK 18, 5:2 – Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion…thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause….Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod’s suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle…and was there put to death.

 

SPECIAL CHARACTERS APPEARING IN OTHER EPISODES

Season 1, Dream Maker, “Hesitant Herald “

Season 2, Hearts Afire, “Interrupted Funeral “