Credulity or faith ?

Wednesday February 23, 2022

Credulity or faith ?

King Herod heard of Jesus because his name had become famous. He said : John the Baptist is risen, and that is why he has the power to perform miracles. Others said : This is Elijah. And others said : He is a prophet like one of our prophets. But Herod, on hearing this, said : This John whom I had beheaded, it is he, he is risen. Mark 6:14-16

After the death of John the Baptist, Herod could never ease his conscience. He had silenced John the Baptist, but he could not silence the testimony of the greatest of prophets on his soul. John, even dead, was still speaking (see Hebrews 11:4).

It is easier to trample on one's conscience than to impose silence on it. As soon as the conscience speaks, the unbeliever fears. But bad conscience makes you blind : this is the case of Herod who will never believe in Jesus.

There were different rumors about Jesus : some said that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah, the prophet announced by Malachi (Malachi 4:5), had reappeared, still others that one of the prophets of old had come back to life (see also Luke 9:7-9). With a tormented conscience, Herod listens to the rumor that seems most likely to him : this Jesus is the risen John the Baptist, because he works miracles. John had performed no miracles (John 10:41), but when resurrected, his ministry became miraculous for Herod and for the people. Credulous, Herod becomes incoherent : he called himself a Sadducee, but the Sadducees deny the resurrection of the body !

There is a great difference between credulity and faith. Credulity rests on fragile foundations, feelings, rumors. Faith is based on the word of the living God. It is total confidence, firm assurance in the promises of God : Faith is the assurance of what is hoped for, and the conviction of realities not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

The universe of gullible people is fanciful, fluctuating. Faith is in direct contact with reality. It is the work of the Holy Spirit working in every born-again person.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)