Traces of docetism in Herod's interest about Jesus
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2018 2:57 am
Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.
(Luke 9:9)
I had read too literally this verse, to mean that Herod desided simply to meet Jesus face to face.
Really, Herod could very well see Jesus face to face, and in any moment he desired. Only, Herod was unable to see Jesus really, ''in the flesh''.
Because Jesus was without a human body.
This hypothesis is corroborated by what Herod gives to Jesus when finally he met him: ''an elegant robe''. By doing so, he persuaded himself that Jesus had a human body, like everyone else.
Luke 23:8-12
8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. 11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.
