Herod the Great had been the ruler in Israel when Jesus was born (Matthew 2:1).  When he died,Israel was divided into three areas (a tetrarch) and each of the three sons was given a tetrarch.

  As Jesus healed people’s physical illnesses and raised individuals from the dead, rumor’s spread about who He was!

Herod (one of the sons of Herod the Great) was king in Jerusalem and Judea at this time.  And he was scratching his head in perplexity, who was this man Jesus?

(NASB) Luke 9:7-9 “Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John (the Baptist) had risen from the dead,
8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again.
9 Herod said, ‘I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?’  And he kept trying to see Him.”

Rumor had it that Jesus was really John the Baptist come back from the dead.  [Herod knew, without a doubt, that John had died.  Herod had personally seen John’s head on a platter during his birthday party.]  (Matthew 14:1-12)
Rumor had it that Jesus was really Elijah (a revered prophet from the past).
Rumor had it that Jesus was one of the Old Testament prophets raised to life again.

Rumors can be perplexing because:
They are unreliable…
Many times they are false and misleading…
They are unrealistic fabrications (a grasping after straws)…
What rumors do you believe today?

The Bible is not a rumor…it is God’s words based on His validity and truth telling.
The Lord God has given us His words in the Bible.

God’s words can be relied upon; they can be shown in your life to be true.  God never, ever misleads with His guidance and directions.  God’s words are not myths or stories meant to pacify our egos or feelings.

God’s words are living, active and sharper than any two-edged sword made.  God’s word penetrates to dividing the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and the deepest part of our very being.  God’s word is able to judge your thoughts and the intentions of your heart.  (Paraphrased: Hebrews 4:12)

God’s words are not a rumor…you can rely upon them, for God cannot tell you a lie.
(Numbers 23:19)