When Herod saw Jesus, he was very pleased, because he’d been wanting to see him for a long time. He’d heard much about him, and he hoped to see him perform some kind of sign.
King Herod heard about this because Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying, “He’s John the Baptist, raised from the dead! That’s why he has the power to do miracles.”
Jesus responded, “You’ll certainly apply this saying to me: ‘Doctor, heal yourself!’ And by that you’ll mean, ‘We want you to do here in your hometown the things we’ve heard you did in Capernaum.’ ”
Jesus called the crowd to him, along with his disciples, and he said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple has to deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow me.