Herod was afraid. Although he was the king in charge of the southern part of Israel, including Jerusalem, he was afraid of people and of truth. His fear of the people was due to their enthusiastic support for John the Baptist, who Herod had imprisoned and then killed. Herod's wife demanded that John was beheaded because he had criticised her incestuous marriage. Herod feared his wife and so murdered John (Matthew 14:6-12); but then he feared the people, who might revolt and then Rome would take away his power and probably his head too.
 
But Herod's greatest fear was of the truth, and therefore he was afraid of John who spoke the truth plainly. In a way he enjoyed discussions with John until they got too personal (Mark 6:20). However, when the truth conflicted with his lifestyle, Herod chose his sinful lifestyle and ignored the truth. So when he heard that a man was teaching wisely and doing miracles like John, he feared that the prophet had been brought back to life by God's power. Herod then had God to reckon with as well.
 
It was not John come back to life, but Jesus starting His public ministry. The good news about Jesus was highly infectious; everybody caught a bit of it and knew something about this amazing man. What He said had a similar effect on Israel as John the Baptist: the message started in the same way - 'repent'! That was what John had said to Herod, but the stubborn king had refused to listen. Jesus reawakened the 'ghosts' of Herod's past and he was afraid.
 
Jesus does expose the 'ghosts' of the past. It is not because He wants people live in fear of punishment; He wants them to repent and receive forgiveness, changing their lifestyle and getting ready for the kingdom of heaven. But many live in fear of those old 'ghosts'. There is no need. Jesus has come to bring life not death; forgiveness and not condemnation. But first everybody is commanded to repent (Acts 17:30). If there is no repentance, there is no forgiveness and no reconciliation ... only fear of punishment. That is why the good news of the love of God is essential for this corrupt world. If God has given you new life through the gospel, you can announce that same good news to release others who are gripped by the devil in slavery to fear (Hebrews 2:14-15).