Jesus Set People Searching

What Did Jesus Do?

Wise men from the east came asking, “Where is the One...”
Herod, assembling the priests and scribes, inquired where the Christ was to be born.
Matthew 2.1-4

The birth of Jesus launched what was nearly a global manhunt, or, more accurately, an infant hunt. From the east, likely Persia, wise men, or Magi (Astrologers), were compelled to follow a star. Guided by his priests' knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures Herod followed a prophecy. Both the wise men and Herod sought Jesus, but with very different motives. And, motives matter.

The wise men were responding to a deep sense of reverence and awe inspired by a celestial sign—there was a new king. And, though the infant had been born to be “king of the Jews,” the Magi recognized someone greater had come into the world. For his part Herod was responding to a deep sense of insecurity, and fear for his throne--Jerusalem wasn't big enough for two kings to rule the Jews, and Herod was not about to abdicate!

When talking about motives for seeking Jesus I believe it boils down to the two just mentioned. Either we acknowledge in Jesus' complete lordship over all things, including our lives, or we have no place for him because the throne of our life is already occupied by someone or something else.

Christmas is a particularly good time to consider what motivates us to seek Jesus. While many people are devoted to the Lord, and genuinely seek him every day, and worship him passionately and sincerely throughout the year, there are others who go “looking” for Jesus perhaps only at Christmas and Easter because he adds something to their experience of the holidays. These folks don't seek a Savior and Lord so much as an accessory to a life ruled by anyone but Jesus.

This is not to say that everyone who regularly attends Sunday worship throughout the year is necessarily motivated by a desire to adore and glorify and praise their king. Some seek a certain cultural approval that comes from being identified as a “church goer.” Some find it a social time to catch up with friends they don't see during the week. Some go because the church gives them opportunities to do community service and help others, not a bad thing at all, but hardly the worship of the king. There are “idols” that people bring into church every week, and just like ancient Jerusalem, no one's life is big enough for both an idol and Jesus to rule.

The thing about searching after anyone or anything other than Jesus is that, even if we find what we seek, we will sooner or later be disappointed. Not so with those who seek and find Jesus, for Christ never disappoints.

There's a bumper sticker that says, “Wise men still seek Him.” It's true enough, I suppose, but all kinds of people still seek Jesus, just as the Magi sought the newborn king to worship him, while Herod sought after a feared rival whom he wanted to murder. Jesus still sets people searching for him, what we need to do is examine our motives. If not today, Christmas Eve might be a good time to start. Will we be going to worship because we like the candlelight? Will it be the chance to sing some familiar carols? Maybe it will be nostalgia that draws us, as we try to recapture memories from when our parents used to bring us to church once or twice a year. Perhaps we'll go to try and create some memories for our own children. But unless we go to exalt the king, not only of the Jews, but of your life, and affirm that he alone occupies the throne of your heart, we would do well to question our motives.

Jesus set people searching long ago. If he is not yet our king, today would be a great day to seek him; we will find that he has in fact been seeking us!

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4