Will You Seek Him?

 

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,  saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet (Micah 5:1-2):

 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

Herod and his counsellors possessed what the wise men lacked - the Scriptures that spoke about Christ. But they lacked what the wise men had - the desire to find Him.

The wise men were saying, We believe the King of the Jews has been born; we don't know where, but wherever He is we want to go to reverence Him.

The religious leaders were saying, We know where Messiah will be born, but we have no intention of going there. (Any religious leader worth his salt should have said - Bethlehem is only a few miles away from Jerusalem; we'll take you. Let's go!)  

It is possible to know the Bible well and yet to be tone deaf to its message. That's what Jesus was talking about when He said: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life." John 5:39-40

Knowing what is in the Bible, even not doubting its teaching, is not the same as finding and trusting Christ. The religious leaders' eyes could read the truth the Bible taught them, but their hearts were hardened. They saw no need to find Christ for themselves. 

Meanwhile Herod's reaction was different again. He was incensed: When I find out where Messiah has been born, I am going there - to destroy Him.

Three responses to the good news about Jesus Christ: we see them still today when people encounter Him in His Word or in the lives of Christians they know. 

     A hunger to hear more

     An indifference that passes itself off as sophistication

     A hostility that manifests itself often in an antagonism or outright persecution to Christ, His people, the lifestyle He taught and the exclusive claims He made about Himself. 

There are three responses you can make to Jesus Christ: 

1. Learn about Him and seek Him - as the wise men.

2. Know about Him but be indifferent to Him - like the Jewish scholars. 

3. Realize that He is the promised Savior and King - but seek to destroy Him as Herod did. 

Which is yours? 

(Taken from The Dawn of Redeeming Grace by Sinclair B. Ferguson)