Advent Reading ~ In His Word ~ December 17, 2020
Wise men seek Jesus.
A little while longer and you have the light with you. Walk while you have the Light of the World. He
who walks in darkness does not know where he is going, is pretty much what Matthew
2:35 says. I think this can be a good
focus this week. Jesus being the Light of the Word, who came to the world, to open
our eyes that we might see the truth and be set free from the bondage of
darkness spoke those words when the people questioned him about who He was.
It is odd really if you think about it but so many people sought
Jesus as the child to ‘find’ the Messiah but after He was grown and speaking as
an adult to the people they seemed to be in the dark as to who Jesus really
was.
I think sometimes we people can complicate things, but then
Jesus came in a time when the world was seeking a sign from God to find a Ruler
of God’s people. The Wisemen, or Magi told Herod the king that they were
seeking the Messiah according to the prophet’s words. They had no idea at the time,
but the king did not want another king born who could threaten his throne, not
knowing how much more Jesus really was. He pretended to want to worship Him as
well, but realy had already begun to plan how to kill this babe.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of
King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in
Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as
it rose, and we have come to worship him.” King Herod was deeply disturbed when
he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading
priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed
to be born?” “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet
wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the
ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd
for my people Israel.’ ” Matthew 2:
1-4
We can see it all in hindsight, because we can read it in
the Word, but at the time the people were confused and thought this Messiah
would rule them on earth, not from the heavenly throne. They thought Jesus
would be an earthly king come to save them from the Herod type kings. We can
see that He is so much more than that, but even from his birth the chief priests
who recited the prophecy about Him and probably unintentionally affirmed that
Jesus had fulfilled the messianic prophecy of His birth. Later they would become the enemy of Christ,
but in the beginning, they knew what or who He was.
This may seem confusing at first, but sometimes we can
forget what is important. That is why we are focusing on Jesus this month as we
count down to Christmas, we choose to focus on the Lord who created these days
in which we celebrate. Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in wrapping things up
that we forget that first Gift, the perfect gift that was given to us all. Not
just the Hebrew nation, but all mankind. That means each of us can be saved by
this Messiah, and therefore we call Him the King of Kings! He does rule over us
all, and all we need to do to have this great and mighty God as our King, and
our Lord is to believe in Him.
Bazaar as that seems
we are truly blessed with the greatest gift because of this baby born in a
manger.
Next week as star will be visible to shine bright in the sky
that we may see it as well. As the planets will line up exactly right, we will
see a star that they are calling the star of Bethlehem! If we look for it, we
may see it, just as if we look for Jesus we will find Him.
And Solomon, my son,
learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with
your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows
every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake
him, he will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9
And He has made from one [a]blood every nation of men to
dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times
and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in
the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from
each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being… Acts 17:26-28
Wise men still seek Him, are you wise today? In Jesus’ name…