Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ,
In the message last Sunday, I referred to the chief priests and teachers of the law. After the Magi arrived in Jerusalem looking for the Christ Child, King Herod asked these religious leaders where the promised Messiah was to be born. They quoted the Old Testament prophet Micah and told Herod the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. But surprisingly, the priests and teachers of the religious law did not go to Bethlehem themselves to see the newborn Messiah. Because they did not seek to visit the infant Savior, they missed Him.
The only ones who see Jesus, and thus experience His goodness and grace, are those who seek after Him. The Magi were looking for the Savior. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Mt. 1:2). Vs. 11 adds, “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.” Because the Magi were seeking after Jesus, they found him.
The same is true of the shepherds the night Jesus was born. After the angel appeared to them and announced the birth of the Savior, it says in Lk. 2:16, “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.” The shepherds could have ignored the message of the angel and thus missed the Christ Child, but they weren’t about to miss out on this great opportunity. They went looking for the Savior, and they found him.
What will you find this Christmas season? The answer is obvious: you will find whatever you are looking for.
During this time of year, many people spend a lot of time looking for the perfect gift to give. Of course, there is only one truly perfect gift, and God has given that gift to all who are interested and open – the gift of the Savior.
This Christmas, we have the opportunity to see Jesus. Even if we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior many years ago, each Christmas gives us the opportunity to discover Jesus in fresh and meaningful ways. Amidst all the other activities of the season, let’s make sure we are devoting time to seeking after Jesus, to hear again the incredible story of God coming to us to give us life in Christ.
In the coming three weeks, I will share about three specific gifts we receive along with receiving Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bob