Christmas is about three months away, nevertheless, this week I am going to write about Jesus's birth. However, I am only going to focus on how king Herod and the wise men sought out Christ. Upon hearing of the prophesied birth of the king of the Jews the ruler at the time, Herod is eager to know of this king's whereabouts. Along with Herod an unknown number of wise men is also seeking out Jesus. Yet, they both have different motives and means to find Christ.
Herod sees Christ as a threat to his own authority and has much more sinister motives to finding Christ than the wise men. The wise men had studied about the coming of Christ and knew the signs of his coming. So, when they recognized the signs they journeyed from their native lands to find Christ so they could worship Him. Herod on the other "sent [the wise men] to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also." (Mathew 2:8) Rather than seeking out the child himself Herod sends out the wise men to find the baby for him. In the end the wise men finally find the young Jesus and when they found him they "rejoiced with exceeding great joy." (Mathew 2:10) Herod, on the other hand never finds Christ and unlike the wise men he becomes angry because he is never told of where to find the child. Likewise, when we seek out a testimony of Christ we cannot merely send out others to find it for us. In order to truly become a witness of Christ we must each individually seek Him out. In order to find Christ we must follow the example of the wise men by diligently studying and by eagerly seeking out Christ. I know that as anyone seeks out Christ through through active study and prayer they will have exceeding great joy as they come to know Him.
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