Luke 9:7-9
When
reports of Jesus’ miracles reached Herod, the governor, he was worried and
puzzled, for some were saying, “This is John the Baptist come back to life again”;
and others, “It is Elijah or some other ancient prophet risen from the dead.”
These rumors were circulating all over the land. I beheaded John,” Herod said,
“so who is this man about whom I hear such strange stories?” And he tried to
see him.
Food for thought!
It
is kind of strange that someone like Herod would try to see someone like Jesus.
Why would a self confessed murderer like Herod try to see Jesus? According to
Luke 23:8 “When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long
time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped
to see him perform a sign of some sort.”
Do you feel the need to see Jesus? Does it matter at all to see him? In Philippians 3:10 Paul also wanted to see Jesus: “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.” What do you want to know about Christ? When Paul knew Christ, he confessed: “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”
Both sinners (Herod) and saints (Paul) want to see Jesus. I am sure all of us are between these two men. May be we are closer to Herod than to Paul; may be we are closer to Paul than to Herod. Are you like Nicodemus who during the day is too busy and only can come to Jesus by night (John 3:2)? Are you like Zaqueus, who wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd (Luke 19:3)?
Is there anything that holds you back from seeing Jesus? Is it your fear, pride, doubt, your crowd, your job...? No one who sought Jesus out was disappointed. The men who eventually met Jesus, said that “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” (John 7:46). Remember that “to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)
Do you feel the need to see Jesus? Does it matter at all to see him? In Philippians 3:10 Paul also wanted to see Jesus: “I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.” What do you want to know about Christ? When Paul knew Christ, he confessed: “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.”
Both sinners (Herod) and saints (Paul) want to see Jesus. I am sure all of us are between these two men. May be we are closer to Herod than to Paul; may be we are closer to Paul than to Herod. Are you like Nicodemus who during the day is too busy and only can come to Jesus by night (John 3:2)? Are you like Zaqueus, who wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd (Luke 19:3)?
Is there anything that holds you back from seeing Jesus? Is it your fear, pride, doubt, your crowd, your job...? No one who sought Jesus out was disappointed. The men who eventually met Jesus, said that “We have never heard anyone speak like this!” (John 7:46). Remember that “to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12)
No comments:
Post a Comment