WISE ONES STILL SEEK JESUS
OR
A REAL RULING SHEPHERD
SUNDAY MAY 20, 2018
Scripture To Consider:
“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 have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.’”
“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.”
“So, they said to him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.”’” Matthew 2.1-6
Something To Consider:
The old saying continues to be true, “Wise men and wise women still seek Jesus in order to worship Him.” Wise men and wise women throughout the centuries have sought Jesus of Nazareth. And yet, Jesus Himself reveals the true chain reaction of events in the seeking process in John’s gospel, chapter 6 in verse 44. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [or her]; and I will raise him [or her] up at the last day.”
Jesus, in speaking of the very beginning process of the Father drawing individuals to His Son, speaks of end time events in His promising to raise up those whom His Father draws to Himself at the last day. Even from the beginning Jesus was considering the last day or end time events. Should we not do the same?
How is it that the Father draws individuals to His Son Jesus? It is by no other means than by His Holy Spirit. As Jesus mentioned in John 15.26, “But when the Helper [Holy Spirit] comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” The Holy Spirit is always working behind the scene of those seeking Jesus. The Holy Spirit of God is always attempting to reveal the truth of the Word of God to all wise ones still seeking Jesus in every generation.
In John 16, beginning in verse 12 Jesus revealed more of the behind the scenes work of the Holy Spirit. “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He [Holy Spirit] will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”
Wise ones who seek Jesus in order to worship Him will be taught of Him by way of the Holy Spirit of truth. Therefore, as we study to show ourselves approved unto God, the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth concerning future end time events, according to Jesus.
As we seek Jesus we will not be disappointed! Seeking Jesus through the study of the Word of God is our most spiritually profiting work we can be involved in. Learning what the Word of God and what Jesus has declared and is still declaring, is most important. And what is as important is the teaching of others and other generations to carry the torch of truth that is made available through our diligently seeking Jesus. It will make us all wise men, wise women, and wise young people.
Something Else To Consider:
Therefore, wise men, wise women, and wise young people still seek Jesus because God the Father is still drawing them by His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth. The original wise men came from a great distance seeking Jesus to worship Him. We need not travel any physical distance at all in order to seek and worship Him who is continuing to seek us by daily drawing us to Himself and to His Word. At any time, and in any place, we can simply, silently, and suddenly, wisely worship Jesus. We can at any moment wisely seek Jesus within the Word of God!
Jesus, in John chapter 5 was addressing some so-called leaders among the religious establishment in Jerusalem. And yet His words transcend time and location. His words are true in every generation and in every culture and at every moment in history including the future end times. Beginning in verse 37 Jesus acknowledged, “And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. But you do not have His Word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these [Old Testament Scriptures] are they which testify of Me.”
These religious leaders thought they had in their possession eternal life due to their position and their keeping of religious legalistic traditions and man-made regulations. Look again at verse 38, “But you do not have His Word [God’s Word] abiding in you, because whom He [the Father] sent, Him [Jesus] you do not believe.” Jesus affirmed that they searched or studied the Scriptures, but they did not possess eternal life.
All of Scripture, whether the Old or New Testament, from Genesis to Revelation, clearly and constantly testify of Jesus Christ as God’s Son and soon coming King of kings and Lord of lords. Therefore, will we be found guilty of unbelief by Jesus when He returns?
According to Jesus in verse 40 of John chapter 5, “But you are not willing to come to Me [Jesus] that you may have life.” In verse 43 Jesus revealed, “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.” Could Jesus be speaking of the increase of end time false prophets coming in their own name? Could He be speaking of the Antichrist who is to come in his own name to deceive and to destroy? Let us take heed that we are not deceived!
Something More To Consider:
According to Matthew in our text, “For out of you [Bethlehem] shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My [God’s] people Israel.” This message was first spoken by the prophet Micah in Micah 5.2, as he announced concerning this ruling shepherd, “Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Therefore, the plan and purpose of God spoken by the prophet was proposed by God from the beginning of time, from of old, from everlasting. Jesus is the great anticipated ruling shepherd of God’s people.
The shepherds out in the field that first Christmas evening recognized this truth. The wise men from afar that came in search of Jesus recognized this truth. Simeon and Anna also recognized this truth. How is it that the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did not recognize this truth even though it had been written about many years earlier by one of the nation Israel’s prophets?
How is it even now, that many still refuse to recognize the truth of Jesus being the ruling shepherd over God’s people and that this was God’s plan from the beginning of time? The question still remains; do we recognize Jesus’ ultimate authority to rule and to reign as our great care giving Ruler who will shepherd God’s people? And if not, why not?
A Few Final Words:
Will we be found by Jesus wisely searching the Scriptures in order to wisely seek Jesus of whom God’s Word boldly proclaims to be the rightful Ruler over all the earth? Or will we be among the many millions of unbelievers down through the centuries who foolishly cling to their false traditions which have led and will continue to lead many to destruction? If the end of time is upon us, we may not be given another opportunity to seek Jesus for forgiveness if required unless we honestly answer these questions rightfully and according to the Word of God!
In order for the Word of God to benefit us spiritually, we must be under the Lordship of Jesus our true ruling shepherd sent by God. Either Jesus rules over us or we wrongfully rule over ourselves. If Jesus rules then He is Lord. If He is not allowed to rule over our lives then He is not our Lord. And if that is the bottom line, then we are not wise and we will not be seeking Jesus in our time of need.
The time is coming if not already here, for portions of the world’s population who have never made the proper decision concerning their becoming true believers in Jesus, may find that postponing that decision will eventually prove to be a great shortcoming. Let us therefore, be as the wise men from afar, and be found looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, while we still can!
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, help us to be wise in accepting the authority of Jesus to rule on the throne of our lives before it is too late. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 