The Wise Men - How Seekers Find Jesus Series

We’ve seen the Christmas poster “Wise Men Still Seek Him.”

When we think of the Wise Men we think of those who were seeking Jesus.

TODAY we want to look at their example as we continue our series FINDING JESUS.

The question you must answer today is whether or not you are seeking Jesus.

The Wise men were SEEKING the Messiah. Their testimony is revealed in Matthew 2. They came to Jerusalem, to the palace of Herod, King of Israel and asked, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”” (Matthew 2:2, ESV)

It was obvious that they were not seeking to worship Herod. These Wise men RESPONDED to a sign in heaven. They were able to interpret the SIGN because they knew the WORD. Most likely, they were part of a tradition of noble Persian scribes who trace their lineage all the way back to Daniel. God had placed him in Babylon during those years of the Babylonian captivity. He taught the scriptures and his lessons were still being studied at the time of Christ, about 400 years later!

Rather than reviewing the many important facts and lessons from the story of the wise men and their travel to Israel, I want to focus our attention on this one theme - they were seeking Jesus.

The Bible says much about seeking God. Indeed, the Bible contains a theology of seeking.

This is important because of this one principle: You always find what you are looking for. Now I don’t imply to mean that you will always recover every item that you have ever misplaced. Some of us are more prone than others to misplace our glasses, keys or wallet. The thing that I am referring to here is that we will always find the object of our hearts affection.

Notice what Scripture says about Rehoboam, the rebellious son of Solomon and first King of the southern two tribes in the divided kingdom. “And he did evil, for he did not set his heart to seek the Lord.” (2 Chronicles 12:14, ESV). Rehoboam’s rebellion is traced back to the fact that his heart was fixed on the wrong object. He was not seeking God and so his actions were rebellious.

Your ACTIONS will follow your HEART

Here are some of the Things we seek, according God’s Word:

Financial security. “All her people groan as they search for bread; they trade their treasures for food to revive their strength. “Look, O Lord, and see, for I am despised.”” (Lamentations 1:11, ESV)

Success. “And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the Lord. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”” (Jeremiah 45:5, ESV)

Philosophy (Answers!). “O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah” (Psalm 4:2, ESV)

But we are commanded to SEEK GOD.

““Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6–7, ESV)

““And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9, ESV)

““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7, ESV)

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29, ESV)

In terms of this theology of seeking, we must ask an important question, who is really seeking?

While we are commanded to seek God, there are passages of Scripture that inform us that none of us seek after God. Is this a contradiction in the Bible? It is not, but an explanation will help us understand the significance between God’s command to seek him, and our heart’s inability to seek God on our own.

Sinners Do Not Seek God on their Own

“The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” (Psalm 14:2, ESV)

“no one understands; no one seeks for God.” (Romans 3:11, ESV)