HRC New Testament Reading Plan: daily NT reading devotional thoughts.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
Matthew 2:8
Hard to Find
Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth starts with Magi from the east seeing a star that they believed showed where they could find the newborn king of the Jews. They take a journey to Jerusalem to seek him and start asking where they can find him. Herod, who happened to be serving as king in Jerusalem at that time, was disturbed by this news. King Herod was not of the line of David, and he knew the prophecies regarding the one to be “born King of the Jews”, the Messiah. He gathered the teachers to get more information. The teachers recalled the prophecy from Micah 5:2 that the “one who will be ruler over Israel” will come from Bethlehem. Herod sent them on their way, but wanted them to confirm the news so that he could then “go and worship him”.
The Magi found Jesus, guided by the star, and they worship him. They provided him with extravagant gifts meant to honor a king. However, they’re warned not to go back to Herod, who plots to kill this rival king. Before Herod can act on his plan, an angel appeared to Joseph and warned him to take the child to Egypt. This again fulfilled prophecy (Hosea 11:1), as did Herod’s cruel plan to kill all of the young boys near Bethlehem (Jeremiah 31:15).
Later, Joseph and Mary return to a small town of Nazareth, again prophesied though no reference is in the OT. Nazareth was a small insignificant town with a Roman garrison, which prompted the Jews to ask questions like Nathaniel did in John 1:8: “can anything good come from Nazareth?”. The town’s name also sounds like “Nazarite”, or one devoted to God – thisis what John the Baptist may have been, but more on that tomorrow.
Although the Scriptures and prophets pointed to all of the places surrounding Jesus’ birth, escape, and return, only the Magi found the child when they were seeking him. Herod wanted to know about him, but relied on the Magi and others to tell him instead of seeking him.
For Herod, Jesus was hard to find, even though the prophets revealed everywhere Jesus would be. The Magi however saw the star, found out what it meant, followed it on a journey to Jerusalem, inquired for more information then traveled the half-day journey to Bethlehem. For them, Jesus required a difficult search, but they were able to find him.
Why did God make Jesus so hard to find? It would take effort to find him in Bethlehem, knowledge of the scriptures to find him in Egypt and having the right perspective to find him in Nazareth. It takes all of this for us to find him and to know him today.
This past year, on my own and with my morning men’s haverim, I’ve found more about Jesus from making an effort every day, studying the scriptures, and praying to have the right heart and perspective. Jesus isn’t hard to find, but it requires making the effort to seek Him.
Questions:
- Is there anything in the story of Jesus’ birth and young life that’s different than what you may have learned before you studied the Bible? Why is reading the scriptures important to seeking Jesus?
- Read the scriptures referenced in the passage for the prophecies. What do you learn about Jesus from these passages?
- What can you do today to better seek and know Jesus?