When the cliché is used, “Wise men still seek Him,” an accompanying question should also be considered, “and where do wise people find Him?”
The pageantry of American Evangelical Christmas tells us he, that is Jesus, is found amid the sparkle, high energy, glitter of showmanship, and architectural theater often called “at a church's Christmas service” (or Christmas season special event).
The wise magi of the East sought Jesus, the new king indicated by that eastern star, first in the king’s palace (i.e., Herod’s palace). Although a natural and, perhaps, expected place for them to look, they were wrong, nonetheless. What they found, instead, in that palace, where power is expected to reside, was the new-born king's betrayer and usurper.
“Where” they actually found Him—per Matthew’s Gospel, which is a reflection on God’s Word through the prophet Micah (chapter 5)--was amid the weak, poor, insignificant, small little town of Bethlehem, for which the prophet told us, didn’t amount to much. (It couldn’t even raise enough soldiers to protect itself—a point of the Micah 5 passage). Wise people might still seek Him, but if and when they do, they are only truly wise when they seek Him in the place of insignificance. And, this new king is, following the Matthew 2 story, found where there is (at least the potential of) death and destruction to follow, for we read, as a result of the wise magi's visit to the palace, Herod ordered the slaughter of all the male two-year-olds and under (I assume in and around Bethlehem) in order to prohibit any potential insurrection to his power.
Where are you seeking Jesus, the Messiah, born King, who will usurp all competitors to your allegiance? It matters where you seek Him, for where you find Him matters—for finding him puts everything at risk, for the powerful, elite, and the affluent-dependent, even the christendom-dependent, will seek to stop this humble king from disturbing their power, from taking their possessions (and don't be fooled, you are their possession). Those in power will most assuredly attempt to stop him from destroying their reign over realms under their control (and don't be fooled, you are under their control). Perhaps, this is why the original Christmas story and the post script of those seeking long ago from the east is told: Jesus, heaven's king, sent by the Father of all creation, is found where all is already lost, marked for death.
Where do you find the new born King?
Think more deeply about Christmas.
The pageantry of American Evangelical Christmas tells us he, that is Jesus, is found amid the sparkle, high energy, glitter of showmanship, and architectural theater often called “at a church's Christmas service” (or Christmas season special event).
The wise magi of the East sought Jesus, the new king indicated by that eastern star, first in the king’s palace (i.e., Herod’s palace). Although a natural and, perhaps, expected place for them to look, they were wrong, nonetheless. What they found, instead, in that palace, where power is expected to reside, was the new-born king's betrayer and usurper.
“Where” they actually found Him—per Matthew’s Gospel, which is a reflection on God’s Word through the prophet Micah (chapter 5)--was amid the weak, poor, insignificant, small little town of Bethlehem, for which the prophet told us, didn’t amount to much. (It couldn’t even raise enough soldiers to protect itself—a point of the Micah 5 passage). Wise people might still seek Him, but if and when they do, they are only truly wise when they seek Him in the place of insignificance. And, this new king is, following the Matthew 2 story, found where there is (at least the potential of) death and destruction to follow, for we read, as a result of the wise magi's visit to the palace, Herod ordered the slaughter of all the male two-year-olds and under (I assume in and around Bethlehem) in order to prohibit any potential insurrection to his power.
Where are you seeking Jesus, the Messiah, born King, who will usurp all competitors to your allegiance? It matters where you seek Him, for where you find Him matters—for finding him puts everything at risk, for the powerful, elite, and the affluent-dependent, even the christendom-dependent, will seek to stop this humble king from disturbing their power, from taking their possessions (and don't be fooled, you are their possession). Those in power will most assuredly attempt to stop him from destroying their reign over realms under their control (and don't be fooled, you are under their control). Perhaps, this is why the original Christmas story and the post script of those seeking long ago from the east is told: Jesus, heaven's king, sent by the Father of all creation, is found where all is already lost, marked for death.
Where do you find the new born King?
Think more deeply about Christmas.
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