Jerusalem

I know a guy who has had the privilege of traveling in and around Jerusalem. Many times, during our men’s Bible study group, he will give us insight into certain places where Jesus has allegedly been. He will describe the scene to us. I’m sure some of the places are accurate, and Jesus was certainly there, but I have to think that some of the other places are nothing more than wishful thinking, or to get a few bucks out of tourists.

Perhaps I am weird or something, but I have never been one to want to be where someone else has “once” been. I mean, I have seen where the Wright brothers first took flight, been in the church where Paul Revere saw how many lanterns were hanging to know if the British were coming by land or by sea. I have been to other places, too, where famous people once allegedly walked, but I wasn’t really moved.

What would excite me is if I were at those famous locations “with” the individual or persons who made it famous! I can’t imagine the expressions on the Wright brothers’ faces when their theory on how to make an airplane fly worked. Can’t you just see Lazarus when he hobbled out of the tomb alive again? Or the tears as they flowed from the woman caught in adultery, and she realizes she has been forgiven? What about eating fish and bread that Jesus blessed, and it multiplied?

I guess what I am saying is I would rather be “with” Jesus and walk beside him than be where He might have been so many years ago. There is nothing better than being in the presence of God and feeling Jesus by your side. I desire to always be where Jesus is, for I know, and am confident that He is always with me. Now that moves me!

And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Mat. 28:20b (NLT)

King Herod. He was not looking for Jesus, at first. But after the wise men came to him asking, “Where is the one who is born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” King Herod became interested. In fact, the scriptures say, “he was alarmed, and all of Jerusalem with him.” They must have liked things the way they were.

This is one of the main reasons why people don’t look for Jesus. They like things the way they are.

King Herod gathered all the chief priest and experts in the law. They knew the scriptures, the Old Testament and told the king exactly where Jesus would be born. He then schemed to use the wise men to be his spies, and after finding the Christ child to report back. Even as a child, Jesus threatened the status quo. When the wise men found Jesus in Bethlehem they were warned not to return to the king, so they went back home via a different route.

An angel warned Joseph to take his family to Egypt so he did. Soon after King Herod saw he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He then sent men to kill all the children in Bethlehem and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under.

So now King Herod was looking for Jesus, but only because he was influenced by Satan. The devil did not, and still doesn’t know God’s plans, but because he was once in heaven he knew the name of Jesus. Satan, the devil used Herod to apply a shotgun approach to kill Jesus before he could grow up and do the will of God, and that was to defeat sin and death.

Satan will never win over God. And he doesn’t know what God is doing in your life either. Life with God is so much better than without him. When you surrender your life to God, and ask him to lead you and guide you, I assure you, life will be so much better. This season, look for Jesus for the right reasons. You will soon be glad you did.