Not Trying Very Hard

Scripture: When reports of Jesus’ miracles reached Herod, the governor, he was worried and puzzled, for some were saying, “This is John the Baptist come back to life again.”... “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “so who is this man about whom I hear such strange stories?” And he tried to see him. Luke 9:7,9

Observation: Herod is curious about Jesus and giving him considered thought as he hears rumors of his actions. "Worried and puzzled" implies that he is actively thinking about him and trying to figure him out, and the question he presents to himself is "so who is this man?". He knows he is not John the Baptist returned, and doubts he is some other prophet. So Herod actively wonders about Jesus, but then also "tried to see him."

Well, he did not try to see him very hard, for he did not do so until the night of Jesus arrest, and even then it was only because Pilot sent Jesus to Herod. Jesus is openly walking around Judea. Thousands of people see Jesus daily! All kinds of people simply walk up to Jesus and talk to him, touch him, and sit in other's homes to listen to him. Common people and religious leaders invite him to dinner, and he comes. Yet Herod, the king of Judea, "tries" to Jesus but never does. Again, he certainly didn't try very hard, because it clearly wasn't that difficult.

Application: I have met people like this ... those who are on the fence about belief, and when asked about their beliefs may talk about how they believe there is 'a god' or even God himself, but they don't understand him, and certainly don't understand the role and purpose of Jesus. They actively search for some answers to their questions about God on the internet from time to time, but they have never gone to church or read the bible. They seem curious about matters such as eternity and afterlife and spirituality, and even think that perhaps the idea of God is the most logical ... and they want to figure out more ... but they never go out to see Jesus.

Herod claimed to be actively curious about Jesus, but he wouldn't even leave his house to go see a man who was literally walking around every day. Similarly, there are those who are curious about the meaning and purpose of life, but they are only curious on a level that aligns to their own lives and the means by which they seek knowledge.

This is the difference between those who wonder about matters of faith, and we who have a relationship with the Lord through Jesus ... we have met Jesus. And this is in fact our mission, not to communicate about the concepts and actions of Jesus, but to get these people to leave their homes and just go meet Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, I pray for friends, acquaintances, and strangers who have never simply tried to meet you. I hope that they become curious enough to simply come and see Jesus, and learn what you are about not by their own thought process, but by an experience of meeting you. Amen.