Indeed the Bible tells of those who sought the Babe Jesus…and found Him. Luke 2:8- 20 talks about the shepherds, and Matt 2:1-11 tells us about the Magi – wise men.

a) The watchful shepherds

The first group of people was just busy minding their work – watching their flocks at night in the pastures in Judea. They were protecting their sheep from the wild animals, thieves and bad weather. And if they had for a moment almost fell asleep in their vigil, they must have been shocked to see bright lights which overwhelmed them and the dark skies. We are told an “angel said: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And, suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.”

After the shepherds had recovered from the shock, they said, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.” And so they rushed off, and “found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe, lying in the manger.” After they had seen Jesus, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

There may be some of you who have been very busy throughout the year. I pray that this Christmas you will take time off from your busy schedules of housework, minding the children, studies, work assignments, sales targets, and so forth. Take time to seek Jesus who was born to be our Saviour. He is Emmanuel, meaning “God with us”. Thus, take time to glorify and praise God, and tell others of this wonderful gift that He has sent to mankind.

To those who still do not know Christ, take time to find out more about Him if someone has told you about this Jesus. Join a Bible study group and learn more about the Saviour of the world.

b) The seeking wise men

The magi or wise men were studious people. They were non-Jews or Gentiles. They did their research thoroughly concerning the stars they studied. They spent many years of their life finding meaning to what they saw in the skies. They would not stop seeking until their hunger for knowledge is satisfied. They saw a great star and understood its meaning. Their desire to find out more caused them to travel many miles (or kilometres) on a very long journey to follow a special star. And that special star led them to Judea.

Matt 2:1-2 tells us, “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, behold there came wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, Saying, “Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.”

King Herod “sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the young child: and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed: and lo, the start, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. (Matt 2:8-11)

Perhaps there are some in our midst who are like the magi or wise men. You belong to the group of learned and scholarly – people with many questions in your minds. You may belong to the rich and powerful. Yet, you have been seeking for something which will satisfy your soul, your deepest longings? You may have spent many years of your life looking for that special something which you would live or die for. Yet, nothing has been able to satisfy your heart for all these years. If this is the case, then search no more, because Jesus Christ is the answer to all that you have been looking and longing for.

The shepherds were lost in their menial tasks of taking care of their sheep. They must be very tired people having to look for new pastures for their sheep every day. When their sheep have grazed, they needed to be herded back into the fold to protect them from the cold of the night or from predators – beasts and men alike. These uneducated shepherds were also not those who looked very good to others. They probably smelled badly having been with their woolly creatures day and night. Oftentimes, others despised them because looking after sheep was done by the poor.

The wise men, on the contrary, were learned men of great knowledge, people high up in the social hierarchy. Even King Herod welcomed them into his great palace, and he even asked them to continue in their search of the Child, and to report it to him if they found him.

Two groups of people of different social, educational and economic backgrounds found the Baby Jesus. One just left their sheep on the grass, and rushed to find the baby. God used His angel to inform the shepherds about the birth of the baby Jesus. God used a star to guide the Gentile wise men to the truth of the birth of the King of the Jews. These Gentiles came to Bethlehem prepared with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to present them to the newborn King.

Today, whether you are poor or rich, uneducated or learned, you need to seek the Lord Jesus. HE is seeking for you. HE is God’s answer to redeem mankind that is lost in the world; lost in the busyness of work or searching for truth, peace of mind or meaning in life. Jesus Christ is the Saviour which God promised to the Jews as well as to the Gentiles (non-Jews) who would believe in Him.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man comes to God the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6). Thus, if you are still seeking and searching for something which will satisfy you, come to Jesus this Christmas. Come, even if you’re empty-handed; or come with your gifts, and acknowledge Him as the King of your life. And He will give you peace; peace which the world cannot give you.

God’s grace and love shown through the birth of Jesus Christ is for people all over the world. Do not be like King Herod who rejected Christ. But be like the shepherds and the wise men who quickly went and worshipped Jesus, the Saviour of the world. And once you have come to know Jesus and experienced His love, spread the good news to your loved ones and others around you. May they all come to know Christ as their Saviour and King too.

Pastor Bob Phee