King Herod told the astrologers to “search diligently for the child.” Mary and Joseph made a u-turn back to Jerusalem to find him at age twelve. The disciples of John the Baptist asked not only where but who the Messiah was.  Jesus disappeared among the crowd to avoid the Pharisees, who were seeking to kill him before his mission was complete. Old Testament waiting turned into New Testament pursuit! For a microscopic time of only thirty-three years of human history, God in human form lived among us.

Now those are the people I hope to meet in heaven! For two millennia, we as God’s people who claim to be Christ followers have been engaged in constant, countless search methods. Songs have been written, paintings drawn, artifacts sold by the church, even – all in the pursuit of the living God in Christ Jesus.

Another Christmas has come and gone, and many still feel as if they are coming up empty; watching sand sift between their fingers. Where is Jesus? Why can’t I feel his presence that he supposedly promises? “Lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age”. Jesus says that, yes he does, at the end of Matthew’s Gospel. Why should I bother trying to find him, as if I could somehow conjure him up if I squeezed my eyes shut tight when I prayed? Failing all that, why not just wait around until he comes back, as promised? Or even better, say “goodbye, cruel world” and join him right now?

Indeed, we yearn for the living God. We pursue Jesus, because ultimately, nothing else makes a lick of sense. If it feels like a maze, and our Lord is somehow at the exit, then let that be your paradigm. Your metaphor. Nothing wrong with that. Jesus only “woos”; he does not tantalize or force himself. When you come to the end of yourself, please know – and believe undoubtedly – that Jesus always stands at your door, knocking. He hides in plain sight. He never moved, never wavered, never stopped loving you unconditionally.

We all pursue, we all need him in our lives. Indeed, he IS our life, our way and our truth.

Pastor Art