Friends
The Hymn, Wise men seeking Jesus, Vv 1, Travelled from afar, Guided on their journey, By a beauteous star. - This hymn, by James Thomas East, points out that we do not need to go to Bethlehem to find Jesus. Born in1860, Kettering, Died: May 28, 1937, Blackburn, Lancashire, England. Buried: Mellor Methodist Chapel, near Blackburn. A Methodist minister, East served at chapels in England, Scotland and Wales. He was also a prolific poet and wrote many articles.
Matthew 2 vv 1 Magi from the East and wanted to see the new born King Vv 2 But if we desire him, He is close at hand; For our native country Is our Holy Land. In the narrative of Matthew, we find the Magi, figures of wisdom and knowledge, setting out on a quest to find the new-born King. They had seen His star and were drawn to it, compelled to find the source of this special sign. This is a picture of our own spiritual quest. We too are drawn to the light of Christ, compelled to seek Him out.
Vv3 Prayerful souls may find him By our quiet lakes, Meet him on our hillsides When the morning breaks. - We must recognize our need for a Saviour. The wise men recognized the significance of the star and the birth it announced. They knew that this was a King worth traveling great distances to worship. In our own lives, we must come to a similar conclusion. We must recognize our need for a Saviour, our need for Jesus. We must understand that we are in need of salvation, that we are lost without Him.
Vv4 In our fertile cornfields While the sheaves are bound, In our busy markets Jesus may be found. - We must be willing to act on this recognition. The Magi did not simply acknowledge the star and then go about their business. No, they packed up their belongings and set out on a journey. They took action. In the same way, recognizing our need for a Saviour is not enough. We must be willing to act on this recognition and turn to Jesus. We must be willing to follow Him and to submit to His lordship.
Vv5 Fishermen talk with him, by the great North Sea, as the first disciples, did in Galilee. - We must also be persistent in our search. The journey of the Magi was not an easy one. They travelled a great distance, faced many obstacles, and even had to deal with the deceit of King Herod. Yet, they did not give up. They were persistent in their search for the Saviour. In our own lives, we must be just as persistent. We will face obstacles. We will face opposition. But we must not give up. We must be persistent in our search for Jesus.
Vv6 Every town and village in our land might be, made by Jesus' presence, Like sweet Bethany. - When the Magi finally found Jesus, they did not simply acknowledge Him. They bowed down and worshiped Him. They presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In the same way, when we find Jesus, we must be prepared to worship Him. We must be prepared to give Him our all, to present Him with our lives as a living sacrifice. This worship is the final step in seeking the Saviour.
Vv 7 He is more than near us, If we love him well; For he seeketh ever In our hearts to dwell. - Seeking the Saviour is an active pursuit. We must recognize our need for a Saviour. This is how we seek the Saviour. This is how we find Jesus.
Prayer: ‘Lord help us to seek and find Jesus.’