Has your Christmas quest begun this year? Have you completed it? How would you describe your Christmas quest, this
determined search and focused journey? Is it the hunt for time in your schedules to connect with friends and family? Is it
the search for the perfect gift? People spend a lot of time and money during the Christmas season trying to complete
their quests. Whatever your personal quest is this year, be sure that you do not neglect THE Christmas quest.
Faith Hill asks the question in her seasonal song “Where are you, Christmas?” Here she expresses that something has
been lost through the year or over the years and the magic of the season seems to be gone. It could be that she and
others are looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place. Let’s briefly look at the true quest of Christmas.
The Biblical records of the birth of Jesus found in Matthew 2:1-12 and Luke 2:1-20 introduce us to two interesting and
very different groups of men. The first, in Matthew is the magi. These mysterious visitors from the east came to
Jerusalem in search of the newborn king. These were men from the upper level of society. They rubbed shoulders with
rulers. They were not Jewish. They were extremely well educated. They came from far away. Their stated purpose was
to find the one who had been born King of the Jews and to worship Him. When they found Jesus, they did bow and
worship Him. They gave Him lavish gifts of great symbolic importance. They completed their quest after a long journey
and thorough search. These men found and worshiped Jesus, God’s Son, the King of Kings, who had come to rescue us.
The second group is the shepherds of Luke chapter 2. These men were at the lowest level of society. They rubbed
shoulders with other shepherds and sheep. They were Jewish men. They were uneducated and lived simple lives. They
lived in the hills nearby, right around the corner from where Jesus was born. They travelled a short distance but were
just as focused on their quest as the magi were. They came to check out what the angel had told them about this baby –
the Saviour who is Christ, the Lord. They wanted to see for themselves what they had heard about. After meeting Jesus
they went and told everyone about this baby and what the angel told them about his identity.
Back to you and I and our quest this Christmas. Whatever else is on your calendar or on the lists you are busy working
through, the focus of the true Christmas quest remains Jesus, Himself. He is the point of Christmas and more than that,
of life itself.
Maybe like the shepherds you need to come and check out for yourself this Jesus you have been hearing about. Who
is He really? Why did He come? Why does it matter to us so many years later? Continue this quest and seek out the
answers. Read about Jesus in the Bible starting with the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Come to a service
some Sunday at 10:00 or watch online and see for yourself.
Maybe you have taken the step that the shepherds took and are now on a quest like the magi. It’s time to not just
research Jesus, but to actually worship Him. Come bow before the King of Kings. Come surrender your life to this Saviour
who is Christ, the Lord. He is God and King and sacrifice. He is all that you need. God Himself come to rescue us.
Don’t ignore Jesus like the people of Bethlehem and Jerusalem did when He arrived. Don’t fight His rule and reign as
King Herod did. Search for Him, pick up a Bible (or read online, or ask us for one) and check out this “good news for all
the people.” Then bow before Him and worship Him as He alone deserves.
We would love to have you join us on Sundays for worship at 10:00, or on Monday evenings this winter for our
Christianity Explored course. Call us with your QUESTions. We would love to encourage you in your Christmas quest.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Harrow Baptist Church (519) 738-2275 harrowbaptistchurch.com