He Desired to See Him

Many people wanted to see Jesus when He lived on this earth. To be honest, many people still wish they could see Jesus with their own eyes. Me included.

Today, I want to talk about one such person who got their long-desired chance, and what he did with it.

And Herod said, ...who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. Luke 9:9 KJV

King Herod wanted to see Jesus. It's a little blip in the gospel of Luke chapter 9, and yet this desire didn't come into fruition until chapter 23 when Jesus was on trial before His crucifixion.

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. Luke 23:8 KJV

That's a pretty long time for a king to wait. They usually get what they want ASAP.

Sometimes, we wait a long time on God, hoping to see Him do something.

But how did this long-desired meeting go? Not quite like King Herod had hoped. He questioned and questioned Jesus, but Jesus answered him nothing. There was no miracle, none of His famous teaching. Nothing. Things did not go how King Herod wanted.

In his annoyance and disappointment, Herod mocked Jesus publicly and sent him away.

It hurts me to read this account of someone who squandered their opportunity of meeting God.

And yet I have desired after God and been disappointed because He didn't perform like I expected.

Has that happened to you? You thought God would do something, but He didn't.

Did you mock God like King Herod did? Did you walk away from Him? Maybe like the disciples, you've run in fear, or had your faith shaken at some bewildering turn of events.

Jesus submitted to being captured, even more troubling He submitted to death. This was not what the disciples expected. They thought He'd set up His kingdom, not die on a cross. And because Jesus did not perform as they expected, they deserted Him.

Do not we do the same sometimes? When Jesus allows trials and tribulations when we thought He'd send joy and blessings. We can become disillusioned, feel betrayed, and turn from our faith.

Oh, that we would have the faith and the courage to cling to Him instead!

The thief on the cross clung to Christ. Even though everyone else had deserted Him and Jesus in essence said, "We will both die today. I'm not going to jump off here and save us", the thief clung to Christ anyway.

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God...?

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:39-40a & 42-43 KJV

The repentant thief's faith wasn't contingent on Jesus suddenly rescuing him from a horrific death. It wasn't based on others' opinions of Christ. He didn't falter at the Lamb of God's suffering. He just trusted Him.

That is the faith I pray we'll have. A faith that does not stumble.

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Do you like Easter Devotionals?

Two of my writer friends have written some as well!

Susan encourages us to turn to Jesus. A reminder I really needed the day I read it and every day: https://www.susanbarneswriter.com/easter-prompts-us-to-turn-to-jesus/

Nola makes a surprisingly apt comparison of elections and politics to the Easter story (certainly wasn't expecting that!). But it gave me an interesting insight into the season which I hadn't considered. Read more here: https://www.nolalorraine.com.au/an-unexpected-easter/