REASONS FOR SEEKING THE LORD
The Bible reveals that people have different reasons for seeking Jesus. But our loving Lord and Savior wants people to seek him with all their heart. He said: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your hear” (Jeremiah 29:13).
THE BIBLE SHOWS THAT A REPENTANT WOMAN SOUGHT JESUS FOR HIS LOVE AND FORGIVENESS
In Luke 7:36-50: When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner”…
44 Knowing the Pharisee’s thoughts, Jesus said to him, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
THE BIBLE ALSO SHOWS THAT SOME PEOPLE SOUGHT JESUS PRIMARILY FOR PHYSICAL AND MATERIAL THINGS.
The Bible tells us that a large number of people followed Jesus from place to place for personal benefits of the miracles he did which no other person was able to do. Jesus healed people from all kinds of incurable physical and mental diseases; cast out tormenting demons; raised people from the dead.
John chapter 6 tells us some people followed him to a place where he fed over five thousand people with two fish and five loaves of bread. But in attempting to change their primary focus from physical needs to their spiritual needs, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life”…”This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world….Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” But when Jesus tried to change their focus from using him primarily for their physical needs, to seeing him as necessary for their crucial spiritual need, many of them left him.
( Jesus knew that if they sought him first for their spiritual need, God would add all other things they needed and desired—Matthew 6:33; Psalm 37:4).
Nevertheless, Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But the Lord knew that even one of them would betray him for money. ( John 6 NKJV).
ONE OF JESUS DISCIPLE SOUGHT AFTER THE LORD FOR POSITION AND MONEY.
Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples. But seemingly it became apparent to him that Jesus was not to become the king of Israel as many had thought; and as his disciple, he seemingly would not come into a position of power beside Jesus. Judas went to the chief priests and asked, “How much will you give me if I help you arrest Jesus?” They paid Judas thirty silver coins,and from then on he started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus.
Judas went with the high priests having a large mob, and with swords and clubs to arrest Jesus. “His betrayer had given them a sign: “The One I kiss, He’s the One; arrest Him!” So he went right up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
“Friend,” Jesus asked him, “why have you come?”
Then they came up, took hold of Jesus, and arrested Him.
(BIBLE ALERT: “the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world”–1 John 2:16.The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
JESUS WANTS US TO SEEK TO LOVE HIM MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
Jesus loved us enough to die on a cross for us while we were still sinners (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). He said: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).
And he tell us: “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33). And “he will give you your heart’s desires”
Psalm 37:4).
Furthermore, “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9)–For the Lord has gone to prepare a place for us who love him that we may live with God in heaven forever (John 14:3).
