Today’s selected reading continues in the New Testament gospel account of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as written and recorded by the apostle John. More specially, today’s passage is found in verses twelve through thirty six of the twelfth chapter. When you come to this particular portion of scripture you find the twelfth chapter of the gospel of John continuing and e narrative shifting from the resurrection of Lazarus from the grave to yet another feast taking place within the time Jesus walked through earth. If and as you study the gospel which the apostle John wrote you will find there is a great emphasis on the feasts of Israel which were celebrated during the days and times of Jesus. The more I read the words found within the gospel which was written by the apostle John the more I come face to face with the incredible and tremendous emphasis that is placed on the Jewish feasts which were still being celebrated during the days and times of Jesus. What’s more, is there seems to be a great amount of emphasis on what are known as the pilgrimage feasts of Israel which were the feasts of Passover, the feast of Pentecost and the feast of tabernacles. Each of these feasts would be feasts which men and women from within and throughout Judaea, Samaria, Galilee and the surrounding regions and lands would make their journey unto the city of Jerusalem. What makes the twelfth chapter so unique is not necessarily that it is once more centered upon the feast of the Passover, but here for the first time we find more than just Jews journeying unto Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. As you continue reading the words found within the gospel of John you will find the apostle mentioning that there were also Greeks which traveled unto Jerusalem in order that they might celebrate the feast of the Passover. This is quite interesting for it lends to the reality that these feasts were celebrated by more than just the Jewish people but were in fact also celebrated by non Jews who would travel and make their way unto Jerusalem. What we must learn and understand concerning the pilgrimage feasts of Israel is that they were for all intensity and purposes invitations for men and women from all over to come unto the city of Jerusalem in order that they might worship the living God. The simple fact that these feasts were pilgrimage feasts suggests the awesome and incredible reality that they were wonderful and powerful invitations to and for all men to come unto the house of the Lord that they might worship the true and living God. What actually makes the celebration of these feasts so incredibly powerful is when you consider the fact that not only were men and women coming from all over to worship the living God and celebrate with the Jewish people, but they were also coming unto Jerusalem to see Jesus. Pause for a moment and consider that reality—the reality that while men and women might have come from all over to worship the living God and to celebrate the feasts of Israel, they were also coming to see Jesus.

I can’t help but stand here this morning and think about how truly remarkable and wonderful it is to think about and consider the fact that not only did men and women from within the land of Israel come unto Jerusalem to worship the living God and celebrate the feast of Passover, but now we find Greeks coming from their own land and region to worship the living God and to celebrant the feast of the Lord. This reality takes even greater form and shape when you consider the fact that when you come to the New Testament book of the Acts of the apostles you will find men and women from round about Jerusalem, Judaea and even Samaria within the city of Jerusalem and within the walls of the city that they might worship the true and living God. What made the miracle of the day of Pentecost so absolutely wonderful is the fact that when the one hundred and twenty in the upper room were baptized with and by the Holy Spirit, and began speaking in the tongues of other languages, there were and there would be those from the nations and lands round about the land who would be present within the city of Jerusalem and within the land of Israel. How truly remarkable and powerful it is to think about and consider the fact that during these particular feasts of Israel men and women would come from all over the world at that time in order to celebrate the feasts, and in order to worship the true and living God. When we come to the twelfth chapter of the gospel which was written by the softly John you not only find Jews present in Jerusalem at the time of the feast of Passover, but you will also find Greeks or gentiles also in the city in order that they might worship the living God and celebrate their feasts. What I so love about the feasts of Israel are that they were for all intents and purposes an invitation beyond simply the Jews and Jewish people to come and worship the living God, but were in fact an invitation to nations, tribes, tongues and lands beyond the nation and people of Israel to come and worship the living God. In fact, I would dare say that in order to truly understand the words which are found within the gospel written by the apostle John it is absolutely necessary that we come face to face with the description of the feasts as they were issued and outlined in the Old Testament books of numbers and Leviticus. It is within these Old Testament books that we encounter the feasts for the first time and understand the Pringle intent of the living God when ordaining such feasts.

One thing that astonished me about the gospel which the apostle John wrote is the tremendous amount of emphasis he made and out on the Jewish feasts. You cannot read the gospel written by the apostle John and not come face to face with the presence and reality of the feasts which were ordained and appointed by the living God. Almost immediately within this particular gospel you are met and confronted with the presence of the feasts and how important they were to the Jewish people—even during the days and time of Jesus the Christ. As you look back to the seventh chapter of the gospel which the apostle John wrote you will find Jesus’ brethren speaking of going down unto the feast in order that they might celebrate the feast. What’s more, is they even implored Jesus the Christ to journey unto Jerusalem from Galilee in order that He might manifest Himself and make Himself known unto those who would be present at the feast. This is quite interesting for when you consider this in light of the twelfth chapter you will fine Jews and Greeks journeying unto the city of Jerusalem in order that they might celebrate the feast of Passover. I cannot escape the fact that not only do we find Jews and Greeks worshipping the Lord together in the city of Jerusalem, but you also find both Jews and Greeks looking for and hoping to find and see Jesus. Think about that reality for a moment, for while it was true that men and women would journey from all within and throughout the land of Judaea and Galilee to worship the living God, and even though it was true that men and women would journey from the lands and regions round about Judaea, Samaria and Galilee, they seemed to be somewhat united in their desire to worship the living God. In all reality this fulfills (at least in part) that which the prophets spoke of and foretold when they wrote and spoke of when speaking and prophesying concerning the city of Jerusalem and how it would be a light unto all nations. The prophets prophesied that the city of Jerusalem would be a beacon of light and a beacon of the glory and presence of God unto the nations, and how the nations of the earth would come unto the city of Jerusalem that they might worship the true and living God who rules over the nations. By the time we come to the days and times of Jesus we come face to face with the awesome and incredible reality that the city of Jerusalem was still being and becoming that which the ancient Hebrew prophets spoke about and foretold. Men and women would come from all over Judaea and Galilee, and from the nations round about and surrounding Judaea and Samaria to worship the living God. When we come to the days and times of Jesus the Christ we find the nations and peoples of the earth still coming unto the city of Jerusalem in order that they might worship the true and living God and observe the feasts which He had ordained and appointed. We cannot and must not miss the awesome truth surrounding this, for it helps shine a great deal of light on to the celebration of the feasts during the days and times of Jesus the Christ as men and women would still make their way unto the city of Jerusalem that they might worship before and unto the true and living God.

As I consider the words which are found within the gospel of John I can’t help but be drawn to the awesome and incredible reality that there is a great amount of emphasis on the feasts of Israel—and not only the feasts of Israel, but also the fact that the feasts of Israel were essentially open invitations that were given unto the nations and peoples of the earth to come and worship the true and living God in His holiness within the city of Jerusalem. I can’t help but be reminded of the words which the prophet Isaiah prophesied in the second chapter of the prophetic book which bears his name. If you turn and direct your attention to this particular chapter of this particular prophetic book thou will come face to face with the following words which were spoken concerning the city of Jerusalem and how the city of Jerusalem was meant and intended on being a light unto the nations and peoples of the earth that all men might come and appear before the true and living God and worship in the beauty of His holiness. Consider if you will the following words which were written and spoken by the prophet Isaiah concerning the city of Jerusalem and how the city of Jerusalem was a beacon of light, a beacon of glory and a beckon of presence unto the nations and peoples of the earth—beyond simply the nation and people of Israel. Beginning with the first verse of the chapter you will find the following words which were written and spoken by the prophet Isaiah concerning this ancient city which was captured by David the king of Israel:

“The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshare, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:1-4).

It is with these words the prophet Isaiah prophesies concerning the city of Jerusalem, which was indeed the place of the mountain of the house of the Lord, and how it would be established in the top of the mountains, and would be exalted above the hills. What’s more, is the prophet Isaiah would go on to write and declare that all nations would flow unto it, and many people would go and say with enthusiasm and excitement “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of God of Jacob.” Even more than this, you will find the prophet continuing to prophesy that the nations and peoples of the earth will seek to come unto the mountain of the house of the Lord and unto the house of the God of Jacob that He might teach them His ways, and that they might walk in His paths. The prophet would go on to write and declare that out of Zion [out of the city of Jerusalem and the mountain of the Lord] would go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. It would be from the city of Jerusalem the Lord would judge among the nations, and would rebuke many people, and men and women would beat their swords into plow shares and their spears into pruning hooks. In all reality, that which the ancient Hebrew prophet Isaiah prophesied and foretold was the awesome and incredible reality that the city of Jerusalem and the mountain of the house of the Lord would be a place where the nations and peoples of the earth could gather together as one people before and unto the Lord that they might worship before Him in His holy temple. It’s worth noting that when we read the words written and recorded within this passage of Scripture there is not only an emphasis on the mountain of the Lord, but there is also an emphasis on the house of the Lord, for without the mountain there would and could be no house. It was precisely because of the mountain of the Lord that the house of the Lord would stand in the midst of and in the center of nations, in order that all nations might gather themselves together in one place to worship the true and living God. Oh, I can’t help but wonder what it was like and what it would be like to be in the city of Jerusalem worshipping together with Jews alike the true and living God. I recently saw an e-mail about an invitation to worship in the city of Jerusalem during the feast of Tabernacles, and even during the feast of Pentecost, and I have to admit that my heart leapt within me at the thought of being able to worship the living God in the city of Jerusalem where nations and peoples from throughout the earth have gathered themselves together to worship the living God in the mountain of God and upon the mountain of the house of the Lord. Both the mountain and the house carry incredible significance, for it would be unto the mountain of God the nations and peoples of the earth would come unto the house of the living God together as one people that they might worship the true and living God. It would be the house of the Lord which men and women would come unto that they might worship the Lord and celebrate His holy, ordained and appointed feasts with honesty and sincerity.

As I sit here this morning I can’t help but be drawn to the awesome and incredible fact that while it was true that there were men and women who came from Judaea, Samaria, Galilee, and the surrounding nations, lands and regions to worship the true and living God in His holy Temple and within His holy courts—during the days and times of Jesus they would come to see Jesus as well. Consider this reality for a moment—the reality that men and women might have come unto Jerusalem to worship the Lord, and yet in the midst of that worship they would also come to seek and find Jesus. We catch and see a glimpse of this when we turn and direct our attention back to the seventh chapter of the New Testament gospel of John. WORSHIPPING THE LORD AND SEEKING JESUS! COMING TO WORSHIP GOD AND SEEKING JESUS! IN THE WORSHIPPING OF GOD WE SEEK TO FIND JESUS! It is quite remarkable and astonishing to think about and consider the fact while it is true that men and women came from the nations, lands and regions round about Jerusalem, Judaea, Samaria and Galilee to worship the living God within the city of Jerusalem, there were countless men and women who had come to see Jesus. In other words, what we see and what we find is a wonderful and powerful picture of men and women who would come unto the house of the Lord to worship God, yet also coming that they might seek Jesus. Oh please don’t miss the awesome truth behind and surrounding this reality, for it has the awesome and incredible potential to dramatically altar how you view worship each and every time you enter into the house of the Lord, and into His holy courts. While it might be true that you enter into and come unto the house of the Lord to worship the true and living God, there is within that worship the element of seeking Jesus in order that you might find, encounter and experience Him. There were countless men and women who traveled from throughout Judaea, Samaria, Galilee, Jerusalem and the nations and lands of the earth that they might worship the living God, but in that worship might also find Jesus. IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD, FINDING JESUS! IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD, EXPERIENCING JESUS! IN THE WORSHIPPING OF GOD, ENCOUNTERING JESUS! IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD, MEETING JESUS! IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD, SEEKING JESUS. Oh how absolutely wonderful it is to think about and consider the fact that through the feasts there was an open invitation given unto the nations and peoples of the earth to come unto Jerusalem to worship the true and living God, and yet during the days of Jesus we catch a glimpse of what those feasts truly pointed to and what those feasts were ultimately about—namely, point to the person and presence of Jesus the Christ. It would be through the feats of Israel that the living God would reveal mysteries concerning His activity among the nations of the earth, and even within and throughout the years. More than this, we find within the feasts of Israel a wonderful invitation that in the worshipping of the Lord men and women would also find Jesus.

While it was true this reality was not seen and was not found in the Old Testament and under the Old Covenant, for men and women were merely looking for and expecting the Messiah—that reality shifted entirely during the days and times of Jesus. Imagine being in the city of Jerusalem during the days and times when Jesus the Christ walked the earth, and not only coming unto the city to worship the living God, but also to seek and find Jesus who was and is the Christ and the Son of the living God. Consider for a moment the tremendous reality that during the days and times of Jesus men and women would come unto the city of Jerusalem—would come unto the mountain of the house of the Lord—in order that on the one hand they might worship the true and living God, but also on the other hand might also seek, experience and find Jesus who is the Christ and Son of the living God. I am convinced we must turn and direct our attention back to the seventh chapter of the New Testament gospel of John, for it is in the seventh chapter of the gospel where we not only find men and women coming unto the mountain of the house of the Lord, and unto the city of Jerusalem in order that they might worship the true and living God, but also in order that they might seek and find Jesus the Christ. If you begin reading with and from the first verse of the chapter you will find the following words which were written by the apostle John concerning this particular time during the time of the feast of Tabernacles:

“After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for He would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto Him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did His brethren believe in Him. Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. When He had said these words unto them, He abode still in Galilee. But when His brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, Where is He? And there was much murmuring among the people concerning Him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but He deceiveth the people. Howbeit no man spake openly of Him for fear of the Jews” (John 7:1-13).

It is within this particular set of verses where we not only find one of the three pilgrimage feasts of Israel taking place during the days of Jesus the Christ, but we also find at this time Jews from Judaea, Galilee, and even within Jerusalem itself coming unto the house of the Lord in order that they might celebrate the feast of Tabernacles before the Lord. What we find within the seventh chapter of the New Testament gospel of Israel is quite astounding and quite remarkable, for while we begin reading this passage of Scripture and how the feast of Tabernacles was at hand, and even how Jews from throughout Jewry came unto the city of Jerusalem that they might celebrate the feast, there would ultimately be a stir in the midst of the city knowing that Jesus Christ was in fact present within the city. It’s actually quite astonishing and remarkable to think about and consider the fact that while it was true that men and women would make their way unto the city of Jerusalem and unto the mountain of the house of the Lord to celebrate the feast of Tabernacles, the feast itself would be the means whereby men and women might find and experience Jesus the Christ. How absolutely incredible it is to think about and consider the fact that it was uniquely possible that men and women would come unto the city of Jerusalem that they might worship before the living God and celebrate the feast, and yet in the midst of worshipping the living God and celebrating the feast of Israel, they would also seek Jesus that they might find and encounter Him. It’s quite astonishing and remarkable to think and consider how men and women would come unto the city of Jerusalem and unto the mountain of the house of the Lord that they might worship before the living God, and yet in the worship of the living God there would also be a seeking of Jesus. Oh I cannot escape this reality of worshipping the true and living God, and yet in that worship of the living God there would also be the seeking of Jesus the Christ in order that one might encounter and experience Him. It’s quite unique and remarkable to think about and consider how on the one hand men and women might come unto the mountain of the house of the Lord to worship the true and living God, and yet how in the midst of them would be the very person and presence of God Himself in the flesh. Men and women would come unto the city of Jerusalem that they might worship the living God, and yet there in the midst of the city they would have the very Word of God made flesh appearing before them. Think about that for a moment, for there were countless men and women who would come unto the city of Jerusalem that they might worship the living God, and yet directly linked and directly connected to that worship would be this seeking of Jesus—this seeking of Jesus that they might find and encounter Him. In the worship of the true and living God there would be this seeking of Jesus in order that men and women might find, encounter and experience Him for themselves. What a truly astonishing thing it is to think about and consider the fact that men and women could come to worship and could come worshipping the living God, and yet directly linked and connected to that worshipping of the living God there would be this seeking of Jesus that they might find and experience Him.

When you come to the twelfth chapter of the New Testament gospel of John you will find it beginning and opening with the apostle John writing how six days before the Passover Jesus would come unto Bethany where Lazarus which had been dead, and whom He had raised from the dead was present with his sisters Mary and Martha. The chapter would begin and open up with Jesus the Christ entering into Bethany, and how there was a supper made for Him—a supper where Martha would serve, a supper where Lazarus would sit at the table with Jesus, and a supper where Mary took a pound of precious ointment and perfume that she might anoint the feet of Jesus and wipe them with her hair. What we find at the very outset of this chapter is a wonderful and powerful picture of worship, of service, and even of fellowship, for I am convinced that within the lives and examples of Mary, Martha and Lazarus we encounter a truly wonderful picture of “worship,” of “service,” and of “fellowship” in the presence of Jesus. Consider the fact that Martha served in the presence of Jesus in the midst of the supper which was prepared for Him, how Lazarus fellowshipped with Jesus at the table in the midst of the supper, and how Mary worshipped Jesus in the midst of the supper that had been prepared. The twelfth chapter of the New Testament gospel of John would begin—not with much mention of the feast of Passover, nor even of the Jews, but rather with the mention of Jesus’ presence in Bethany, which was nigh unto Jerusalem, and the presence of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. It would be through the lives of these three individuals that we encounter and come face to face with the reality of what is present within the house of the Lord—namely, the worship of Jesus, fellowship with Jesus and with others, and service and serving others in the presence of Jesus. It’s interesting and unique to think about and consider that while Lazarus was one who sat at the table with Jesus—not only did he fellowship with Jesus Himself, but he also fellowshipped with those who were present on that particular day and at that particular supper. It would be while sitting at the table we find Lazarus enjoying and experiencing fellowship—not only with Jesus who had raised him from the dead, but also with those who were present there at the table, and those who were present within the house. It would be there in the midst of the supper that we would find Martha not only serving those who were present in the midst of this supper, but we would find Martha serving Jesus for whom the supper had been made. SERVING JESUS IN THE MIDST OF WHAT WAS PREPARED FOR HIM! SERVING JESUS IN THE MIDST OF WHAT WAS ALL ABOUT HIM! I am convinced that just as this supper was made for Him, and just as this supper was perhaps all about Him, it is a wonderful and powerful picture of our coming and our gathering together, and how our coming together is all about Jesus the Christ, and how in the midst of that which is all about Him, we not only serve others and serve Jesus Himself, but we also fellowship with Jesus and fellowship with others. It would the actions of Mary which would be noticeably and markedly different from those of Martha and Lazarus, for Mary’s actions were simply and solely about Jesus the Christ alone, and about worshipping Him with extravagance, with honesty and with sincerity.

While the twelfth chapter did in fact begin and open up with Jesus the Christ being in Bethany where a supper was made for Him, it would continue with men and women continuing to seek Jesus—not only in order that they might find Him, but also that they might see he whom Jesus had raised from the dead. It’s quite remarkable to consider that while it was true that men and women from within and among Jewry came unto Bethany because of Jesus that they might see, experience and encounter Him, it is also true that they didn’t merely come for His sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom He had raised from the dead. It would be there in Bethany where men and women would come from within and throughout Jewry in order that they might not only see Jesus, but also see him whom Jesus raised from the dead and brought back to life. It would be there in the city of Bethany where men and women would come in order that they might see He who raised one from the dead, as well as see he who had been raised from death to life. In other words, what men and women would see was not only resurrection life Himself, but also the evidence and manifestation of that resurrection. Before the feast of the Passover would take place within the city of Jerusalem, men and women would come unto Bethany that they might not only see the resurrection and the life, but that they might see he who was resurrected by Jesus the Christ. Oh please don’t miss and please don’t lose sight of this, for while they might not have come to see Jesus as the resurrection and the life, they came to see Jesus knowing that He had raised Lazarus from death to life. The apostle John writes and records how many of the Jews—when they knew that Jesus was there in Bethany—came not merely to see Jesus alone, but to see Lazarus whom Jesus had risen from the dead. Imagine and consider the awesome reality that men and women would in fact come to see Jesus, but not only would they come to see Jesus, but they would also come to see you because of the work which Jesus had wrought within your life. While it was true that men and women would come that they might see Jesus, they would also come that they might see you as a living testimony and miracle of the mighty works which Jesus wrought within and upon the he earth. It’s quite wonderful to think about and consider the fact that men and women would come from Jewry that they might see Jesus, but in coming to see Jesus they would also see a wonderful and powerful witness and testimony of His glory, His power, and the works which He performed upon the earth—namely, raising one who had been dead and in the grave for four days back to life and returned and restored him unto his sisters, and unto those who loved and cared about him. How absolutely wonderful it is to think about and consider the fact that men and women would in fact come to see Jesus the Christ, but in that seeking of Jesus they would also come face to face with you as a wonderful and powerful witness of what Jesus can do in a single moment of time.

IN THE WORSHIP OF GOD, SEEKING JESUS! IN THE SEEKING OF JESUS, BEHOLDING THE WITNESS OF RESURRECTION! If you continue reading within the twelfth chapter of the New Testament gospel of John you will encounter the awesome and wonderful reality that “on the next day much people which had come unto the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, and took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet Him, and cried Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” As you continue moving within and throughout the twelfth chapter of the gospel written by the apostle John you will find that not only was there a celebration of Jesus as the King of Israel which came in the name of the Lord, but you will also find the people that were with Him when He called Lazarus out of His grave, and raised Him from the dead bore record concerning Jesus. Even more than this, the apostle John would go on to write and record how for the cause of Jesus calling Lazarus out of His grave, and raising him from the dead, many people came out to see and to meet Jesus when they heard that He had done and performed this miracle. Furthermore, as you continue reading within this passage of Scripture you will find certain of the Greeks among those that came up to worship at the feast coming unto Philip one of the disciples that they might see Jesus. It’s interesting and worth noting that not only do we find men and women from within Jewry coming to seek and behold Jesus, but we also find Greeks which came unto the feast of Passover to worship God and celebrate the feast would seek to see Jesus. It is here within the twelfth chapter—much like with what we read and find in the seventh chapter of the same gospel—we find men and women journeying unto the city of Jerusalem that they might worship the living God and celebrate the feast of Passover, but in the worshipping of God and in the celebration of the feast, they might also seek Jesus that they might find Him. There is within the twelfth chapter of the New Testament gospel of John—not only a wonderful and powerful witness of the tremendous might, power and glory of the living God as evidence and manifested through the raising of Lazarus from the dead and calling him out of his grave, but also a wonderful seeking of Jesus that men and women might find, encounter and experience Him. What we must recognize when reading the words which Jesus the Christ spoke on this particular occasion is that when He learned how the Greeks sought that they might see Him, He declared that the hour had come for the Son of man to be glorified. What’s more, is that it would be in speaking of His own death that Jesus would go on and extend an invitation to those who were present at here at the feast to love not their lives unto themselves, but love their lives unto the death that they might lose it. Moreover, Jesus would go on to invite those who served Him to follow Him that where He is they might also be, for if any man served Him, those would His Father honour.

I find it absolutely astonishing and truly wonderful when reading the words which are found within this particular chapter, as well as that which is found in the seventh chapter how men and women would come unto the city of Jerusalem to worship the living God, and to celebrate the feasts of Israel ordained and appointed by the living God, however, in the worshipping of God, and in the celebrating of the feasts there would also be this wonderful seeking of Jesus that they might find and experience Him. It would be in the worshipping of the living God at the feasts within the city of Jerusalem that men and women would also seek to find Jesus the Christ that they might experience Him. Oh how truly wonderful and powerful it is to think about and consider the fact that men and women would and could come unto the city of Jerusalem to worship the true and living God, and yet in the midst of that worship they would also seek Jesus the Christ that they might find and experience Him on the mountain of the house of the Lord. Oh that we would recognize and understand this awesome and incredible reality, for it is in our own worshipping of the true and living God that we seek Jesus that we might find Him, and in finding Jesus might experience and encounter Him. Notice the words which Jesus spoke in the Sermon on the Mount—namely, that we must ask and keep asking and it will be given unto us, we must knock and keep knocking that it might be opened unto us, and how we must seek and keep seeking that we might find. Oh that we would remember the words which were spoken by the prophet Jeremiah unto the captives and exiles of Israel in the land of their captivity that those who sought Jesus would in fact find Him if they sought after Him with all their hearts and with all their strength. Oh that we would recognize and understand this awesome truth, for it is in our worship of the true and living God that we not only worship together with others, but also seek Jesus that we might find and experience Him. How absolutely beautiful and marvelous it is to think about and consider the absolutely beautiful truth that within the feasts of Israel there was an invitation to worship the Lord, and in that worship of the Lord there would be a seeking of Jesus that they might find Him. Oh that we would come face to face with our pursuit of the living God, and that we would recognize that in our pursuit of God—not only do we encounter and experience the living God, but we also seek after and find Jesus the Christ.