Luke 9:6-10: a reflection

6They departed and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News and healing everywhere. 7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9Herod said, “I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him. 10The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them and withdrew apart to a desert region of a city called Bethsaida.

When Herod hears of all that Jesus is doing, he is perplexed, wondering who this could be, and, we are told, he sought to see him. But Herod's interest in Jesus was mere curiosity, not true seeking. He wanted to see Jesus as a curiosity, to satisfy his wondering, not to follow or believe him; his was the interest of one intrigued, not of one seeking to know and follow. Later, when he finally met Jesus, he treated him as a spectacle. Herod's was curiosity about Jesus, not the true seeking of a heart that would come to him.

Notice the nature of Herod's interest: curiosity, not true seeking. He wanted to see Jesus, but as one wants to see a marvel, to satisfy his curiosity; not as one seeking to know, believe, and follow him. There is a difference between being curious about Jesus, intrigued by him, wanting to see or know about him, and truly seeking him, coming to him to know and follow him. Herod had the former, not the latter; his interest was curiosity, not the seeking of a heart that would come to Jesus and follow him. And curiosity is not the same as coming to him.

That distinction is worth taking to heart, for we can have a mere curiosity about Jesus rather than truly seeking him. We can be interested in Jesus, intrigued by him, curious about him, wanting to know about him, without truly seeking him, coming to him to know and follow; and this curiosity, like Herod's, is not the same as seeking. Do not settle for mere curiosity about Jesus, being intrigued or interested without truly seeking him; seek him truly, coming to him to know and follow, not merely to satisfy your curiosity. Let your interest in Jesus be true seeking, a coming to him to know and follow, rather than the mere curiosity Herod had, who wanted to see Jesus as a spectacle but did not truly seek him; for curiosity about Jesus is not the same as seeking him, and he is to be truly sought, not merely wondered at.

Lord Jesus, when Herod hears of all that you are doing, he is perplexed, wondering who this could be, and, we are told, he sought to see you. But Herod's interest in you was mere curiosity, not true seeking. He wanted to see you as a curiosity, to satisfy his wondering, not to follow or believe you; his was the interest of one intrigued, not of one seeking to know and follow. Herod's was curiosity about you, not the true seeking of a heart that would come to you. Show me the nature of Herod's interest: curiosity, not true seeking. He wanted to see you, but as one wants to see a marvel; not as one seeking to know, believe, and follow you. There is a difference between being curious about you, intrigued by you, and truly seeking you, coming to you to know and follow you. Herod had the former, not the latter. And curiosity is not the same as coming to you. Take that distinction to my heart, for I can have a mere curiosity about you rather than truly seeking you. I can be interested in you, intrigued by you, curious about you, without truly seeking you, coming to you to know and follow; and this curiosity, like Herod's, is not the same as seeking. Keep me from settling for mere curiosity about you, being intrigued or interested without truly seeking you; help me seek you truly, Lord, coming to you to know and follow, not merely to satisfy my curiosity.