You Tried But Did You Try Hard Enough?

Luke 9:9 (NIV) – But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” AND HE TRIED TO SEE HIM.

The teachings and ministry of Jesus generated a lot of stories and news that spread all over. Herod heard about Jesus but he wasn’t very sure who this was. Herod thought Jesus was John the Baptist whom he killed and probably was now resurrected. Some people told Herod that Jesus was one of the old prophets who had resurrected. Herod got so curious, and the Bible tells us that he tried to see Jesus.

Herod was a ruler. Herod was a king of Judea who served at the pleasure of the Roman Empire. Herod was a man of authority with workers at his command. Herod could give orders that would immediately be obeyed and implemented. Yet the Bible tells us that he really tried to see Jesus throughout the ministry of Jesus but he didn’t succeed. Our conclusion is that he didn’t try hard enough.

Luke 23:8-9 (NIV) – 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. 9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.

Herod eventually saw Jesus at the end of the ministry of Jesus when He was about to be crucified. For a long time Herod wanted to see Jesus but he didn’t. Why did Herod fail to see Jesus for a long time? It’s because he didn’t try hard enough.

Herod only saw Jesus when other people brought Jesus to him for sentencing to death. He didn’t try hard enough to look for Jesus. Herod didn’t put much effort in looking for Jesus. Therefore Herod only saw Jesus when it was convenient for him. It was too late and Jesus refused to respond to Herod. 

Lepers looked for Jesus and found Him. Blind men looked for Jesus and found Him. A father with a sick boy looked for Jesus and found Him. If Herod had tried hard enough to look for Jesus, He would have found Him!

Men with a sick paralyzed friend looked for Jesus and even broke a roof of the building where Jesus had a meeting, and eventually they found Jesus. Blind Bartemaus kept shouting until he found Jesus. A woman with the issue of blood sneaked in through a tight crowd and she found Jesus. If Herod really wanted to see Jesus, he would have found Him, the problem is he tried but he didn’t put much effort.

Jairus the rule of the Synagogue found Jesus. Nichodemus found Jesus at night. How could Herod a king fail to get Jesus for three years of Jesus’s ministry? Herod tried, but he didn’t try hard enough.

John 12:20-21 (NIV) – 20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

Wisemen from the east found baby Jesus. Greeks who came seeking Jesus and inquired from Philip found Jesus. How could a king of Judea where Jesus was operating from fail to see Jesus for so long? Herod tried, but he didn’t try hard enough.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 (NIV) – 13 You will seek me and find me WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART. 14 I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

Seeking is not enough, you must seek with all your heart. If you are looking for God and His favor, do not look for God like Herod looked for Jesus. Herod tried but he didn’t try hard enough. You will only find God if you looking for Him with all your heart.

Examine yourself, have you tried or you have tried hard enough? Have you looked for God with all your heart? Is erratic church attendance hard enough? Is a prayer life that is inconsistent hard enough? Is a whole week without Bible study hard enough? Is a technical appearance in church without involvement, is that hard enough?

Is hypocrisy looking for God hard enough? When you live a life that is partly biblical and partly opposed to the Bible – is that looking for God with all your heart? God spoke through Jeremiah and made it clear that He can only be found if we seek Him with all our hearts. Trying is not enough, we must try hard enough.

May God save us from pretending that we are looking for Him yet we are not doing it hard enough. May we seek God with all our hearts and not like Herod. May we find God as those who sought Him found Him and were blessed. May our lives change for the better when we find God even today. In Jesus name, Amen!

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