When Knowing About Jesus Isn’t Enough
Christmas is often viewed through familiar lenses – the manger, shepherds, and wise men. But what happens when we pull back the camera and examine Christmas from a perspective most of us would rather avoid? Today, we’re looking at Christmas through the eyes of those who should have been first in line to worship Jesus, yet somehow missed Him entirely.
The Religious Leaders Who Missed the Messiah
In Matthew 2, we encounter a troubling scene. Jesus has already been born in Bethlehem, and a supernatural star announces His arrival. Wise men from the East recognize the significance and travel hundreds of miles to worship this newborn King. When they arrive in Jerusalem asking, “Where is he who has been born King of the Jews?” the entire city becomes troubled.
King Herod calls together the chief priests and scribes – the Bible experts of their day. These weren’t pagans or atheists; they were the people who had studied the law, knew every prophet, and lived in the temple their whole lives. When asked where the Christ was to be born, they immediately quoted Micah 5:2 without hesitation: “In Bethlehem of Judah.”
The Tragedy of Being Close but Missing Jesus
Here’s what makes this story so heartbreaking: the wise men took that answer and immediately started walking to Bethlehem. The religious leaders who gave the correct answer? They went back to their everyday lives. Not one person from Jerusalem, despite being only six miles away from the literal glory of God walking on earth – chose to make the journey.
How Close Were They Really?
Six miles. At a walking pace of 2-3 miles per hour, that’s roughly a two-hour walk. The religious leaders of Israel were two hours away from kneeling before the Son of God, two hours from seeing prophecy fulfilled, two hours from joining the wise men in worship. But they never took the first step.
Why Do People Miss Jesus Despite Knowing About Him?
1. Religiously Informed but Spiritually Unmoved
The scribes knew the prophecy and could quote it perfectly, but they never turned information into invitation. You can sit in sermons for years, underline verses in your Bible, post scriptures on social media, and pray daily while still never actually moving when Jesus calls your name.
As Jesus said in John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” The Bible is a signpost pointing to Jesus, not a replacement for Him. You can stand beside the sign and still miss the destination.
2. Too Comfortable to Move
Jerusalem was the religious center. The temple was there, their positions were there, their routines were established. Bethlehem was just a small town with no palace, no crowd, no recognition. To go to Bethlehem meant leaving comfort, routine, and importance.
Sometimes we don’t move not because we don’t know, but because we’re too comfortable. We like Jesus as long as He fits into our schedule and doesn’t require us to change anything.
3. Politically Entangled and Fear-Driven
King Herod was paranoid and violent, known for killing his own family members to protect his throne. The religious leaders were standing before him quoting prophecy about another king being born just down the road. If they expressed interest in worshiping this new king, Herod might not appreciate it.
Fear of losing favor with earthly authorities kept them from finding their heavenly Savior. How often do we stay put because we’re afraid of what people will think, what our family might say, or what following Jesus might cost us?
The Difference Between Religion and Relationship
Are You a Hearer or a Doer?
James 1:22 warns us: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” The religious leaders looked in the mirror of prophecy, saw Bethlehem, heard about the King, and then walked away unchanged.
Following vs. Knowing About
Jesus never invited people to pray a prayer and return to normal. He said “Follow Me.” He called for daily cross-bearing and abiding in Him. John 15:4 reminds us that just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it remains connected to the vine, we cannot bear spiritual fruit unless we abide in Jesus.
He’s not talking about checking off a weekly religious checklist. He’s talking about living with Him, doing life with Him, having a daily relationship with Him.
The Heart of the Matter: Do You Know Jesus or Just Know About Him?
Address vs. Relationship
The scribes had Jesus’s address memorized – they could tell you exactly where He was supposed to be born, complete with chapter and verse. But they never walked the six miles to actually meet Him.
Many of us have Jesus’s “address” memorized. We know where to find Him in the Bible, what songs talk about Him, what He’s supposed to be like. But our feet have never actually followed Him. We talk about Jesus like a name on a page instead of a friend in our heart.
Questions for Self-Examination
Are you in love with Jesus, or just in love with not going to hell?
Do you know who He really is, or just some facts about Him?
Do you spend time with Him to check off a box, or because He’s your best friend?
Do you actually enjoy being with Jesus?
The Invitation to Relationship
Revelation 3:20 shows us Jesus’s heart: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
This isn’t religion – this is Jesus saying He doesn’t just want you to know His story or memorize verses about Him. He wants to sit at your table, come into your house, be with your family every day. He wants to dine with you and build a life together.
Life Application
This Christmas, the challenge isn’t to learn more about Jesus – it’s to actually walk with Him. Stop relying on a prayer you once prayed or a tradition you grew up with, and start building a daily relationship with the living Savior.
The wise men didn’t travel hundreds of miles to agree with doctrine; they traveled to fall at His feet. The shepherds didn’t sprint to the manger to check off a religious box; they ran because they wanted to see their King.
This week, ask yourself:
Am I staying in Jerusalem with just a memory of something I once prayed, or am I willing to walk to Bethlehem and build a life with Jesus?
What comfort, routine, or fear is keeping me from taking steps toward a deeper relationship with Christ?
How can I move from being a hearer of God’s word to being a doer who actually follows Jesus daily?
Don’t be someone who had all the right answers but never made the journey. Don’t let the saddest words in hell be “I was so close, but I never went.” Jesus is still calling people to follow Him – not just to know about Him, but to know Him personally and walk with Him every day.