But Herod said, "John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?"
And he kept trying to see him.
We need more than the mere curiosity about Jesus which Herod has. His curiosity is unable to move him to truly and sincerely try to discover who Jesus is. He searches on the surface. But coming to Jesus necessitates moving beyond preconceptions and worldly categories. It is always deeply self-reflective. One must inquire from as a humble seeker and not as a bored king.
When we're bored we are at risk of doing dumb things to try to amuse ourselves. We are not necessarily in a good place to seek after God. Yet our boredom itself can help direct us toward God if we see it in its proper perspective.
Nothing is new under the sun.
Even the thing of which we say, "See, this is new!"
has already existed in the ages that preceded us.
From boredom we can arrive at a longing for something truly new. This newness can be found only in Jesus.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come (see Second Corinthians 5:17).
Perhaps it is this newness that Herod dimly suspected might be found in Jesus. But he did not inquire sincerely enough to open his heart to the answer. The comforts of the palace and the illusions of power dulled him to his need for that answer. It was just one more pursuit of entertainment among many others. Had he prayed the prayer of the psalmist he might have fared better.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
This prayer helps us move beyond boredom toward the newness that God offers. It helps us not to be satisfied with anything less.
Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
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