Do you know what the first question asked in the Old Testament is? How about the first question in the New Testament?
Old Testament
Adam and Eve had just eaten from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They knew they were naked and sewed themselves aprons of fig leaves to cover themselves. They hid from God amongst the trees. Then God came walking in the garden in the cool of the day looking for them. Genesis 3:9 states, “And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?”
“Where art thou?” is the first question in the Old Testament. It is from God seeking the sinner, man.
New Testament
The town of Bethlehem was about 6 miles south of Jerusalem. Wise men traveling from the east had followed a bright star that led them to enter Jerusalem. They were looking for a child that was born “King of the Jews” and asked around where this child could be found. Hearing this news troubled the current king, King Herod. He sent for these wise men and asked them to search for the child and report back to him where this child was living. The king’s interest was not an innocent inquiry, for he wanted to kill the child. Thankfully these wise men did not report back to Herod after finding the newborn king.
Matthew 2:2 says, “… Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”
“Where is he …?” is the New Testament first question. It is from man the sinner, seeking God.
God and Man
In the first question God is seeking the sinner, man, “Where are you?” In the second question man, the sinner is seeking God, “Where is he?” In Genesis 3:10 God finds man, who has disobeyed God, which is a sin. A separation from God results because righteousness (goodness) and disobedience (wickedness) cannot co-exist. Adam and Eve are thus expelled from the garden of Eden, in what we call “the Fall.”
After a long time estranged from God, man is still seeking to be reunited with God. Through the newborn child Jesus, born King of the Jews, the Christ, the Messiah; humanity is shown the way to become reunited with God again. When we come to know Jesus, we are no longer estranged or separated from God.
Reunited
We belong together, God and his prized creation, man. Through Jesus, reunification with our God is now possible. Man has access to God once again. In John 19:30 Jesus proclaimed this to be so with his last words on the cross, “It is finished.” Man is no longer separated from God. Man no longer had to go through the Priests and the Law to seek and find God. Jesus finished the reuniting process. Now it is through Jesus Christ we are brought back together with our God.
God seeks sinner, sinner seeks God. God seeks man, man seeks God. Through Jesus, both are found! — vkw
