Nor is the search for Jesus that is inspired by mere curiosity likely to be a success.  There are many people who are curious about religion, and they want to know why we believe thus and so; and particularly why we act as we do.  Why do you keep this day?  What do you mean by this ceremony?  Do you think that it is wrong to do this or that?  Such people wander about observing; but their observation we understand is the observation of an idler who does not expect to be influenced by what he observes, but only to be amused.  These are they who run after the latest thing in heresy, the newest thing in thought.  What is observable about them is that they never seriously contemplate doing anything themselves.  They are like those multitudes who followed our Lord about for awhile but were dispersed by the test of hard sayings.

But Jesus can be found.  He is found of all those who seek Him humbly and sincerely, putting away self and desiring simply to be led:  who do not challenge Him with Pilate’s scornful, “What is truth?” but rather say, “Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief.”  He is easily found of those who know where to look for Him.  There is no mystery about that,—­He will certainly be in His Father’s House.  The surprise of Joseph and Mary that He had thus dealt with them is answered by Jesus’ surprise that they did not certainly know where He would be:  “Wist ye not that I must be in My Father’s House?”

In the House of God, the Church of God, is the ready approach to Jesus.  It is in the last degree foolish to waive aside the Church in which are stored the treasures of more than nineteen centuries of Christian experience as though it did and could have nothing to say in the matter.  A seeker after information as to the meaning of the constitution of the United States would be considered a madman if he impatiently turned from those of whom he made enquiry when they suggested the decrees of the Supreme Court as the proper place to seek information.  Surely, from any point of view, the Church will know more about Jesus than any one else:  if in all the centuries it has not discovered the meaning of Him Whom it ceaselessly worships there is small likelihood that that meaning will be discovered by an unbeliever studying an ancient book!  If the Church cannot lead us to Jesus, and if it cannot interpret to us His will, there is small likelihood that any one else will be able to do so.  And if during all these centuries His will has been unknown it can hardly be of much importance to discover it now.  If His Church has failed, then His Mission is discredited.