To Seek and Save the Lost

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

To Seek and Save the Lost

Date: Jul. 30, 2017

Passage

Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 19:10

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

1. The man who wanted to see Jesus (1-4)

As chief tax collector, Zacchaeus had reached the top. But in order to get there, he had crushed many poor people, and he had collaborated with the oppressors of his people. He was short in stature, but aggressive and able. He got what he wanted. But his success had not brought him peace or filled the emptiness in his soul. He had heard that Jesus did not despise sinners and tax collectors, and he wanted to see him. The people of Jericho showed their dislike of Zacchaeus--for no one helped him to see Jesus. So he ran ahead and climbed a tree by faith to see Jesus.

2. "Zacchaeus, come down immediately" (5-10)

Our Messiah Jesus saw Zacchaeus and his small mustard seed of faith. Jesus knew Zacchaeus' name and all about him. He invited himself to Zacchaeus' home. Zacchaeus welcomed him. He was thankful for Jesus' grace and he repented. His repentance was life-changing. Salvation came to his house, for he received Jesus' love and grace by faith. Jesus restored him as a true son of Abraham. This is why the Son of Man had come, to seek and save the lost like Zacchaeus. Likewise, Jesus knows all our selfishness and wickedness, but he does not despise us. Rather, Jesus is seeking all the lost children of God to bring them back to his kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for seeking a lost sinner like me. Help me to live as a repentant sinner, saved by your grace.

One Word: Jesus came to seek and save the lost

Worthy is Jesus the Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14

Key Verse: 5:12

saying with a loud voice,

  “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
  to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
  and honor and glory and blessing!”

Today's Question

What does the fifth commandment forbid?

See answer and references