Jesus Came to Seek and to Save the Lost

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Jesus Came to Seek and to Save the Lost

Date: Sep. 26, 2023

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.”

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, short, but wealthy. In the course of getting what he wanted, he became a public sinner, who was despised and hated by his people due to his dishonesty and collaboration with Rome. This Zacchaeus came to see Jesus! When he encountered an obstacle of people, he did not give up, but he climbed a sycamore-fig tree and waited to see Jesus. Did Jesus pass him by?

Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Jesus called him by name. Jesus knew all about him, yet he was willing to be a guest of Zacchaeus, a sinner. Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus to his home with joy. This encounter with Jesus changed his life and value system, for he was ready to share his possessions with the poor and compensate 4 times more for his cheating. It was his repentance. Jesus pronounced that he was a son of Abraham, a child of God. Jesus was happy to find Zacchaeus and save him, for he came to seek and to save the lost. Zacchaeus came to see Jesus first, but it was really Jesus who came to seek him and to save him.

Prayer: Prayer Thank you, Jesus, for seeking me a lost sinner to save me. Help me to remember your grace and willingly share the gospel with those who are lost around me.

One Word: One Word: Jesus came to seek and to save the lost

Jacob and Rebekah Deceive Isaac

Genesis 27:1-29

Key Verse: 27:19

Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my game, that your soul may bless me.”

Today's Question

How is the word to be read and heard in order to become effective for salvation?

See answer and references