“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10
Jesus spoke these words in the house of Zacchaeus, the short-statured, mean-spirited tax collector whose life Jesus transformed. As Jesus walked through the streets of Jericho he had an appointment with Zacchaeus, only Zacchaeus didn’t realise it.
We read in the story that Zacchaeus had climbed a sycamore tree to get a glimpse of the passing Messiah and to everyone’s surprise Jesus stopped, looked up at the social pariah and told him to get down from the tree quickly as Jesus was going to stay in his house.
I love the reaction of the crowd, “He is gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner” (v.7). They were right – he was a sinner, he had made himself rich by stealing money from others yet here Jesus was sitting in his house.
Are you looking for Jesus today? You won’t find Him in religious service. You won’t find Him in self-important legalism. You will find Him where He said He would be – seeking and saving the lost. In the place of brokenness, in emptiness Jesus brings life and fullness.
He isn’t looking for those who think they are good enough by their own works but for people like you and me – people whose only hope is that Jesus by His grace will find us where we are and bring us life and salvation just like He did to Zacchaeus.