In this passage, we can see clearly the mission of Christ on earth in Luke 19:10 is to Seek and to Save those that were lost to the enemy. There are several passages in the bible where Jesus had indicated his purpose. One of such is also in Matt. 18:11. In the story of creation, we read about how Adam and Eve lost the dominion given to them to Satan and were eventually banished from the presence of God. Genesis 3:23-24.
The word 'Seek' is to go in search or quest of; to try to find or discover by searching while the word 'Save' is to rescue from danger or possible harm, injury, or less, or to keep safe, intact, or unhurt or to keep from being lost to an opponent. So, from the meaning of these two words, we can see that Christ was on a mission to search and to rescue from the opponent that which was lost to the devil.
The bible passage gave us an understanding of who Zacchaeus was. We are told that he was a chief tax-collector residing in Jericho and a descendant of Abraham according to Luke 19:1 and Luke 19: 9. He was a tax collector for the Roman Empire and not for the Jewish community. He was despised and tagged as a traitor and a corrupt person.
In Luke 19:3-4 of the passage, we are told that Zacchaeus sought to see who Jesus was? But due to his little stature and the multitudes of people around Jesus, he could not see Jesus. Instead, he did not allow his obstacle from denying him from seeing Jesus. The bible said that he climbed up into a Sycamore tree to see him for Jesus was to pass that way. Due to his insistence, the bible said that when Jesus got to where Zacchaeus was, He looked up, and saw Zacchaeus and He told him to make haste and come down because He Christ must abide in Zacchaeus's house that day. The rest of the story was that Zacchaeus became the subject of envy by his own people because Jesus has gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner in Luke 19:7. But Zacchaeus immediately quickly quite his accusers by saying he will make a restitution in Luke 19:8 that he would give half of his belongings to the poor and as well pay back four times as much to anyone he had cheated. And in Luke 19:9, Jesus forgave Zacchaeus for the wrong doings he'd done in life and hence Zacchaeus’s soul that had been lost to the devil through sinning was captured back for God's Kingdom.
What can we learn from this story of Zacchaeus?
There are many things to be learnt from this story, but I will be limiting it to the topic of the sermon which is to seek and save the lost.
1. There are many seekers out there trying to know who God is? But the ways and manners they are demonstrating their eagerness to know Him is not according to knowledge. Romans 10:2-4. The story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:3 demonstrated that Zacchaeus has been hearing about Jesus. Meaning, he already has knowledge of who Christ was through several stories he must have heard from people and as a result of that, he sought to see Jesus physically to confirm that knowledge he already had of Him.
2. Those who genuinely wants to be save will also make a move. Zacchaeus in this story made all the moves in ensuring that he is found by Christ by climbing to the tree in Luke 19:4. He defy all obstacles that stood in his way such as his stature, the multitudes of people in ensuring he got a glimpse of Jesus.
3. Those that show eagerness in knowing the Lord Jesus Christ receive grace, pardon and salvation according to Luke 19:9.
In conclusion, the bible in Isaiah 55:6 says "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near". Jesus Christ is beckoning to you right now to save you from your sinful nature. Sinners, I am encouraging you to come to Him now before it is too late because the time is coming when you can no longer be saved again. I, therefore encourage you to take a bold step to reach out to the loving arms of Christ stretch to you before it is too late, so that you might receive forgiveness and be saved from wrath to come.
Let us pray!
Oh Lord God, I pray for the lost soul reading this sermon that henceforth Jesus Christ will lead you and guide you as soon as you make a decision to follow Him now. And, I pray that going forward you will also be fruitful and have compassion for other souls like you that has been lost to seek and save them for the Lord in Jesus Name. Amen!
