Luke chapter 19. For just a few minutes this evening,
I'd like for us to look at these first 10 verses of Luke 19. And the title of the message
can be found in verse 10. For the Son of Man has come to
seek and to save that which was lost. Let's look at this passage
of scripture together, beginning in verse one. Here we read that
Jesus entered and he passed through Jericho. The first thing that we need
to see here, often Zacchaeus gets much credit
for seeking the Lord. Our Lord was on the trail of
Zacchaeus long before Zacchaeus sought the Lord. Here he goes. He's passing through Jericho
seeking Zacchaeus. He's gonna find one of his sheep. We also see that he passed through
Jericho. He passed through Jericho. Not recorded here a word of mercy,
not here recorded a word of grace, a word of salvation, not for
any, but for one, for Zacchaeus, for Zacchaeus. God's distinguishing
grace, God's love for one of his sheep. And as we find one
here in Luke back in the Old Testament, We read of that one,
that one that the Lord was pleased to show mercy to. When Jericho
was destroyed, Rahab, hanging that scarlet line out the window,
God was merciful to her, saved her and her family. God's distinguishing
grace. Verse two, and behold, there was a man named
Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus, which was chief among
the publicans, he was rich. Here we're introduced to Zacchaeus. First we read that he was chief
among the publicans. He was a rich man. Zacchaeus
was a sinner. Zacchaeus was a sinner. Our Lord,
speaking of one who was exceptionally wicked, he said this, he said,
let him be as a heathen man and as a publican, as a publican. And again, we read Zacchaeus
was a rich man. We read this, that it's easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle and for a rich man to enter into
the kingdom of heaven. And if we read on in this text,
we'll see this. We'll see the people of the town,
they got upset when our Lord went to his house because he
was a notorious sinner. Zacchaeus has got three strikes
against him, doesn't he? He's got one, sin. He's a sinner. But you see that? Is there any
hope? Is there any hope for Zacchaeus? Is there any hope for me? Is
there any hope for us? No case is too hard for our God,
is there? No case is too hard for him. Verse three, and he
sought Zacchaeus. He sought to see Jesus, who he
was. And he could not for the press,
because he was little stature. And he ran before and he climbed
up into a sycamore tree to see him. For he was to pass that
way. Here we see the Spirit of God
directing Zacchaeus to that place. His steps, as one of God's sheep,
his steps are ordered of God. He's going to take him right
where he needs to be. That sycamore tree, I got to
thinking about that sycamore tree. We've got some land, and
Dale and Jackie have got a hillside, and we all take turns mowing
it, but every year, there are these little shoots pop up, little
oak trees pop up through the ground. We run over those with
a lawn mower or weed eater, and don't give a second thought about
it. But I thought, that sycamore
tree, how many years did it grow? The Lord planted that tree. How
many years did it grow until it was time for Zacchaeus? Nothing
gonna happen, that's a sycamore tree, nothing's gonna happen
until Zacchaeus climbs up in that tree. The Lord's gonna pass
by. The Lord's gonna come to that
place. He worked with all things after
the counsel of his own will. All things, even a sycamore tree. We've got sycamore trees growing
all over the place. We don't know what, but there's something
about that one in there. That's the place. That's the
place. All things work together for
good to them that love God, to them that are called according
to his purpose. Verse five, let's read on. And
when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and he saw him. And he said unto him, Zacchaeus,
make haste and come down for today. I must, I must abide at
thy house. He came to the place, God knowing
all things. He knows where men dwell. He
knows the time and which and the place in which he'll call
them. You know, he came to Peter. He
came to James. He came to John. He came to the
woman at the well. He sent Philip to that eunuch.
And the list could just go on and on, on and on. And he came
to that place. He came to that place where Zacchaeus
was and he looked up and he saw him, he called him, he called
him by his name, Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus. That's how our Lord
calls his sheep. He calls them by name. He calls them by name. He's known
Zacchaeus as he's known his sheep from everlasting. His name written
in the book of life, Zacchaeus, given to Christ by the Father.
And all those, just like Zacchaeus, whom Christ gave to the Father,
who Christ was given to, gave to Christ by the Father, not
one will be lost. Not one. And he tells Zacchaeus
this. He says, make haste. Make haste. Don't delay. Don't delay. I was thinking of those cities
of refuge back in the Old Testament. I cannot imagine that somebody
would have been just walking to the city of refuge. There's
a sense of urgency here and there. There's safety there. There's
life there. Zacchaeus, make haste. He said,
make haste. Come down. Come down. Humble yourself. lay everything down, come to
him. He said, for this day, this day,
I must abide in thy house. There's nothing iffy about that,
is there? He said, I must, I must abide in your house. Well, what's Zacchaeus' response
here? Look at verse six. And he made,
he made haste and he came down and he received him joyfully. That's good instruction, isn't
it? Make haste. Make haste to Christ, our refuge.
There's righteousness, there's peace, there's pardon, there's
life, there's salvation in Him and Him alone. Make haste. Make haste to Him. And when they
saw it, verse 7, when the people saw it, they all murmured, saying,
He's going to be a guest with a man that's a sinner. These Pharisees, these religious
Pharisees, they murmured that Christ would be guest to a sinner. Well, that's what Christ came
to do. First Timothy 1.15 says this,
this is a faithful saying. and worthy of all acceptation,
that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom
I'm the chief. And hear the Lord. Paul says,
I'm the chief of sinners, and hear the Lord's gonna save the
chief of the publicans. They may have murmured, those
folks may have murmured, but you listen. We read earlier in
verse six, Zacchaeus He received him joyfully, with great joy. Look at Luke, just turn back
a few pages to chapter 15, verse 10. Those around murmured with Zacchaeus. He received him joyfully. Look
at verse 10 of Luke 15. Likewise I say unto you, there's
joy. joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner
that repenteth." Oh, there's reason to rejoice here, great
reason to rejoice. Look back in our text, verse
8, and Zacchaeus stood and he said, he said unto the Lord,
You know, something's obviously changed here because he was seeking
a man named Jesus earlier on, but now he seeks the Lord. He calls him Lord. Zacchaeus
stood and he said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, half my goods I
give to the poor, and if I've taken anything from any man by
false accusation, I restore unto him fourfold. Here we see evidence Christ dwells
in this man. Christ dwells in Zacchaeus. Evidence of salvation. You know,
there was a, in chapter 18, that rich young ruler, he asked, what
great thing can I do? What can I do to inherit eternal
life? And our Lord told him, he said,
you obey the commandments. And he said, well, I've done
that for my youth. What else you got for me? What's
left? And he says, you go and sell everything you have, and
you give it to the poor. He went away sad, didn't he?
He went away sad. But listen, Zacchaeus, he's rejoicing. He's repenting. He's restoring
that which he had taken, not to do some great work to be saved,
but a result of God's grace in the heart. He's a new man. He's a new man. Let's read on
in our text. Verse nine, and Jesus said unto
him, this day is salvation come to thy house for so much as he
also is a son of Abraham. This day, this day is salvation
come to thy house. The Lord Jesus Christ He took our sin upon himself
as our surety, as our substitute. He bore the wrath of God, allowing
God to be both just and justifier of those that are lost, even
a great sinner like Zacchaeus. You know any great sinners? You
familiar with any great sinners? Any that are lost? I find good news in verse 10. I find great news in verse 10.
Let's look at this just quickly here, just for a few minutes.
Let's look at verse 10. For the Son of Man is come to
seek and to save that which was lost. First we read here of the Son
of Man. Our Lord declares Himself as
the Son of Man. Think of the many names he could
have referred to himself as. I just jotted a few down. In the Scriptures, he's referred
to as a true God. He's referred to as the Eternal
Son of God. He's the Messiah. He's the Savior. He's the Lord our Righteousness.
He's our Prophet. He's our Priest. He's our King.
He's our wisdom, He's our righteousness, our sanctification, our redemption. I think how men get hung up on
titles, but here, here He says, the Son of Man, the Son of Man. Our Lord over in Matthew 23,
He spoke to the people and He said this, He said to the scribes
and the Pharisees, He said, they like to sit at Moses' seat. Turn
over there. Turn to Matthew 23. Then spake Jesus to the multitude
and his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees, they
sit at Moses' seat. Therefore whatsoever they bid
you to observe, that observe and do, but do not ye after their
works. For they say, and they do not.
They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on
men's shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of
their fingers. All their works they do to be seen of men. They
make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their
garments. They love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief
seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and
to be called of men rabbi, rabbi. Be not ye called rabbi, for one
is your master, even Christ, and all your brethren. Call no
man your father upon the earth, for one is your father, which
is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters,
for one is your master, even Christ. He that's greatest among
you shall be your servant. Men like titles, but he says,
I'm the son of man, the son of man. Turn with me to some more
scriptures here. of Philippians 2. Philippians
2. Look beginning there in verse
5. Philippians 2. Let this mind
be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the
form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with He is God. But he made himself of no reputation,
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness
of man, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name
which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, things in heaven, things in earth, things under
the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord. To the glory of God the Father. Some more scriptures. You know
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet
for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might
be rich. In John 1.14 we read that the
Word was made flesh. The Word was made flesh and dwelt
among us. And we beheld His glory as the
glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and
truth. He's the Son of Man. The Son
of Man. Our Lord called Himself the Son
of Man when He spoke of His death on the cross. He said this, He
said, as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, Even
so, must the Son of Man be lifted up. Now back to our text, Luke 19,
verse 10, the Son of Man, what did He do? He came to seek and
He came to save. He came with a purpose. He came
to do something. He came to seek and to save. When the angel of the Lord appeared
unto Joseph, the angel spoke unto him and said this. He said,
Mary's going to have a son. You call his name Jesus, for
he shall save his people from their sin. He came to seek and he came to
save. You know, this scripture doesn't
say he came to seek and make men savable. That's not what
that says, is it? It doesn't say that he came to
seek and let men, if they wanted to, accept him. It doesn't say
he came to help men save themselves. It doesn't say he came to seek
and save those that would stand up and walk up front and shake
the preacher's hand. It says this, he came to seek
And He came to save. He came to save the Lord Jesus
Christ, the Son of Man. He came to seek and to save. Through His death, through His
substitutionary work, man contributes nothing. Nothing. He is the only
Savior of sinners. Turn with me to Acts chapter
4. Acts chapter 4. Let's read the first 12 verses
here of Acts chapter 4. And as they spake unto the people,
the priests and the captains of the temple and the Sadducees
came upon them. and being grieved, being grieved. Kind of sounds like those people
when the Lord went to Zacchaeus' house, didn't it? The people
being grieved that they taught the people and preached through
Jesus the resurrection from the dead. They laid hands on them
and put them on hold until the next day, and it was now even
time. How many of them which heard the word, they believed.
And the number of them was about 5,000. It came to pass on the
morrow that the rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high
priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as
were the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together
at Jerusalem. And when they had set him in
the midst, they asked him, by what power, by what name, have
you done this? And then Peter. filled with the
Holy Ghost, he said unto them, ye rulers of the people, and
elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed
done to this impotent man, by what means is he made whole,
be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel,
that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified,
whom God raised from the dead, even by him did this man stand
before you whole. This is the stone which was set
at nought, of you builders, which has become the head of the corner,
verse 12, neither is there salvation in any other. For there is none
other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must, there's
that word again, must be saved, must be saved. He's the only
savior of sinners. Neither is there salvation in
any other. None other name given among men whereby we must be
saved. He's the sovereign savior. He
can save me. He can pass me by. He can give
me life or he can withhold it. In Luke, we read of that leper.
We read that he was, not only he was full of leprosy, full
of leprosy, just as we're full of sin. And he fell at the Lord's
feet and he said this, Lord, if thou wilt, if thou wilt, thou
canst make me clean. I have no merit. I have no worth. There's nothing in me to commend
me to you. He put forth his hand and he
touched him. And he said this, he said, be
thou clean. And immediately, immediately,
the leprosy was departed from him. The Son of Man came to seek
and to save. I was thinking about this. Dale
preached down in Crossville, it's been a few months back,
but We got down there Saturday night
and Sunday morning we got up and our room was looking out
over a kind of a field in a parking lot. And there was a policeman
there and he had a dog. And we thought maybe they were
just training a dog or something. You know, the dog walked back
and forth, walked back, had his nose to the ground back and forth.
And we watched for, you know, kind of got interested and watched.
And people in the parking lots around, People were going out
to their cars, they got interested. After a while, kind of lost interest
and went back and tying a tie and trying to find a jacket to
put on. But every now and then you'd go back over and there
that dog was, just still going back and forth, back and forth. Eventually, this fella popped
up out of a ditch, and those policemen jumped on him, and
next thing we saw, he was going out through the field with his
arms tucked up behind his back. That dog was just relentless
until he found that, and found that man. But even that's a poor
example, because Our Lord knows where we're at. He knows where
his sheep are. And he goes to them. And not only does he seek, but
he saves them. He saves his people. He's merciful
to his people. And listen, he'll get every one
of them. He'll get every one of them. He'll not fail nor be
discouraged. You know, you little ones and
us, I think all of us have played hide and seek at some point in
time, but when we do that, I know what happens. Usually after about
five minutes, somebody says, I give up. That's how we are, isn't it?
Just a little bit of time, we give up. But the Lord, when he
seeks his sheep, he'll find every one of them. You'll find everyone. Turn to
John chapter 6. John chapter 6. Look, beginning with verse 37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me. shall come
to me, and him that cometh to me I'll in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven not
to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. This
is the Father's will which has sent me, all which he's given
me. I'll lose nothing. I'll lose
nothing but should raise it up again at the last day. The Son of Man. The Son of Man
came to seek and to save. And then we see who. Who did
the Son of Man come to seek and save? Here's our third point. That
which was lost. That which was lost. Few people
in our day are lost. There's little preaching in so-called religion about lost
people, about men won't declare man's lost condition. So-called
preachers have refused to declare man's, our sinful condition before
Almighty God. When Adam fell, when Adam fell,
every son of Adam fell with him. God's word declares that we are
dead. dead in trespasses and sin. We're lost. We're lost. I'll pick on the men for just
a second. And I hope you ladies will defend
me afterwards. But how many times have you been
driving somewhere and your wife or maybe one of the kids say,
Dad, where are we? What do we say? I decided to
take a different route today. I thought this would be a little
more, am I the only one that's ever happened to? Even when we
are lost, we won't admit it, will we? We won't admit it. Our arrogance won't let us do
it. Our ignorance won't let us do
it. Our self-righteousness won't
let us admit that we're lost. Well, before Almighty God, we've
done far worse than taking a wrong turn. We're dead, dead in trespasses
and sin. We've sinned against Almighty
God. We've disobeyed him. David said
this, he said, he said this, he said, against thee and thee
only have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight. We're sinners
by birth, we're sinners by choice, we're sinners by practice. In
Romans 6.23, the wages of sin, we know it, don't we? The wages
of sin is death. And if God's pleased to reveal
that to us, we'll know this. I have no righteousness. I have
no hope. I'm dead, dead in trespasses
and sin. I'm a sinner. And if he doesn't
seek me out, come to me, bring him to himself and save me. I'll
be forever lost. I'll die in my sin. Well, are you lost? I pray that God would reveal
to each and every one of us our lost condition, that we might
cry out like that publican of old, God be merciful. God be merciful to me, to me
the sinner. Well, let's look at this verse
one more time in Luke 19, verse 10. For the Son of Man, the Son of
Man, He came to seek and He came to save that which was lost. All right, Brother Mike.