Scripture: Luke 19:1-10
Jesus and the Tax Collector
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Observation:
The whole theme of Luke’s Gospel can be summarized in one verse: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) Jesus, who is the Son of Man from Daniel 7:13, came on a mission from his Father God, to seek and to save that which was lost.
Application:
What the Pharisees failed to comprehend was the profound Love of God, capable of reaching even those deemed unreachable. Furthermore, the Pharisees appeared unable to recognize their own need for salvation, failing to see that they too were among the lost. For all have sinned and short of the Glory God.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your love of us and for your search for us because even our faith is a gift from God so that no one can boast. Grant us the faith that moves mountains and grow us in your love and grace that we might recognize our own need for your salvation. Then allow us to share with others what you have done for us. Amen.