The Seeking Savior

Introduction

Google Maps sending Denver passengers onto muddy road.

Stories of people coming to camp.

Luke 19:1–10 NASB95

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. 3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. 7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

1. Jesus is identifying our lostness.

You may say, “I’m not lost! I know exactly where I am!”

1. The object of the Seeking Savior.

Do you really?

We see that Jesus was passing through Jericho. He was passing through this town on the way to Jerusalem to be arrested, tried, convicted, and crucified on a cross.

Even though He is going to His death, Jesus is still about His earthly ministry.

He stops and ministers to Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus was a real man who had a real need of a Savior. He is just like every other human.

A. Like Zacchaeus, everyone fails to measure up to God’s standard.

Romans 3:23 NASB95

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

We may measure up to other humans, but that is not the standard that God has for us. We must measure ourselves to God’s standard. We all fall short and do not deserve a relationship with God much less to go to heaven when we die.

B. Like Zacchaeus, we are seeking something to fill the void in our life.

Even in the 1st Century world, Zacchaeus was successful, despite his profession. Being a tax collector is about like being a politician today; a necessary evil.

Zacchaeus had a stable, profitable career. He had friends. He may have even had a family. Yet, he was still empty.

Some of us are a lot like Zacchaeus. Some of us wish we could be as successful as Him. However, whether you are successful or not, you will never be satisfied with the things of this world.

You will continue to have an itch in your soul. I’m here to tell you only Jesus can satisfy that itch.

Some of you might say, “I’m happy where I’m at. My life is good.”

Do you realize that God has an even better place for you?

2. The purpose of God is sending the Seeking Savior to the world.

Illus: Six Flags vs. Disney World.

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

3. Will you respond to the rescue mission for you?

We know sin is disobedience to God.

Sin is also not being where God wants us to be.

Conclusion

The original language of this verse gives us a picture of an archer missing his mark, not hitting the bulls eye.

God’s desire, God’s plan is for you to be in a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. If you are not there, you are missing the mark. You are lost.

You are on a wrong road following Google Maps.

2. Jesus came to seek the lost

That was a part of His mission, His purpose in coming here.

; Parable of the Lost sheep

1 Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. 2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them." 3 So He told them this parable, saying, 4 "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost !' 7 "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 "When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost !' 7 "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Satan will lie to us and tell us that we are ok with God where we are.

Religious Leaders of Jesus day thought they were right in God’s

eyes.

Most people today, think they are ok in God’s eyes.

Most people believe in God.

Many people have a religion.

Most people are good, moral people.

Jesus came to tell us that we are missing the mark with God.

Our best cannot get us to the table with God. It can’t even get us on the same planet.

Jesus came to help the world understand that God requires perfection before we come to Him.

, NLT

6 We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.

Perfection? Well there is no way for me to be perfect. Absolutely right.

However, when we trust Jesus to save us from our sin and allow Him to be our Savior and Lord, God sees us through Jesus.

, NLT

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

3. Jesus came to save the lost.

Everything that Jesus did while He walked the earth led up to His death on the cross and His resurrection.

Why did He come?

He came to live a sinless life. He was perfect when we could

not be.

He came to show us God’s love, mercy, and judgment.

He came to pay for our sins on the cross.

He came to defeat the penalty of our sin be rising again.

He came to offer us a relationship with God through

Him.

He came to save the lost.

God does not want us following Google Maps to Him. He wants us to reach out to Jesus who is seeking us. He allowed Jesus to come here, live here, die on the cross here, and come back to life here so that we can be in a relationship with God.

The only way we get to where God wants us to be is by putting our full faith and trust in Jesus and Him alone.

10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly. 11 "I am the good shepherd ; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

, NLT

21 "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as 'Lord,' but they still won't enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.

Conclusion

So today, do you realize that you are lost and that Jesus is looking for you?

Could it be today, that Jesus has found you and is reaching out His hand to you?

The question is, “Will you take His hand?”

You may have trusted Jesus a long time ago but have not lived for Him in a very long time.

Remember that God is a God of Judgment, but also a God of

grace and mercy.

He is the Father on the porch that is waiting for His child to

come home. Are you ready to come home today?