And our journey through it.
Seeking Jesus
Good morning, Church. I have a daily devotional calendar that my brother always gives me at the beginning of each new year. I try to read it with the other devotionals I read in my quiet time with the Lord in the mornings. God Blesses me with words and thoughts in this way. Lately I’ve been more into the Word through these small verses on the Christian calendar. Today the small verse came from Luke 19:10, a well quoted verse I already knew, but I wanted to know more about what was happening when Jesus spoke those words. I was curious and wanted more enlightenment from the Word. As soon as I turned to the passage I knew from past readings what the verse was about, I still wanted more—to refresh what I had read many times and maybe a new insight into God’s Word. The verse was:
“for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Now, I believe every Christian knows why Jesus came to this world in a fleshly form; as the well used quote goes, “To save the lost at any cost.” Which is our roll in God’s Plan too, and because Jesus was our example, it is our goal also.
Let’s go back to the Word and see what is happening. The sub-title what Pastor Hagee puts before chapter 19 is: Christ Abides with Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and very rich, so he was not well liked by some of the people who disliked his job and him for doing his job. Let’s read on:
Luke 19: 3-4
“And he (Zacchaeus) sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.”
Can you picture that Church? This dignified “rich” man was so intent on seeing Jesus he climbed a tree!
Pastor Hagee put a reference number by the words “see who Jesus was” in verse 3. So I went to John 12:21 to see for myself what was said there. It was the ‘triumphal entry of Jesus’ into Jerusalem where all the people were honoring Him and saying He was ’The King of Israel’; which in turn really upset the Pharisees in their quest to kill Jesus.
John 12:19
“The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, ‘You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look the world has gone after Him!” Praise God! The reference verse in 21 tells how even certain Greeks were seeking Philip to ask, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Everyone was seeking Jesus.
Now back to Luke 19 verses 5-6:
“And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he hurried and came down, and received Him joyfully.”
But this upset the people who were with Jesus because He was going to be a ‘guest with a man who is a sinner’! Upset by the peoples grumblings, Zacchaeus spoke to Jesus Himself and this is what he said:
Luke 19:8
“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from anyone by false accusation, I restore four-fold.” (Exodus 22:1)
Even though Zacchaeus was a tax collector, who were notorious for cheating people, he was a fair person and followed the laws of the land and God. Of course Jesus already knew this but the people didn’t. So this is how Jesus answered Zacchaeus:
Luke 19:9-10
“And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house because he also is a son of Abraham; “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Matthew 18:11; Luke 9:56)
If Zacchaeus had not been fervently seeking Jesus his house would not have been saved. Think about it Church, the more we REALLY seek Jesus (ourselves) the more He allows us to find through Him—Salvation--the thing that is above ANY OTHER thing for man-kind to find. Glory to God!
Saints, are we really and truly seeking Jesus or are we playing a part for others to see? God is the Only One Who really knows and sees our hearts. Let’s not be the fool, Church---let’s seek with ALL our hearts The One Who is our Life, Light, and Salvation, Jesus Christ The Son of God.
How? By:
Trusting and Believing in God’s Love for us.
All scriptures are from: New King James Version of Prophecy Study Bible, General Editor- John C. Hagee unless otherwise stated.