Saving the Lost (Good Friday) – Luke’s Gospel chapter 19 verses 1 to 10
Zacchaeus 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.’
Luke 19:1-10 New International Version – UK (NIVUK) Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Cost of Living
A big issue in the recent state election – the cost of living, making ends meet, and no surprises there. Of course money is important, and a good servant, but it makes a lousy master. Here we have the story of a rich man who became a changed man after meeting the Son of Man.
A Rich Man
But he was despised by his neighbours, for he worked for the Roman invaders. A life lived getting rich at others’ expense. Riches was a problem. Another problem – he wanted to see Jesus but was short, and couldn’t see over the crowd.
A Changed Man
“Come down, I must stay at your house today!” He welcomes Jesus gladly. Money is no longer a big deal for him, and he gives more than half of his away to help others.
The Son of Man
Zacchaeus was seeking to see Jesus, but better, Jesus was seeking him. Not to condemn, but to save (passing through Jericho He was on his way to the cross. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
