The Joy of Glory

Luke 19:1-10 (click here)
He entered Jericho and was passing through.

And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

“…the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:1, 5-7, 10)

Reflection
From all outward appearances, Jesus was randomly “passing through” Jericho. Yet once he encounters Zacchaeus, he speaks with the language of divine appointment… “I MUST stay at your house TODAY.”

The passage closes by Christ revealing exactly why he went to Jericho, indeed, he reveals why he came into this world… “to seek and save the lost.”

It was no accident that he was in Jericho. Nothing Christ does is random or accidental. Jesus is never just “passing through.” His entry into your life was no mere coincidence! It was by providential design!

Jesus sought you! Jesus saved you to the praise of his glorious grace! Great joy to us and all glory to him!

But not everyone is able to see Jesus’ mission as glorious. Many grumbled about his seeking of Zacchaeus. Why? It was likely because Zacchaeus had cheated them during his career as a profitable tax collector. Such a person didn’t deserve salvation.

Yet, it is just such a lost person that is in need of salvation. Oh the irony that we would deny salvation to the very people in need of it.

A great evidence of whether or not we have been sought and saved by Jesus is whether or not we desire to see him seek and save others!

Does your heart long to join in Christ’s mission by declaring him as the seeking savior?

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.