Jesus is the Savior: Luke 19.1-10

The story of Zaccheus is one of the favorites that we have in the Bible. There is a character who is looking for Jesus. Jesus comes along and spots the "wee little man" and invites him to dinner. It is a story that we can all identify with. We are either small, or we feel small, or we know someone small. Each of us has felt stuck on the outside at sometime in our lives.

Additionally, we all either know the experience of being forgiven by the grace of Jesus, or we long to be forgiven. It is easy to identify with Zaccheus in this story. In many ways we are just like him.

However, it is also easy to identify with the others in the story. We know what it is like to think that someone else is more sinful than us. "He is too awful to be saved," we think. We have a hard time accepting or understanding that the most sinful people we know can also experience the grace of God.

But it is all true. God loves everyone. Zaccheus proves it.

1. People are looking for answers (v. 4). Zaccheus was so intent on finding answers that he was willing to climb a tree to see Jesus. This was quite a step for someone who had a reputation to protect in the community. All people, whether they know it or not, are looking for Jesus. Many spend their search in addiction or illicit relationships. However it is manifest, every person is looking for answers- for Jesus.
2. Jesus is looking for followers (v. 5). In a large crowd Jesus was able to find the one man who was intent on finding his salvation. In that throng Jesus was still able to focus on Zaccheus and his needs. Jesus is interested in all of us and our needs.
3. Where salvation is concerned, the opinions of others do not matter (v. 7). There were many people who were unhappy with Zaccheus. Jesus concern for him made these grumblers even more unhappy. That did not matter to either Jesus or Zaccheus. We must not be distracted by what anyone else says or does concerning our relationship with Jesus.
4. Jesus will save anyone (v. 9). There is nothing that you have done that is so bad that Jesus cannot or will not forgive you. We learn in verse 10 that the purpose of Jesus coming to earth is exactly to find and save anyone and everyone.

Verse of the Week-

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19.10