I read the story of a pastor who went through a terrible moral failure. He wondered if he could ever be forgiven and restored. When feelings of shame and humiliation were at their peak, he went to worship, desperately seeking hope. He said he did not go to church then as a pastor or as a church leader. “I just went as someone sitting in the pew. I wanted someone who would assure me that there was a tomorrow, that there was grace available, that somehow I could regain my footing, and that one day I’d be a new person again.” He thought no one should ever have to leave a church worship service without hope for a new beginning.
This season of the year reminds us of the possibility of hope. Advent is the annual celebration of the coming of Jesus. We have the testimony from Jesus’ own lips about why he came into the world: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19:10). That is the offer of hope for a new beginning. Permit me to highlight three words: “lost,” “seek,” and “save.”
Lost
Our Lord said this about a man named Zacchaeus who was wealthy and politically connected. But something was missing in his life that riches and power could not provide. He was spiritually needy and he knew it. He wanted hope for a new beginning.
That is why he wanted to see Jesus. He was curious, so curious that he set aside pretentions of dignity and climbed a tree to get a better look. His name, Zacchaeus, means “righteous one,” but he was anything but righteous. He was a tax collector who was ripping off his own people on behalf of the Roman government.
The New Testament uses the word “lost” to convey a warning, that God sees people in their natural state as spiritually ruined and separated from him by sin. This is true of unenlightened pagans living in the darkness of idolatry. It is also true of sophisticated, well-educated, well-to-do moderns who have never humbled themselves before their Creator. Was Zacchaeus starting to feel the spiritual desolation of being lost?
One of the traditional scripture readings for the second Sunday in Advent is 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish (be lost), but everyone to come to repentance.”
Seek
This represents our Lord’s activity to solve the greatest human problem. He sought Zacchaeus and he seeks people today. Luke 19:1-9 tells the story of how Jesus sought Zacchaeus. He looked at where he was, up in the tree. He spoke to him. He called him by name. He invited himself into Zacchaeus’ life. Jesus took the initiative in the relationship. He sought him urgently: “I must stay at your house today” (v. 5).
Zacchaeus responded by welcoming Jesus into his home. I think this means that he also was opening his heart to Jesus.
Do I need to remind you that just as Jesus saw and spoke to Zacchaeus, he sees you, knows you, and speaks to you through his word? He wants you to open your heart to him too. He offers you hope and a new beginning with him.
Save
Jesus said on this occasion, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham” (v. 9). Abraham is always remembered for his exemplary faith. Jesus was saying that like Abraham, Zacchaeus had saving faith.
R.C. Sproul wrote, “Zacchaeus told Jesus he was going to give one half of his goods to the poor and repay anyone he had cheated fourfold. Here we have a bold and dramatic confession of sin, act of repentance, and confession of faith.”
Zacchaeus did not receive salvation because he did this good deed. He did the good deed because he wanted to give evidence of having salvation. Restitution was the right thing to do.
Jesus said the reason he came was to seek and to save the lost. To be saved it is necessary to admit that you are lost without him, that your sins have come between you and God. Jesus died on the cross to take away your sins. He asks you to believe on him and receive the gift of salvation.
What better time than now? What better day than today? There is hope for a new beginning.
Pastor Randy Faulkner
