Think of a time you lost something important to you.

Here are the top five commonly lost items: keys, phones, TV remotes (nothing turns family members against each other faster than losing the TV remote), wallets, computer files, and pictures.

A few years ago, my family was playing a Walter Elisha Park in Fort Mill. We were there on the playground for a few hours, then we went to the Peach Stand Gas Station for icecream. When we arrived at the Peach Stand I noticed that my wedding ring missing. After we got icecream, we went back to the park and searched for it. I looked everywhere I could think. We dug through mulch on the playground under the swings and in tunnels. We were crawling around on the grass looking. People were looking at me like this guy has lost his marbles. After some time, we had to call it, and my wedding ring was officially lost. It was painful to lose it because it was special to me.

When you lose something important, you go looking for it. Similarly, we are important to God. When we are lost, He comes looking for us.

Our main idea for today is Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

We’re in Luke 19:1-10. We’re walking towards the end of Jesus’ ministry. It’s almost Easter; the cross and the resurrection are drawing near. But before Jesus goes to Jerusalem, he stops in Jericho. In fact, we’ll see that He must stop in Jericho because He is on a mission to seek out a sinner in need of salvation named Zacchaeus.

As you listen, consider where you fit in the story. Maybe you’ll resonate with Zacchaeus–feeling lost and desiring to meet Jesus. Maybe you’re like the disciples following Jesus to Jericho and learning how important it is to Jesus to pursue sinners far from God. As we listen, where are you in this story, and what might God want to teach you today?

He entered Jericho and was passing through. There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.” So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:1-10

I first want you to see that Zacchaeus was lost and searching. Look at verse 2 with me: There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in Jericho, a major center for trade and commerce. Money moved through that city, and it moved through Zacchaeus.

Now, ancient tax collection is different than our modern system. This ancient taxation collection was openly corrupt. The Romans empowered tax collectors to collect money at unfair rates and to take a cut off the top. Zacchaeus was the leader of this greedy operation, and it made him rich. But it also made him despised. He was of Jewish descent but, at some point, sold out to the Romans for this lucrative job. His fellow Jews would hate him for selling out and for the unfair taxation he imposed on them.

Verses 3 and 4 further reveal that Zacchaeus was lost and searching. Verse 3 says, “He was trying to see who Jesus was…” and verse 4 says, “He climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus…” For a wealthy man, this is a desperate look. However, Zacchaeus is a desperate man who wants what Jesus may be able to offer him. He is lost and searching.

What’s behind Zacchaeus’ seeking? I think he was tired of feeling the emptiness and shame in his life. He’s tried to find fulfillment in riches, and it’s left him empty. He sold his soul for money, but it didn’t satisfy him. He bought a bigger house, a new donkey, nice clothes, and all this world’s things, but they weren’t enough. Yes, he gained wealth in his life, but at what cost? What family and friends had he hurt and left behind in his pursuit of riches?

Zacchaeus learned the hard way what Scripture teaches in 1 Timothy 6:10. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

So, he’s up in this sycamore tree because riches weren’t enough. He’s up in that tree because he feels shame, guilt, and emptiness. He’s lost and seeking redemption in Jesus.

Notice verse 3 says he wanted to see who Jesus was. Who is Jesus? That question is one of the most important questions we could ever ask. Is it possible that Jesus is the Savior? Is it possible that Jesus can redeem me from this guilt and shame? Zacchaeus heard rumors that Jesus was a friend to tax collectors but must find out for himself. He’s lost and searching.

But what’s amazing about this story is the unexpected flip. We first hear of Zacchaeus seeking Jesus, but we come to find out that Jesus was seeking Zacchaeus first. Look at verse 5: “When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”

See the word “necessary.” In Greek, the word is “dei,” which means he must meet with Zacchaeus. Biblical scholars all agree that this tells us that Jesus didn’t stumble across him in the tree but that he was hunting him down. This was in God’s redemptive plans. God had his sights on Zacchaeus long before he began to search for Jesus.

This reminds me of Ephesians 1:4: For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.

According to that verse, when did God start thinking of us for salvation? Before the foundation of the world. I find it encouraging that God had thought of me far in advance and made plans for my redemption before I was born.

It’s like these dad save reels I’ve seen on social media. Kids are about to eat it and face plant, and Dad is there to scoop them up or grab them by their pants or leg or something to rescue them. Dad is watching and one step ahead. He’s making arrangements. Similarly, God prepared for our rescue long before we knew we needed Jesus. He sought and pursued us from before the foundation of the world. He takes the initiative in salvation. He always goes first.

So, Jesus was seeking Zacchaeus first. Next, see how Jesus moved towards the outcast.

Let’s look at verse 5 again. Jesus tells Zacchaeus, “…it is necessary for me to stay at your house.”

Next time I evangelize, I’m going to try this out! Invite myself over for a bed-and-breakfast stay! Hey, neighbor, I must come over for dinner tonight! Please prepare fresh sheets, and I’ll be there around 5:30 p.m. No food allergies.

Of course, Jesus knew that Zacchaeus would joyfully and gladly want this. This was an answer to Zacchaeus’s seeking and longing. The Savior sees Him and cares enough to stay at His house. Jesus is not ashamed to spend time with me. All these other people hate me and won’t forgive me, but Jesus is coming for dinner.

Jesus moves towards outcasts–tax collectors, prostitutes, the lepers, the shameful. He spends time with them and eats meals with them. He wants to build a relationship with them and sincerely cares about them.

Is that our posture and our heart? Do we love the outsiders and the outcasts? Do we care enough to move towards them like Jesus?

Jesus’ going over to Zacchaeus’ house annoyed the crowds watching. Look at verse 7: All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.”

Let’s pause here for a moment. Are any of us in that crowd of complainers? Is there any hypocrisy in us that wants mercy for ourselves but judgment for someone else’s sins? Mercy for my greed, but judgment for their sexual sins. Mercy for my gossip, but judgment for their greed.

If we’re in that crowd, we must remember that we are all lost without the Gospel. We all need God’s mercy.

Complaining about others’ sins reveals that we have failed to understand the Gospel and our need for Jesus. Because none of us come to the cross righteous. We all come as outcasts and sinners.

So, Jesus moved toward Zacchaeus–despite the crowds complaining–and gave him the redemption he was seeking.

Zacchaeus was found by Jesus. We know this from verses 8 and 9. “But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham.”

Zacchaeus was lost in his greed but was found by turning towards Jesus. Jesus helped him find a fresh start and a new identity. He went from being the chief tax collector to being a son of Abraham.

Notice Zacchaeus’ repentance. Zacchaeus demonstrates repentance through his generosity. He commits half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back four times as much to those he cheated. He is a changed man. The change is the fruit of his faith in Jesus.

Also, Zacchaeus receives a new identity: He is a son of Abraham. Abraham’s story is back in Genesis. He is the father of faith. Genesis 15:6 says, “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” So, this tells us that Zacchaeus had faith in the Lord, like Abraham before him, and that was credited to him as righteousness.

Jesus was essentially saying welcome back to your people. Zacchaeus was born a Jew and was part of God’s family. But in his greed, he wandered away. But now, through faith and repentance, he is found. He once was lost, but now Zacchaeus is found.

Finally, Luke 19:10 summarizes Jesus’ life mission and the passage: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus came from heaven to earth on a rescue mission. He is the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep in the open field and chases after the lost one. He came to seek and to save the lost.

This is the Good News of the Gospel. All of us have wandered away in our sins. We willfully reject God, but God chases after us. We all are Zacchaeus in some way. We all are outcasts in need of salvation. For some, it’s pride, others greed, and others lust. We all are lost in our sins. But Jesus came seeking to save us.

A few weeks ago, we lost Amos. We could not find him.It was dinner time, and my wife asked me to call Amos to come inside for dinner. She was finishing up cooking. Isaiah was already home. So, Isaiah and I go outside to look for Amos. We go to our neighbors, where he plays with friends. He’s not there. We walk down to the park. He’s not there. Isaiah and I proceeded to go to every house in the neighborhood where the boys have friends. He’s not there. This is very unusual for us. The boys are always at 2-3 places and have never gone anywhere else. I call Hadley and say “I can’t find Amos.” She turns the stove off and gets in the car to help. Now she’s driving around, calling other moms. No one knows where he is.

Our hearts are racing. I begin to get anxious. I tell myself it’s going to be okay. This happens. He’ll turn up. But this is unusual. We’ve already gone everywhere to look. Where is he?

The what-if scenarios start intruding into my thoughts. What if he’s hurt? What if he’s in danger? What if he’s scared? What if I never see him again? What if it really is something terrible?

I begin thinking about how much I love my son. He’s precious to me. I begin to pray. Lord, please help us find Amos.

It’s been about twenty to thirty minutes of searching, which feels like an eternity. Finally, Hadley calls me, “I got him!” Whew. How quickly love turns to anger! He was at a new friend’s house on the far side of the neighborhood and had parked his scooter inside their garage. But, as frustrating as that situation was, we’re so thankful to have found our son.

We love our son. If he is lost, we’ll move heaven and earth to find him. We won’t stop. He would be in our thoughts constantly. In the same way, God the Father loves the lost. He sent His only Son to seek and to save. We are in His thoughts constantly. We have been since before the foundation of the world. He’s big enough to always have you on His mind. He was willing to sacrifice everything to bring you home.

So, I want to wrap up by pointing out two ways we should apply this story to our lives.

First, if you are lost, be found in Jesus. This is for those today who resonate with Zacchaeus. Your life feels unsatisfying, and you thirst for more. You feel the weight of greed and the emptiness of striving to find life in riches. You feel lost, and you long for redemption.

Listen. Jesus loves you. He is seeking you today. He wants to stay at your house. He is ready to welcome you home. He offers you the same thing he offered Zacchaeus–salvation and redemption.

Place your faith in Jesus to save you. If you repent and believe, you become a son or daughter of God. You will be found and forgiven. If that’s you today, please talk to me or one of our church leaders after service. We want to help you take some next steps in knowing and following Jesus.

Second, if you’re found, seek the lost. If you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, follow Him in His mission. He calls us to be His witnesses to our neighbors.

Think about your neighbors. The people who live right near you. What are their names? Do they know the Gospel? Are they lost or found?

What could you do to seek them out for Jesus? Pray for them. Spend time with them. Tell them the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to seek and to save. Before we sought him, he was seeking us. He moved towards the outcasts. He gives salvation to those who repent and believe. This is Jesus’ mission and purpose. So, let’s commit today to seeking the lost just as Jesus sought us.