Taken from Luke 19:9-10 Please read the whole chapter as it gives a complete story.
Jesus said to him, “This shows that today life has come to you and your household, for you are a true son of Abraham. The Son of man has come to seek out and to give life to those who are lost.” Lost- The NT word for lost here does not mean doomed or damned, it simply means in the wrong place.
You may remember the song, ‘Zacchaeus was a wee little man’ , I remember singing it many times in Sunday school as a child as I’m sure many of you did as well. It’s a sweet song that puts us at the Savior’s feet in a childlike way and is exactly where the Father wants us. Trusting and relying on him. I’ve provided the lyrics.
"Zacchaeus was a wee little man,
And a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see.
And as the Savior passed that way
He looked up in the tree and he said,
'Zacchaeus you come down, For I'm going to your house today!'
For I'm going to your house today!
Zacchaeus was a wee little man,
But a happy man was he,
For he had seen the Lord that day
And a happy man was he;
And a very happy man was he.
The Savior singled out Zacchaeus that day as the only man that he had ever invited himself to lodge or stay with. Also the Son of God/Jesus, further compliments him that Zacchaeus was a ‘Son of Abraham’, he was a chief tax collector and as part of the true Israel of God, a real Israelite. Not only a son of fleshy descent (like the Pharisees). The Messiah further established Zacchaeus that he was probably a man of rugged honesty, piety and devotion. Notice how Jesus did not say, “ Today has this man become a son of Abraham”, He already was that! In the highest sense of the words. He said, “He is a son of Abraham”! It’s terrific news and amazing how one word can change the whole meaning. Zacchaeus was like aged Simon and the others who waited for the kingdom of God. He was truly a son of Abraham, in spirit as well as descent. The Jews denied the right of a publican to be considered a son of Abraham, and all men alike are lost in sin, without hope, without mercy, without the great gift of the savior who chose to leave heaven to become a man. He came with mercy to pick us up out of the place of publicans and sinners. To remove us from being in the wrong place and setting us upon the right place. A place paid for with and by a mighty work of Love that is full of mercy when we only deserved and knew separation from our heavenly father.
He came to draw us to him. He came seeking us as do parents come seeking for their little sons and daughters, or the shepherd looking for the misplaced sheep of the flock. He comes with love and adoration for his children.
So much could be said about these two small passages.
Christ was called the son of man. He showed a special connection with the jew/yahudym and also identified him with the whole of humanity from Adam. He came for the Jew and Gentile. He came for every race, tribe, and country. He’s the Father, Son of God, Redeemer, Mother, Brother, Sister. He’s a relational family member that stood for us and blessed us with eternal life. We were made in his image. If you have no family he understood that then and understands it now. He stands for you wherever you are in life. A child living with your parents, a grown adult living alone, a married individual, a divorcee or a widow. He will meet you regardless of situation, stature, profession, rich, poor or in between. He’s your Father, Savior, Friend. He would have given his life for only one of us, if that were the case. It’s really that special. All that could be felt in any common, modern day relational family setting he understands. He was the completion to make us perfect in the eyes of our Father. He took all that was dark and terrible and gave us hope and light. He understands and stands for us in the world's most painful events, circumstances and in our personal lives.
In a person’s life the Savior says unlike the pharisees that sneered and mocked him, the pharisee, a man that was a sinner. Jesus became that sin for us, just as he did the same for the pharisees and people who murdered him. There is always room for pity and sorrow and judgement, however this gives us hope!
He came for no other purpose than to make peace between us and the Father, he came with mercy. Jesus remedied every spoiled thing, every lost thing. He came and served to right every wrong for our world, for humanity. So in the Father’s eye we are perfect! He looked on the Savior Jesus and it was very good in the context of what he did for us. He became sin that knew no sin. As the lamb that was slain from the foundation of the earth (Revelation 13:8). From the beginning of time there was a plan and that makes you very important my friend! He brought peace to this world that cannot be duplicated again. Not religions, nor governments or military allegiance will save us. Just the pure love of a Father, saving his children and sitting them in a sweet safe place.
Mercy always wins over judgement. Just like a parent gives good things to his or her children, so the Father in heaven gives the very, very best to his children. Always!
Just like a friend or family member, the more you spend time with them the closer you become. Its always about relationships. No hoops or rules. Just talk with him, he will be there. Just like you get to know family and friends more intimately when you spend time with them. It’s really that simple with God. Ask him he will show you and his spirit will guide you. Look to his word, get quiet and listen for his voice.
Blessings, Candice Holtzclaw 'Candi'
