20 Mar The Church of the Lost and Found

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)

For whatever reason, Zacchaeus was seeking to see Jesus. And in an ironic turn of events, it is actually Jesus who seeks after Zacchaeus. He spots him up a Sycamore tree and calls out, “Hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” Jesus was going to have church with Zacchaeus. He joyfully received Jesus and welcomed him into his house to share a meal around his table while listening to his words.

What kind of people does Jesus gather around himself in church? Listen to the words of the grumbling crowd, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!” Jesus was going into Zacchaeus’ house to have table fellowship with a sinner. This is exactly who our Lord seeks out and who he chooses to gather to himself…sinners. Broken people, both young and old, rich and poor, the well behaved and the despicable…all sinners, all in need of a savior, and Jesus seeks them out and gathers them around a table in a home. 

Zacchaeus sought to find Jesus by climbing a tree, yet Jesus is the one who ended up seeking Zacchaeus and finding him because He was lost. The problem with being lost is that you cannot find your way home by yourself. A lost sheep is as good as dead. A lost coin is a dead asset, and a prodigal son has lost everything and has nothing…not even a bed to lay down at night. But this is why our Lord Jesus came, to seek and save those who are lost. This is why he climbed up the tree of a wooden cross to spill his precious blood for all those who are born lost. He seeks, he finds, he gathers, and he saves them. Those who were lost are found and those who were dead are now alive. This is why our Lord walked through Jericho and had church with Zacchaeus.

This is also the reason it has pleased our Lord to gather you and others like me. He gathers the lost, the broken, the dying – real sinners unto himself to deliver His word and gifts of life and salvation to you. Once we were lost, and now we are found, and once Jesus finds you, no way he’s letting you go. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

“Here we have a firm foundation, here the refuge of the lost: Christ, the Rock of our salvation, Is the name of which we boast.” (“Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted” LSB 451 st. 4)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

 -Pastor Darrin Sheek