Jesus seeks and saves the lost
Pray
Begin with prayer, opening your heart to His Word and Spirit.
Read Luke 19:1-10
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Reflect
Jesus encounters another wealthy man, Zacchaeus. He is a dishonest tax collector, considered a sinner in society because his wealth comes from cheating people – including those who had little. Jesus reaches out to him and honors him by becoming a guest in his home. The crowds are baffled. Zacchaeus is humbled and seeks to make amends for all he has done wrong. His life has been changed and salvation has come to his house.
Closing prayer
Father we give you thanks that you sent Jesus to seek and save those who are lost. Thank you for loving us, for reaching out and saving us. Amen.