A Saviour for Those Who Are Lost

The words of our text were spoken by the Lord Himself after Zacchaeus, one of the chief publicans, was so richly favored by Him. He said, “This day is salvation come to this house.” By means of cords of eternal mercy and of incomprehensible love for sinners, Zacchaeus was drawn unto Christ. It was not of himself that a burning longing arose in his heart to see Jesus, but it was the fruit of the work of God’s Spirit in his heart.

By nature, there is no one who seeks Jesus or who is looking for a Surety for his guilt and a Saviour for his soul. The wonder of salvation lies herein—that the Son of Man (and this is for the accomplishment of God’s eternal good pleasure) has come to seek and to save that which was lost. We all are lost. In Adam, in whom we have fallen, we all lie without exception, lost before God—not only those who are outwardly like a sinful, thieving Zacchaeus but also they who are above reproach in their walk. Unless we are born again, we are children of wrath, and we are outside of the glory of God.

The Son of Man seeks that which is lost, even though there is no one who seeks Him in truth. He is the first. He seeks a sinner in the hour appointed by Him, in the time of His good pleasure. What and who we are does not stand in His way. He seeks those whose names are written in the Book of Life. It does not matter whether we are pious or wicked. He seeks and calls us with His makingalive voice and draws us with the cords of His love. It is a stumbling stone to the Pharisees and scribes and a rock of offense to many that Jesus does not ask if we are pious, religious people, but that He is only fulfilling the will of His Father. He wishes to save wicked sinners who have forfeited everything. For Him, no sinner is too wicked or has sunk too deeply.

This is what becomes the wonder for people that learn to know themselves by the discovering light of the Spirit as corrupt and unclean sinners. The resulting glorification of God’s grace in our heart is because we begin to experience our lost state before God. It is that we learn to know ourselves as depraved sinners, lying under the curse of the law, and because of our original and actual sins, we are totally condemnable

From our side, all expectation is cut off. Improvement is impossible, and we who have learned to do evil, can never more do any good. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. The sinner who is discovered to his own condition must call out, “Lost, eternally lost!” and that sentence is righteous. Then it is Jesus’ time to reveal that wondrous secret of salvation to the soul, that He is come to save that which is lost. To save, that is to say, to reconcile a sinner with God and to restore communion with Him. Oh, that wonderful administration by Him—He wishes to have communion with sinners. There is not one who is too wicked or who has sunk too deeply. He Himself is willing to call them and to invite them. He has that eternal righteousness whereby He calls lost ones in Adam. He testifies, “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” Oh, that that people who experience themselves as being lost, would take their refuge to Jesus. May their eyes be opened for His willingness. Then we would no longer wander about outside of Him but take our refuge unto Him, to be saved by Him out of free grace.

Oh, sinner, let Jesus save you. Let Him wash you and sanctify you. Be ye reconciled to God. He has everything which is needed for this life and for your salvation.

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