Lost - Luke 19: 1-10      

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who came to find us, and save us.

The theme of our Lenten series this year is “Light in Dark Places”. We’re seeing how God works for our good when we find ourselves in the dark and difficult circumstances of life.

Tonight our theme is Lost, based on the story of Zacchaeus, from Luke 19:1-10.

¹ 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.”

Being lost and alone is a dark and desperate place to be; being lost and alone in the dark is an even more desperate place to be.

If you’re driving through Montana, and you sort of think you know where you are, but you don’t know how far away the next town is, and more importantly, how far away the next gas station is, and then the amber light comes on your fuel gauge, indicating you’re just about out of gas, that’s when you start to feel a little desperate.

Finally, as your car is running on fumes, you make it to a little town called Richey, and thanks be to God, there is a gas station there. A good thing, because in Montana, it’s a long walk to the next town.

As you might have guessed, I’m speaking from experience.

If you’re hiking in the mountains, in the forest, and you leave the trail, because you’re confident you can find your way back, but you can’t; you’re in big trouble; you’re lost and your very life is in danger.

Sadly, that occasionally happens. Sometimes people are found in time, and sometimes not.  

Spiritually speaking, Jesus came at just the right time to find us, before it was too late.  Our reading from Luke 19 is the story of Jesus finding a man who was lost, just when he was ready to be found.

Jesus had come into the town of Jericho, and His reputation had preceded him.

His many miracles had become well known, and the people were probably hoping to see one for themselves, and maybe benefit from it in some way.

And they did see a miracle, but not in the way they expected.

Jesus was probably the most popular man in Judea at that time, although that would change. Soon people would be crying to crucify him.

Probably the most unpopular man in Jericho was their chief tax collector, named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was rich, but he was lost. He was searching for something, and he thought this Jesus might have what he was looking for.  

Being a very short man, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus for himself. His curiosity changed his life. But it was more than curiosity; Zacchaeus was looking for someone to love and accept him, when everyone else, it seemed, despised him. Was there someone somewhere who would just love him in spite of himself?

Zaccheus found that love and acceptance when he saw Jesus, and Jesus saw him.

Jesus knew what was in Zacchaeus’ heart, that he was truly sorry for his sins, sorry for all the hurt he had caused the people of Jericho, all the times he had cheated them and taken advantage of them, sorry for getting rich at their expense.

Seeing the sincerity in his heart, Jesus invited himself into Zacchaeus’ home. But more importantly, he invited himself into Zacchaeus’ heart, and that’s where the miracle happened. The power of the gospel changed his life. Zacchaeus promised to help the people he had hurt, and to set right what he had done wrong.

The people of Jericho, however, were not impressed with Jesus’ choice for a host. He has gone to be the guest of a sinner, they muttered. Jesus said, “That’s right! That’s why I came, to seek and to save the lost”.

People like us. Before we even saw Jesus, he saw us; and he came to lead us out of the wilderness of sin that we’re lost in.  

If you’re lost in the wilderness, it can help to get to the highest point around you, so you can better see where you are. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to help him see.

When you’re lost in life, bogged down in a pit of misery, or despair, or grief, or guilt, or stress, or conflict, or illness, or addiction, or depression, or you name it, where you need to look is up, because that’s where help can be seen. Looking laterally, we just see our troubles. Looking to One high above, we see a way out.

Psalm 121 says, I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help comes from? My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.

Jesus came from on high to help the lost below. He endured a pit of misery on the cross and in the grave, and he rose above it. He knows the way up and out from even the darkest place. By faith He comes to us, and leads us out of the dark places in life.

Sin, death, and hell and the darkest places in this life and the next. But Christ is the light and the way out of these eternally dark places. Repenting and believing in him, he forgives you all your sin, rescues you from the pit, and leads you into the light.    

Like he did for Zacchaeus, Jesus invites himself into our hearts, so that we can see the way to God, and to love, and to life. Like Zacchaeus, let us be honest to repent, and be happy to believe.

This the irony of Lent, and of the entire Christian life. To repent of your sin is to be sad and somber for a time, but to be forgiven is to have joy forever.

Zacchaeus, the most hated man in Jericho, became the happiest man in Jericho. He was so happy to have Jesus in his home for awhile, but even happier to have him in heart forever. And how happy Zacchaeus is at this very moment, to be with Jesus in his heavenly home, and how happy Jesus is to have him there.

What a reunion it must have been when Jesus first welcomed him into heaven. What a joy it will be when Jesus welcomes you there. So like Zacchaeus, repent, believe, and rejoice!

Look up to Jesus and see the cross; then you’re never really lost.

The cross is kind of like the North Star in that way. The North Star identifies which way is north, and from there all other directions. If you stand at the North Pole and look straight up, the star you see shining directly above is the North Star.

As followers of Christ, we stand in the shadow of the cross. The Gospel shows us way out of our troubles. Jesus says, In this world you will have troubles; but take heart, I have overcome the world.

When you’re life seems lost and troubled, look up to Christ and see the cross, and you’ll see where your help and salvation comes from. 

Whatever your trouble, whatever the dark and difficult place you find yourself in, following Christ, you’re never lost. Jesus has already mapped a way out of your wilderness, and through your troubles.

Follow Him, and he will lead you to the light, and to the joy, and finally, to the peace which passes understanding. May it guard your heart and guide your mind, in the joy of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.