“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10, NIV)
Earlier this month at the PGA Tour Champions tournament in Phoenix, Billy Andrade’s second shot on the par-5 seventh hole became lodged in some tree branches about 10 yards off the ground. In order to be able to take “back-on-line” or lateral relief for an unplayable lie, Andrade needed to identify his ball. He was unable to do so from the ground. But then, a rules official threw a shoe at the tree branches and the ball popped out. Andrade was able to identify his ball, take a drop, and continue play on the hole, thereby saving him from the more severe lost ball penalty.
Today’s Scripture passage concludes the story of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector who was despised by the residents of Jericho. Jesus, like Billy Andrade, looked up into a tree. But Jesus didn’t have to throw one of his sandals up into the sycamore, where a man had climbed to see him, in order to save a lost soul. Jesus simply called Zacchaeus by name and told him to “make haste and come down” (Luke 19:5, KJV) because Jesus was going to visit Zacchaeus’ house.
The story of Zacchaeus comes on the heels of three other “lost” parables in Luke’s Gospel: the lost coins (15:8-10), lost sheep (15:3-7), and a lost son (15:11-32). What is so beautiful about this story is that it reveals a number of Jesus’ attributes that demonstrate his enduring love for every lost soul, including me.
First, without any prompting, Jesus called Zacchaeus by his name. It is remarkable that the Lord knows me by name and knows all of God’s children by their names as well. To him, I’m not just some unidentified creature walking the earth.
Jesus knows exactly where to look to find me even if I sometimes don’t want to be found.Second, Jesus knew, without prompting, to look up in the tree to find Zacchaeus. He knows exactly where to look to find me even if I sometimes don’t want to be found.
Third, he wants to spend time with me and be in a personal relationship with me even though I may not have invited him to my home. He wants that relationship with me right now, just as when he said to Zacchaeus, “Make haste and come down.”
Finally, and most reassuring, is the fact that even though I am a sinner and consider myself at times not worthy enough to be in his presence, Jesus is willing to accept me just like he accepted Zacchaeus, the despised tax collector—and for that matter, all other sinners, outcasts, and marginalized folks he encountered in his journeys.
How great is it that Jesus is always on the lookout for those of us who are lost and, when he finds us, we have the opportunity to enter into relationship with him? Don’t hesitate when you hear the call to “make haste and come down.” Answer the call. Come down out of your tree and experience the joy of Christ’s love.
—
Mark “Ole” Olson
November 16, 2020
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.