“For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.”
(Luke 19:10 MSG)
I once worked with a very challenging group of students. And although there were days when they tested my patience and made me reconsider my career choices, I was still very sympathetic towards them. When I told them that we were going to have a fun last week of school before the Christmas break, one of the students interrupted me with “We don’t deserve it, Miss!” “We don’t deserve a lot of things, but that’s what second chances are for, that’s what Christmas is about,” I reminded him.
When Jesus visited the house of the hated tax collector, Zacchaeus, many were angry with Him. “What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?” they asked (Luke19:7). But Jesus’ love for Zacchaeus caused the tax collector to repent. “He stammered apologetically, “Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I’m caught cheating, I pay four times the damages”‘ (v.8). Take a listen to Jesus’ answer to Zacchaeus (and no doubt to the grumbling crowd around Him), “Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost” (vv.9-10).
As we draw close to Christmas, let’s remember why Jesus came – to find and restore the lost. We don’t deserve the gift of God’s Son, but that’s what Christmas is about -finding hope and love in the person of Jesus. Salvation is here.
Jesus took His place in a manger so that we might have a home in heaven.
Greg Laurie
Rising with the Son 