“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”(Luke 19:10)
Here is a great subject—“the Son of man”. At first glance this might seem to be a title unbecoming of our Lord, but it is rich in meaning. Concerning His ancestry He is called “the son of Abraham”. Concerning maternity He is called “the son of Mary”. Concerning religion He is called the “Son over His own house”. Concerning deity He is called “the Son of God”. But, concerning humanity He is called “the Son of man”. It is the title He chose for Himself. It identifies Him as the representative man, the last Adam. It pictures Him as our near Kinsman and Redeemer. The Son of God became the Son of man that the sons of man might become the sons of God.
Here is a glorious statement—“is come”. So short, so simple, but so sweet! Long years before, the promise had been given that He would come. One prophet after another announced the news and assured their generation that Messiah would come, until finally it could be said, “the Son of man is come”. Those were the words God’s people longed to hear. This was the news that brought hope to the hopeless, confirmed the message of John the Baptist, frightened kings, infuriated the devil, and describes Christmas.
His birth was according to the promise, by means of a virgin, at the appointed time, celebrated by angels, attended by shepherds, and the first step to a hill called Mt. Calvary. His birth is to the cross what the bud is to the flower, the spring is to the stream, the grain is to the wheat, the clover is to the honey, and the sun is to the summertime. He came down from the adoration of angels to the abominations of earth, the blessedness of heaven to the burdens of hardship on earth, the comforts of glory to the condemnation of the guilty. He came from delight to decadence, ecstasy to execution, glory to gloom, joy to jeers, majesty to misery, nobility to nothingness, peace to pain.
Here is a gracious service—“to seek and to save that which was lost”. the Son of man did not come to behold the wonders of the world, reform corrupt governments, start welfare programs to assist the poor, or to heal man’s physical ailments. He came to meet man’s greatest need–“to save that which was lost”. That makes this important to all of us, for we are all lost by nature. We are sinners, separated from God, dead in our trespasses and sins. Yet the Son of man came “to seek and to save”. That’s a love story without equal. It is the grandest service ever rendered and the greatest story ever told. The same One who came to the very place where Zachaeus was and called him, has come to you and is calling for you. Will you come to Him who came for you? Don’t just think about it–do it!
