Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:9-10

This statement made by Jesus is in reference to a chief tax collector named Zacchaeus. As a wealthy tax collector, the common Jewish citizen thought of him as a sinner because he took money from them for the use of the Roman government. And, Zacchaeus was likely dishonest in his dealing with the local population. Zacchaeus’ response to Christ makes this clear as he promised immediately to give half of his money to the poor and restore four times over money wrongfully taken from others.

Luke 19:9-10 records Jesus’ response to Zaccheaus’ pledge to restore stolen wealth. Although it enraged those present, Jesus invited himself to the house of Zaccheaus. When the tax collector enthusiastically received the Lord, Jesus announced salvation for Zacchaeus and his house. In addition, he indicated that Zacchaeus was a Jewish person as he calls him a “son of Abraham.” 

Serving the Will of God

Jesus identifies himself as “the Son of Man.” This is a humble title used to denote mankind in general. As a term of humility and submission, God refers to the prophet Ezekiel nearly a hundred times as the son of man in the Old Testament. Jesus frequently calls himself the “Son of Man” in the New Testament as a sign of his service to his Father our Living God.

Further, Christ illustrates his purpose in serving the will of God. Jesus clearly states that he came to seek and save the lost. Although Zaccheaus was a corrupt sinner, upon agreeing to receive Jesus, he repented from his sinful ways and prepared to serve the Lord. This illustrates the benefit of receiving Christ into our lives. The crowd thought Jesus should not enter Zaccheaus’ house as it made him look bad. But, Christ knew that the presence of God restores sinners who receive him with open arms.        

The Obedience of Christ

Born in the flesh, Jesus is both the Son of God and the Son of Man. In obedience to God, he paid the price for our sins on the cross at Calvary. Our restoration comes by the grace of God through the sacrifice of our sinless Savior. God is holy and set aside from corruption. Without Christ, sinners cannot enter into his presence. However, washed in the sacrificial blood of Christ, we receive his righteousness. God sees those who receive Jesus by faith as righteous in Christ. As a result of Christ’s righteousness, God receives us into his presence.

Although fully God himself, the New Testament records the humble nature of Christ in submission to our heavenly Father. We read in Philippians 2:5-8, “Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross. WEB”

Yesterday’s Devotional: Even the Demons Believe