Bulletin Articles
Jesus Seeks the Lost
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Jesus came into this world on a mission. When sin entered this world in Genesis 3, God enacted His plan to reconcile sinners to Himself. This plan would require the Word coming in the flesh to die and rise again, triumphing over sin and death. He came “not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, ESV). Only Jesus could make this happen, and there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
Seeking the lost meant that Jesus would spend time with sinners. How can one influence others while refusing to be around them at all? Jesus’ intent was not just to spend time with them for recreational purposes, but to give them an opportunity to avail themselves of the only One who could heal them and forgive them. Yet for this Jesus was criticized. When the Pharisees saw Jesus doing this, they questioned the disciples about it. Why would Jesus do this? Jesus heard this and responded, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt 9:10-13). The Pharisees thought they were righteous and therefore did not see their need for what Jesus was offering. Yet Jesus emphasized the fact that He came to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). He spent time with those whom He knew were in need of repentance and forgiveness.
The miracles of Jesus also highlighted His reason for coming to the world. For example, Mark 2 records the paralyzed man who, with the help of friends, was let down through a roof to where Jesus was. Jesus saw their faith told him that his sins were forgiven. When scribes questioned this in their hearts, Jesus healed the man to show that “the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10). Jesus also healed a man born blind, and His explanation for this was to show “that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind” (John 9:39). The miracles demonstrated the power of God over physical and natural limitations, but they also pointed to a greater purpose. Miracles were not ends in themselves; they highlighted the Lord’s mission in seeking the lost and rectifying what sin has done in this world.
Jesus also told many parables that showed significant aspects of the Kingdom of God. Some of the best known parables showing His concern for the lost are from Luke 15. These parables were told in a context in which Jesus was again criticized for receiving and eating with sinners (Luke 15:1). Jesus responded by telling the parables of the lost sheep (vv. 3-7), the lost coin (vv. 8-10), and the lost sons (vv. 11-32). He spoke of the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents (vv. 7, 10), and the longing that He has to bring back those who have walked away from Him. The Lord welcomes the lost to come home to Him and rejoices when that happens, even though some begrudge that, as the older son demonstrated in mirroring those Pharisees and scribes who opposed Jesus.
The parable of the sower also offers insight into the desire of Jesus to save the lost (Luke 8:4-15). He is the ultimate Sower and this forces us to ask the question, “What kind of soil are we?” The parables served to show how deeply the Lord wants to save the lost. He shows that “God desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). Indeed, He does not wish for anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9).
While Jesus initially came to show the way for the lost of Israel, He also showed the importance of reaching out to the nations. Jesus is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:32). His intent all along was break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile so that all could be united in Him through the salvation He offers. Jesus, the good Shepherd, would lay down His life for the sheep, and in doing so bring in other sheep (Gentiles) who would hear His voice and follow Him so that all would have One Shepherd (John 10:14-17).
Finally, it is important to note that the disciples are to carry the mission forward. Jesus instructed His disciples to go make more disciples “of all nations,” teaching them to do all that He had commanded (Matt 28:18-20). We see this purpose carried out in the book of Acts as the disciples preached to both Jews and Gentiles. They learned well that all nations, Jew and Gentile, were to be recipients of the good news of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 10:34-35). Disciples even today ought to be carrying forward that same mission. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for all!
