Sermon 196

📖 SERMON 196 — WHY JESUS CAME

Preacher: G. S. Kok
Date: December 17, 1950
Text: Luke 19:10 (Read Luke 19:1–9)
Subject: WHY JESUS CAME

INTRODUCTION

Why did the Son of God—almighty, all-sufficient, and glorious—humble Himself to the form of a servant, even unto the awful death of the cross? This question should always be in our mind. Jesus Himself answers it.

I. JESUS HIMSELF ANSWERS THIS QUESTION

A. He is qualified to answer it.

1. He planned His own advent.
2. He was fully aware of it before coming as a babe.
3. He is the “Son of Man,” the Messiah.

B. He gives His explanation on His last journey to Jerusalem.

1. Only a few more days remain before His death.
2. His death is the means by which His great mission will be fulfilled.

C. He offers His explanation in connection with Zacchaeus.

1. Jesus was passing through Jericho, Zacchaeus’ home.
2. Zacchaeus desired to see Jesus and climbed a tree.
3. Jesus called him by name and invited Himself to his house.
4. The scribes and Pharisees objected that He associated with sinners.
5. Jesus explains that His action is in harmony with His purpose—He is doing exactly what He came to do.

II. HIS COMING CONCERNS “THAT WHICH WAS LOST”

A. Not lost things—but lost people.

1. In truth this includes all mankind.
2. “All we like sheep have gone astray.”
3. All sinners are lost people—everyone by nature.

B. What it means to be lost.

1. Lost to one’s rightful owner.
   a. Gone out of the owner’s possession—like a lost coin.
   b. The owner misses it.
   c. So we are gone out of God’s possession and claimed by another—Satan.
2. To be given over to destruction.
   a. When an unbeliever dies, we say he is lost—eternally destroyed.
   b. The lost are on that way even now.
   c. Like the lost sheep doomed to die; like the prodigal son facing death.
3. Today it includes all who do not believe in Christ.
   a. Those who continue in sin and do their own will.
   b. Those who refuse repentance and faith.
   c. Perhaps some listening to this sermon are still lost—as Zacchaeus was when Jesus came to town.

III. JESUS CAME “TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST”

A. This does not mean He does not know where they are.

1. God knows every person, every place.
2. Jesus knew where Zacchaeus was—and knew Nathanael under the fig tree.

B. What it does mean.

1. To seek—to restore sinners to God.
2. To save—
   a. To rescue sinners from destruction.
   b. To deliver them from Satan’s dominion.
   c. To save them from the awful consequences of sin.

C. He came to Bethlehem and went to Calvary for this purpose.

1. He taught and preached, calling the lost to repentance and faith.
2. He died to pay the price of redemption.
3. He gave His life to bring sinners back to God.
4. He does not merely find them—He truly saves them.

D. He still does this today.

1. He seeks earnestly.
2. Ministers and missionaries are His voice.
3. He is seeking lost ones even now:
   a. Not at random, like a fisherman uncertain of the catch.
   b. He came to Jericho seeking Zacchaeus.
   c. Someone listening at home, in church, or in the hospital may be the object of His search tonight.
   d. Zacchaeus felt only a desire to see Jesus—but that desire already revealed that Jesus was seeking him.

E. Believers rejoice for this reason.

1. Not as the world rejoices.
2. Saved sinners rejoice because Jesus came to seek and to save them.