“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” – Luke 19:10
Gru, is a super-villain, in the 2010 film, "Despicable Me," who adopts three girls. His motives are entirely self-serving, but something happens. The little girls love him into being and he grows to love them.
Love transforms the villain.
Gru was lost and, through the love of other humans, image-bearers of God, he becomes a different man. He is found.
"I have come to seek such as him," Jesus still says.
This simple word from the Master answers the criticism of stale gate-keepers of religion that He was spending too much time with sinners like Zacchaeus whom he had called down from the sycamore tree. Zacchaeus was climbing higher to see Jesus, but Jesus was already looking for him.
Not only did Jesus call him, but he invited himself over for a celebratory meal.
In a world where we are known by the company we keep, Jesus refused to be selective and did not care what anyone thought. If the very righteous were to criticize him, so be it. He had not come to rescue people who did not need to be rescued.
“Of course I am spending time with them” is His implied reply to their biting words.
“That is why I came!”
The news is good for sinners and bad for those who fancy themselves above such a description or call.
First, for the sinner, touched by God’s grace, it is the assurance that something better awaits our lives, that we are not beyond the reach of the gospel, and that we can change. It is good news.
The Lord is entirely ready to remove our defects of character when we are entirely ready to have Him do so.
He comes to our table as the friend of sinners and waits for our agreement with Him in prayer and for our humility in the asking. He is our friend, but He wants to make us His friends through conversion. He is patient and compassionate and understands the frailty of our faith and commitment. He does not demand a great eruption of energy or resolve from us, but the humble act of petition through surrender.
If we will present our lives to Him where we are and as we are, He can work a miracle of grace.
Are you ready to ask?
Second, it’s bad news if we are complacent and self-assured, if we feel we are better than everyone else, or if we sense no responsibility for bearing the cross of a witness. He has sent us as the Father sent Him.
That means that our hearts must beat as His beat – for the lost. It also means that when He sits at our table, it is not because we are worthy; it is because we too are needy and He came to seek and to save us as well. Humbling thought, isn't it?
Whether you are Gru or Zacchaeus or even if you are a religious purist, Jesus has your number and you have his attention. He sees the value in your and is inviting himself over to break bread with you.
It is an example we in turn might learn to follow.
