How Does A Lost Soul Become Found? (Luke 19:1-10)

“How New Disciples Are Made” #3 Di

“How Does A Lost Soul Become Found?” Message Notes (Luke 19:1-10); Pastor Curt Audet 10/12/25

8th in the 14 Message Series: The Master’s Plan For Making Disciples

BI: God calls and draws people to Himself while people seek and respond to His initiation.

Zach was seeking to make an appointment with the popular leader.  The crowds were compressed, loud and stifling.  Every block he tried to gain His attention but was drowned out.  Zach attempted to push into the crowd, but each time was repelled and left behind.  He refused to give up.  He reached for the hand of one of the leader’s friends and was pushed by a passer-byer up against a barrel on the edge of the walkway; he tripped over the tables with the vendors’ hand-crafted wares.  Now, the man Zach sought was so far ahead of him he could hardly tell which way He went.  People everywhere.  The chance to ask Him for an appointment was disappearing for another day.  A bearded man crashed into Zach’s shoulder knocking him down to one knee. He felt lost in the masses.  This seemed to be Zach’s only chance to catch the man in Jericho as He was passing through.

So much was on his mind.  Actually, so much weight–from guilt–was on his mind.  He knew that he had to get to the one known as the Healer.  All his friends had seen this man meet the needs of those who asked.  The pressure on his mind was almost unbearable; I will give half of all I own to benefit the poor.  Maybe then . . . and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will restore it four times as much to them!  Zach felt lost in his mind–spinning and accusing. I have heard that this man forgives sin!  Forgiveness. This is what I need.  I must catch up with Him. 

Zach came up with an idea. He knew the Jericho streets and alleys like the back of his hand. He darted off down a northbound alley with a low height clearance—perfect for children and others his size.  He quickly ducked, twisted, turned again and again; one could easily get lost never to be found  back there. He returned to the main roadway and popped out another low height entry at a small clearing with a Sycamore Tree towering over the cobblestone way. The bustle of business continued unabated on both sides of the road without noticing Zach’s resourceful plan.  He scanned down the road but could not see past the tall men in front of him.  Quickly he scaled the tree to 15 feet above the crowd.  Already he could see the one known as the Rabbi, the Master, the Lord coming into his view!

His heart was beating nearly out of his chest.  So many memories of riches gained with false scales and dishonest practices raced in his mind.  He began to sweat and padded his forehead with his linen sash.  Would He accept my invitation?  Would He hear me?  Would He see me?  Would He actually come to the house of a traitorous tax collector? Would He even bear the presence of a man like me? Again, Zach felt lost in his anxiety.

He looked up again to see where the Master was when he heard the voice from below the tree branch he sat on. ‘Zacchaeus! hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today!’  That day the Savior and salvation came to Zachaeus’ house because Jesus came intentionally to seek / save the lost.

What a snapshot!  What a moment!  What a scene we get to observe how a lost soul becomes found!  Perhaps you’ve not thought about this.  There is a lot that God sovereignly superintends in the matter of salvation and abundant and eternal life of each and every soul on earth.

This account of Zach’s salvation is found in Luke 19:1-10.  If you turn with me to here, you will see in this story an important example that Jesus shows us to demonstrate how a lost soul becomes found.  To see this, look at Jesus’ sum up in verses and 9 and 10,

⁹Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

As we study carefully this passage, we will see  that God calls and draws people to Himself while people seek and respond to His initiation.

If you ever come up with the idea that its time to come back to God, or to turn to Him for the first time, this sense of focus was preceded by an eternity of sovereign work God is doing for and in your soul.

A glimpse is given to this eternal viewpoint and action God in every person’s salvation is found in Ephesians 1,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as He chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love ⁵ He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will, ⁶ to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in [Jesus Christ] the Beloved. ⁷ In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, ⁸ which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in Him.” (1:3-10)

This is a summary of the backstory of what God is doing in each of our lives.  At the beginning of Zach’s story, why Jesus was in Jericho particularly became clear as He called out to the man with who He already had an appointment.

1. Jesus initiates looking for the lost soul. (v.1)

“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.”  Luke is the only Gospel writer who records this event.  Luke tells us in 17:11 Jesus’ larger travel plans:  “On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.”  His primary stated destination was to arrive in Jerusalem.  Unlike in John 4 when Jesus had to pass through Samaria because He had a divine appointment to find the lost woman at the well in Sychar, on this occasion, Jesus took the more common and more traveled byway around Samaria.  He taught and He healed along the way. At first it seems that the towns and villages He passes through are incidental along the way, but as it turns our the Sovereign Lord had arranged appointments for healing to show who He is, and salvations to seek and save from their sin.

I love this.   In my own testimony, I could write that Jesus entered Manchester, New Hampshire on May 31, 1982 to seek and find my soul alongside others that day. Zachaeus will eternally remember that day when Jesus had to come through Jericho to find and save this man.

Nothing about our salvation is not initiated by the Sovereign Creator God (YHWH).  Whether it is the oikos in which we are a part by which we will hear the Gospel; or that God’s Word has fallen on our ears by God’s faithful messengers in our time. God is the first and primary and causal mover in anyone’s salvation.

2. The lost soul begins seeking the Lord. (v.2-4)

In the northern outskirts of Jericho days and hours before chapter 19’s events, Jesus had healed a blind man who was sitting along the road begging.  The man regained his sight and began following Jesus and boldly praising and thanking God. Perhaps during this man’s loud testimony to the power of God, Zachaeus wanted to meet Jesus and see if He could solve Zachaeus’ well, ‘problem’ as well.

 ²And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. ³ And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. ⁴ So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see [Jesus], for He was about to pass that way.

Zachaeus Seeks Jesus

He was the chief tax collector for his region under Roman occupation.

He extorted many in his natural course of greed and business.

He was an unusually short man.

He really wanted to get to talk with Jesus.

He tenaciously, resourcefully pursued Jesus.

He was deeply burdened by the guilt and weight of his own sin.

For the casual observer you would only see this part:  Zach seeking God.  And this is what God draws us toward Him to do.  And with surrender in our hearts we respond to His initiation by seeking Him and coming to Him.

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord.” (Jer 29:12-14)

As we are led by God to seek Him, in a glorious surprise we discover that He calls out to us!

3. Jesus calls the lost soul by name. (v.5)

 ⁵ And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’”  (19:5)

Incredible!  Even before Zach could call out to Jesus, he is pleasantly surprised that Jesus had sought him out and saw him in the tree and by name called Zach to come down.  

Look What Jesus Knew

Jesus knew Zach was looking for Him that day.

Jesus knew that he was waiting for Him to pass by that very minute.

Jesus knew Zach wanted an appointment with Jesus.

Jesus knew Zach would be responding to His call.

Romans 8:2-30 speaks to this issue: “²⁸And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

4. The lost soul turns from his sin and turns to Jesus. (v.6-8)

 ⁶So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. ⁷And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” ⁸And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.’”

Jesus called. Zach responded. Let this development sink into your mind. This is the moment when salvation occurs.  This is the beginning of new life in a man.  This is the second of new birth in Christ.  This is the moment when the invisible Holy Spirit indwells the heart of a lost man and becomes visible in the transformation of his soul.

5. Jesus finds and saves the lost soul. (v.9-10)

 ⁹Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

This verse highlights the significance of Zachaeus’ faith and repentance, indicating that salvation is available to all sinners. The context then emphasizes Jesus’ mission to seek and save the lost. 

God calls and draws people to Himself while people seek and respond to His initiation.

Prayer