0370. THE MISSION OF CHRIST.

THE MISSION OF CHRIST.

"For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luk_19:10).

Zaccheus sought to see Jesus, and Jesus sought to save Zaccheus. "This is a faithful saying, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners" (1Ti_1:15).

I. The Seeker. "The Son of Man." As the Son of God He was the offspring of all that God the Father is in Himself. As the Son of Man He is the offspring of humanity. Divinity and humanity are both represented in Jesus, who is called the Christ. He is not the Son of angels, but He is the Son of Man, our kinsman Redeemer.

II. The Objects. "That which was lost." Not only what man had lost, but man himself as a lost one. Man as a spirit is lost to Heaven and to God as long as he is enslaved by the power of sin, although he may be as rich and honoured as this publican. He may be insensibly lost, like the piece of silver, or miserably lost, like the poor sheep, or wilfully lost, like the prodigal (Luke 15); but to be out of the Shepherd’s count, or out of the Father’s fellowship, is to be lost. "She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth."

III. The Purpose. "The Son of Man is come to save." "He came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Luk_5:32). "He came not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved" (Joh_3:17). This saving search began in Eden. "Adam, where art thou?" The Maker has come to readjust man as a spiritual mechanism with Himself. Man can only be saved by regeneration. When the Son of Man came to save the lost He came prepared to sacrifice all that He had in order to secure this end. He made Himself of no reputation, and became obedient even unto the death of the Cross. "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied."

IV. The Manner. "The Son of Man is come to seek." He has come-come into our very nature, into our room and stead, into the curse that was due to us, and into the death penalty of our sins. He has come seeking to save. He came not to be ministered unto, but to give His life a ransom for many. Seeking to save. He still continues His ministry of seeking.

Autor: James Smith