The Son of Man Came to Seek and Save the Lost

In this part of the sermon: Drawing from Daniel 7, Martin explains that the 'Son of Man' is a divine figure given dominion and glory, identified by the Jews as Jehovah manifested, not just a man.

Quotes Daniel 7:13-14 to introduce the Old Testament background for the title 'Son of Man,' highlighting the divine attributes and universal dominion given to this figure.

Though we may seem to be far from a road in Jericho and far from Zacchaeus, when we're way back in Daniel, we'll be back in Jericho before long. So hang on. Daniel, chapter 7. In verses 13 and 14, we read, And I saw in the night visions, And behold, there came with clouds of heaven One like unto a Son of Man, And He came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.

12:06 - 12:42 Read in full sermon

Driving home: No, the terms Son of God and Son of Man both have reference to the uniqueness of Jesus Christ as the divine human Savior.

Quotes Mark 14:60-63 to show Jesus' affirmation of being the Son of Man in fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy, leading to the charge of blasphemy.

when Jesus identifies himself as the fulfillment of that vision, the Jews say he's committing blasphemy. He's worthy of death. Notice Mark chapter 14, verses 60 through 63. And the high priest stood up in the mist and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing?

14:22 - 14:47 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And so this word is a rich biblical word speaking of that state and condition into which sin has brought us and follow closely, in which sin always leaves us and from which sin has no power to deliver us.

References Luke 15's parables of the lost sheep, coin, and son as foundational explanations for what it means to be spiritually lost.

Sin can destroy and has no power to recover. And our Lord has used this word often in His teachings with the disciples in this very gospel record that is before us in the 15th chapter. You'll remember He gave the three parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the lost son. And that chapter, chapter 15, becomes, as it were, the dictionary to explain the meaning of what it means to be spiritually lost as Zacchaeus was lost prior to his being saved and sought and saved by the Son of Man.

24:37 - 25:20 Read in full sermon

Driving home: And so this word is a rich biblical word speaking of that state and condition into which sin has brought us and follow closely, in which sin always leaves us and from which sin has no power to deliver us.

Uses the analogy of a lost sheep to illustrate the state of being lost: away from safety, exposed to danger and death, and useless for its intended purpose.

Now, when a sheep is lost, what happens to it? I want you kids to think for a minute here. When a sheep is lost, what happens to it?

25:21 - 25:29 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He elaborates on the lost state, describing it as treasuring up wrath from God due to sin, being useless for God's purposes, and estranged from Him. This applies to all…

Explains Romans 2:5 using a banking analogy, where each day a sinner lives without repentance, they 'treasure up' wrath for themselves.

The scripture says that sin is a provocation of God's holy and righteous anger. And do you know what every sinner does every single day he lives in violation of God's law? Paul uses a phrase in Romans chapter 2 that is a graphic phrase, a frightening phrase. He says in Romans chapter 2 and I read now from verse 5, but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath.

28:07 - 28:43 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon details the first activity: 'seeking,' which implies relentless determination to track down sinners, illustrated by Herod, Mary and Joseph, the Samaritan woman, and…

Quotes Matthew 2:13 to illustrate the relentless determination implied by the word 'seek,' in the context of Herod's murderous intent.

It means to track it down with relentless determination. That's how the word is used in Scripture. In Matthew 2 and verse 13, the very familiar Christmas story or story subsequent to the initial Christmas story. Now when they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream saying, Arise, take the young child and his mother, flee into Egypt and be there till I tell thee for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

33:13 - 33:45 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon details the first activity: 'seeking,' which implies relentless determination to track down sinners, illustrated by Herod, Mary and Joseph, the Samaritan woman, and…

Uses the example of parents frantically searching for a lost child in a crowded place (like Mardi Gras) to convey the intensity of 'seeking.'

And we know exactly how relentlessly he tried to track down this babe that was born to be king. He will seek the child. He will track him down until he is certain that he's destroyed him. It's the word used in Luke chapter 2 and every parent can understand its meaning here.

33:45 - 34:03 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon details the first activity: 'seeking,' which implies relentless determination to track down sinners, illustrated by Herod, Mary and Joseph, the Samaritan woman, and…

Illustrates Christ's relentless seeking by recounting His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, persisting until she recognized Him.

Look at that Samaritan woman woke up that morning thinking it was to be a day as all other days to go out at the time when the Jews would not be there to go out at the time when she could draw the water in the midst of the burning noonday sun and it says of our Lord that he must needs pass through Samaria the son of man relentlessly tracked her down and though she was so dull in her spiritual senses that Jesus was talking about spiritual water and she was thinking physical water he stuck with it until she said running back into the city forgetting her water pots come see a man that told me all...

35:13 - 36:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon details the first activity: 'seeking,' which implies relentless determination to track down sinners, illustrated by Herod, Mary and Joseph, the Samaritan woman, and…

Briefly mentions Jesus seeking out Nathaniel, who was sitting under a tree, as another example of His seeking activity.

Look at that Samaritan woman woke up that morning thinking it was to be a day as all other days to go out at the time when the Jews would not be there to go out at the time when she could draw the water in the midst of the burning noonday sun and it says of our Lord that he must needs pass through Samaria the son of man relentlessly tracked her down and though she was so dull in her spiritual senses that Jesus was talking about spiritual water and she was thinking physical water he stuck with it until she said running back into the city forgetting her water pots come see a man that told me all...

35:13 - 36:42 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon details the first activity: 'seeking,' which implies relentless determination to track down sinners, illustrated by Herod, Mary and Joseph, the Samaritan woman, and…

Details the dramatic conversion of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus as a classic example of the Son of Man seeking and saving a determined persecutor.

Look at that Samaritan woman woke up that morning thinking it was to be a day as all other days to go out at the time when the Jews would not be there to go out at the time when she could draw the water in the midst of the burning noonday sun and it says of our Lord that he must needs pass through Samaria the son of man relentlessly tracked her down and though she was so dull in her spiritual senses that Jesus was talking about spiritual water and she was thinking physical water he stuck with it until she said running back into the city forgetting her water pots come see a man that told me all...

35:13 - 36:42 Read in full sermon

Driving home: To save Zacchaeus or any lost sinner, Jesus knew that he had to go to Jerusalem.

Quotes an old Chinaman saying, 'Me no find Him, He find me,' to emphasize the divine initiative in salvation.

and persecution against the church and he's on his way to Damascus just like some of those fire breathing dragons you see in a Chinese restaurant it says breathing out threatenings and slaughters against the church can't you picture him wild eyed he's got these letters from the high police stuffed within his robe I can see him driving his horse driving his horse driving his horse until its hide is foaming with the lather of its own sweat on his way to get the Christians and the son of man comes seeking that Saul of Tarsus and he gets his man he came to seek and to save that which was lost as t...

36:42 - 38:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Behold the glory of Christ in His role as the Son of Man, recognizing His condescension and willingness to become truly human to seek and save us.

Uses the analogy of a shepherd leaving his comfortable home to go into danger to find a lost sheep to illustrate Christ's willingness to come to where sinners are.

Where the sheep is lost. Blessed be God for Jesus, who though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor. Oh, behold the glory of the Son of Man, willing to come into the state of true humanity. Behold him as the Son of Man, living in abject poverty.

45:20 - 45:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Believers are urged to behold the glory of the Son of Man in His condescension, His willingness to become poor and suffer (Gethsemane), and His ultimate sacrifice, which enables…

Relates Jesus' teaching to a disciple about birds and foxes having homes, contrasting it with the Son of Man having nowhere to lay His head, illustrating His poverty.

He says, look, son, see the little birds out there on the edge of the twig? Yes. When night time comes, they can fly to a little place where there's some twigs all woven together. And on the outside it says, this is Reddy Robbins' house.

45:55 - 46:12 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Believers are urged to behold the glory of the Son of Man in His condescension, His willingness to become poor and suffer (Gethsemane), and His ultimate sacrifice, which enables…

Recounts the story of Peter finding a coin in a fish's mouth to pay taxes, illustrating Christ's provision despite His poverty.

He doesn't reach into his pocket. He doesn't take out his checkbook. He says, Peter, I know that three days ago when Henry was down there by the bridge fishing, some coins fell out of his pocket and it fell into the mouth of a certain fish. Now, you go down there and you drop your line and the first fish that comes up, you'll find a coin in his mouth.

46:59 - 47:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Believers are urged to behold the glory of the Son of Man in His condescension, His willingness to become poor and suffer (Gethsemane), and His ultimate sacrifice, which enables…

Describes Jesus' agony in Gethsemane, His prayer, and His sweating blood, illustrating the immense burden He bore to save sinners.

Oh, behold the glory of the Son of Man. He came to that poverty that he might seek us and save us where we were. Behold him. Behold him going into Gethsemane.

47:31 - 47:48 Read in full sermon

The point: If you are lost, your only hope is Jesus, for He seeks and saves.

Quotes verses from the hymn 'Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Wretched' to summarize the gospel invitation and Christ's ability and willingness to save.

I close with the words of that great gospel hymn. It isn't found in many of our hymn books today, but oh, what a statement of the biblical gospel. Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched, weak and wounded, sick and sore. Jesus, ready, stands to save you, full of pity, joined with power.

51:40 - 52:01 Read in full sermon