He Raised to Seek and to Save the Lost

What draws people to church on Easter Sunday? Many attend due to tradition. Others come because their children or grandchildren have persistently requested to watch them from the stage. 

However, some of you, driven by a spiritual pursuit, seek the authentic Jesus, not just the historical figure, but the resurrected Jesus.

Still, all of us, knowingly or not, are here because Jesus is looking for you.

Jesus doesn’t just wait to be discovered—He reveals Himself. Resurrection Sunday proves He’s the one in pursuit. Seeking hearts in every condition.

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost

For the lost, he does not wait for you to find your way. He is the very way. And maybe you thought you came to Him, but He is the one stretching His saving hands towards you. 

(Luke 19:10) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

For the former churchgoer, He is knocking on the door of your heart again.

(Revelation 3:20) “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”

He answers your doubts

Easter is not just about an empty tomb—it’s about a living Jesus who finds people in their questions, shame, confusion, and doubts.

Jesus wants to hear your doubts. He does not get scared or scandalized by our deep questions.

Matthew 16:15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Maybe your view of Him is like some of the people. 

Matthew 16:14 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

He is not a reincarnation of an ancient prophet. He is not simply a revolutionary.

Even before the resurrection, Peter received revelation from God to see who Jesus really is.

Our prayer for you today is that you can also see Jesus through the lens of faith. 

Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The God who finds you in the shadows.

Some of us have been seeking Jesus for a while, but you are measuring the risk of identifying with Him. Is it worth it?

The Bible tells about a prestigious man. His name was Nicodemos. He had a reputation, a name, a pedigree. Why would he risk losing that by identifying himself with the carpenter?

However, he could not deny that Jesus was not an ordinary man. Not simply a smart teacher or rabbi. So, He came to meet Jesus at night.

John 3:2-3 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 

How many of us would be willing to talk to someone ashamed to meet with us publicly? But Jesus gave that man one of the best statements of God’s love a person could ever hear.

First, the truth:

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus, maybe like some of you today, understood it would be better if one could simply start over again.

One may wonder, "If I could simply go back in time … when… I knew better."

Before we had spoken that hurtful word. If we could go back before signing that divorce. If we could go back before we had started the spiral down of addiction, one gulp at a time, one dose after another… and now… Is there a way to actually be born again?

Jesus answered the cowardly Nicodemus. Not with condemnation. Not with disapproval. Jesus reminded him of a miracle that happened centuries ago.

The people of Israel were bitten by fierce and poisonous serpents.

We have also been bitten by sin, selfishness, envy, hate, bitterness, resentment, comparison, and depression.

There was no serum to heal them, and there is no human solution to deliver us from that venomous snake running through our veins.

So God instructed Moses to make an image of a bronze serpent. It is a serpent, but not like the others. That bronze serpent was raised, and whoever would see it and believe it would be immediately healed. What could that image ever do to recover from the venomous bite?

Jesus said, "That’s how you can start over by simply looking at the raised serpent and believing. 

John 3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

But how, you insist? How can that be applied to my brokenness, mess, and past?

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Just take a look at him.

Some people get the right conclusion by a snap of God’s revelation inside their hearts, like Peter. Others, like Nicodemos, must have some questions answered first. Still, others may need a special touch on the place of deep wounds and trauma. 

What about a woman who tried happy ever after 5 times? She got divorced, rejected, and excluded. Now, it was not even worth trying commitment with a man. They would rather live together and mend their rags together.

And for her also, Jesus did not condemn or judge. He spoke the truth.

John 4:17 You’ve had five husbands, and the man you’re living with now isn’t even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough.” 

What does the soul's thirst do to us? We keep craving acceptance, approval, and notoriety. She was looking for a love that no man could ever give her. She was looking for water that only the Spirit of God could refresh her.

This water is here today. As you hear Jesus speaking to you

John 4:25-26 [MSG] 25 The woman said, “I don’t know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we’ll get the whole story.”

26 “I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.”

Jesus finds the broken and not only fixes or repairs them. He restitute, he restoures in double.

Jesus finds the ones no one is looking for—and makes them messengers.

Discerning His voice.

Finally, we have two followers of Jesus, who, even after hearing about the resurrection of Jesus, could not see Him.

(Luke 24:16) “But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.”

It is incredible how many people have the voice of Jesus speaking to them repeatedly, but they still can’t recognize Him.

He is alive and is serving us today with His words again. Would you listen carefully to His invitation to believe?

He finds us to serve us with love.

Luke 24:30-34 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed … !

No matter where you are today, the risen Jesus is after your heart, with love and salvation.

JESUS IS RISEN TO FIND YOU

(Luke 19:10) “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

So the question isn’t just: Have you found Jesus?

The question is: Will you let Him find you today?