Jesus Christ is the Seeker of sinners (Luke 24:15-16). After His resurrection, He came to the disciples on the road to Emmaus amidst their despondency and unbelief. The women told them that He was risen from the dead, but "… their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not (vs. 11)."
Since Adam's fall, the Son of God has never found anyone that first sought Him. (Ps. 51:2-3) "God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." When Levi was called, he was busy cheating the people. When Peter was called, he was minding his fishing business–our Lord "prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land…" When Paul was called, he was Saul and on his way to persecute believers. Now, look at Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-4). Not only was he a crooked publican, but he was "the chief among the publicans, and he was rich." He didn't come to see Jesus for cleansing, but for curiosity. Yet, our Lord looked up and saw him as He was passing by. What did He see in such a wretch? He saw that Zacchaeus was one that the Father gave Him. The Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to save the people given to Him by the Father in eternal election. He does not save us because we are sinners. Many, many sinners shall perish. He saves us, as sinners, because in looking upon us, He sees that we are His Father's gift (Heb. 2:13). He sees us in the beauty of His own obedience. "For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren (Heb. 2:11)." Therefore, "… when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house (Luke 19:5)."
The fruit of Christ seeking you is you now seek Him. What does it mean to seek Him? It means to find Him. Zacchaeus was encouraged by our Lord's gracious intentions, therefore "… he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully (vs. 6)." Likewise, the disciples on the road to Emmaus constrained our Lord because their hearts burned while He expounded Himself in all the Scriptures. He made as though He would depart from them, but He was constrained by their arguments. They said, "Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them (Luke 24:29)."
I ask you, was selfishness in their desires? Of course. Brethren, and you that seek God, we will never be utterly selfless in this life. The pride that so perverts our best prayers is exactly the reason that we need more grace. It is foolish for a sinner to wait outside of the banquet because he's hungry. Yes, the King has prepared the feast for His own glory, but it's the King's glory for unworthy sinners to eat. Also, the disciples constrained Him with arguments concerning His own comfort (vs. 29). They reasoned that since it was so late in the evening, that it would be best for Him if He stayed. And, every time that we come to God for grace through the Jesus Christ the Lord, we glorify the Father and the Son (John 17:1-3).
Brethren, if we see ourselves the way Christ describes us in the Song of Solomon, then we'll seek Him successfully. In His eyes, we have the same perfect submission that He rendered unto God (I Cor. 11:3; I Cor. 3:23). Therefore, He says, "… the king is held in the galleries. How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights (Song. 7:5-6)." In temptation, we won't be so quick to forsake Him if we're confident that He delights to visit us. Most definitely, our perseverance is emboldened whenever we know that He WILLS to be constrained.
What did the Lord Jesus Christ do to make their hearts burn?First, He rebuked their unbelief saying, "O fools, slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken (vs. 25)." It's comforting to know that my problem with assurance and peace is not my Lord; it's not firstly my works; it's that I have not trusted the fullness of Christ. If there's any obedience required by me before grace, then I'm doomed. But, if grace is for sinners and promises are for weaklings, then it's not my inability but my unbelief, which fuels most of my gloom. O fools, slow of heart to believe and take hold of the like yoke of faith! You've failed because you've been going in your own strength (Isa. 57:10). You despaired because you didn't understand the difficulty. If you'll have Christ's strength, then you will sincerely know your own weakness. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" Faith rejects self to the extent that it grabs hold of Christ.
Secondly, our Lord Jesus showed them the necessity of His sufferings and the glory that must follow (vs. 26). If Christ will save us from our sufferings, then He must suffer in our place. If the law accepted Him as responsible for our crimes, then He must suffer for our crimes. And, If Christ successfully suffered, if He actually put away our sins with obedience unto death, then He must be glorified at the Father's right hand.
Lastly, their hearts burned and they constrained Him, because "… beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself (vs. 27)." Believers see more than interesting types and shadows. You forsake debate and philosophizing doctrine. You see Christ in the Scriptures and worship Him. You receive His salvation and have firsthand testimony that He's risen from the dead. "And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed… and how he was known of them in breaking of bread (vs. 33-35)."
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