"And he sought to see Jesus ..."

People seek to see Jesus for a variety of reasons. Like the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18), some come to ask how they can have eternal life. Now that sounds very promising doesn't it? But this particular young ruler, after speaking with the Lord for a few moments, went away with great sorrow. So what was the real motive for seeking Jesus: The actual purpose that was in this man's heart?

Another rich man sought Jesus, a tax collector named Zacchaeus (Luke 19:3). He met with the Lord while sitting in a tree, simply curious to see what Jesus looked like. As Jesus came upon the tree, He looked up and saw Zacchaeus. Jesus knew this man's name, and called him to come down out of the tree so that they could have supper together, at Zacchaeus' house no less.
This rich man jumped for joy, and received Jesus into his home. Zacchaeus, who was a Jew, told the Lord that he would give half of his goods to the poor, and that he would restore all the money he swindled from people fourfold.
I would imagine, good old Zacchaeus was going to be left with very little after all was said and done. Salvation had come to this man. Jesus came to him. For Jesus says in verse 10 of chapter 19:

"For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

When Jesus seeks, as the Good Shepherd, the one lost sheep out of the ninety nine, then He shall find that sheep, and He will rescue it. He will even die for that sheep, for He owns that sheep, and He loves that lost sheep.

And there is this incredible truth that the Lord Jesus seeks us. He longs to find us. He goes into all the world, and He seeks us out, and gathers His lost sheep. He will bring them all into His pasture, and He will tend them, and they will follow His voice, for they are His. Just as He sought out Zacchaeus, and said to him: "This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham." (ver.9)