(ESV) Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
The title Son of Man is His identification with humanity. The Lord uses it time and again to demonstrate the richness of God’s purpose for man. The Psalmist writes of this great purpose:
(ESV) Psalm 8:4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
The life of Jesus Christ is the manifestation of God’s care for man. The Gospel of Luke shows over and over the investment of God for man by the Son of Man’s ministry to man. What was it that brought the Son of Man to seek and to save the lost? You might say, “because, men are lost” and that would be correct. But let’s take this one step further. The word lost in the Greek is not just the simply idea of misplacing something that you once had—like you would a set of car keys. The word means, “something has been utterly destroyed” like you’ve lost your car to a fire. The Lord did not come to merely seek and save an item that had gone missing, the idea of this verse is that the Son of Man seeks and saves the utterly destroyed humanity of man.
Humanity was infinitely ruined and the Real Man—Jesus Christ—the Son of Man has come to seek and save all humanity to His new state. It’s very much like Robert Murray McCheyne once said, “He that created humanity in His own image at first must create you over again.” It’s not the idea that God wants to recreate you—instead you are a total new creation in Christ. You think I’m creating hyperbole? Listen to what Paul, says about Christ’s coming as the Son of Man.
(ESV) 1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.
He is the head of a new humanity! Jesus, the Son of Man is the second man from heaven—the author of a new creation! I think it’s very fitting that Luke, an associate and personal companion of the Apostle Paul, should be the one to capture the depths of Christ’s humanity. Luke seems to have a heightened awareness of the humanity of Christ and desires his readers know the same.
J. Robert Hanson
j robert hanson 
It is amazing sometimes to find out what the Greek means. It can shed a whole new light on something that we take for granted – like the word “lost”
It sure gave me a deeper appreciation for worship last Sunday! The depths of His rescue is truly astounding. Thanks Jay!
BTW, I read you were sick last week—is that right? Hope you’re feeling better.
hey man, it has been awhile since ya posted. you gonna start up again?
Hey Jay – I’ve been super busy with a series I’m preaching on called Rescuing Modern Marriage. It seems to have captured most my attention and time. I really didn’t realize it had been so long since I last posted something. Thanks for sending me a comment to wake me up. I have been keeping up on your blog though! I really enjoy it and it is such a refreshment and strength to me—thanks for keeping yours up faithfully. BTW, there is a young godly woman whose blog I read that is similar to yours in seriousness for Christ and context. You might enjoy reading what she says too. I’ve suggested to our young people in fellowship to follow her. http://growup318.com
Jack