Luke 19:1-10 NIV, Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a sinner."
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
The search for Zacchaeus – VS. 1-4:
Go where the people are. Jesus didn't pass through Jericho by mistake. He didn't meet Zacchaeus by accident.
God prepared Zacchaeus before Jesus got there.
Luke 18:25-27 NIV, Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus replied, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."
Titus 3:3-8, At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
John 3:3-6, Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." "How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit …
Zacchaeus was not a prime candidate for Salvation; most would have overlooked him – not due to his height. Why?
Tax Collector – servant of Caesar and outcast of Israel
Wealthy – gained from over taxing others.
Zacchaeus searched for Jesus.
Size didn't matter.
Pride did not hinder him.
The Befriending of Zacchaeus – VS 5-7:
Jesus didn't just walk by – He was compelled to befriend Zacchaeus.
He stopped and looked up at him
He spoke to him
He made a connection with him
Such is our responsibility in reaching out to others.
Seize the opportunities
Be friend
Be real
Be ready to present Jesus at any time.
2 Timothy 4:1-3, In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
Zacchaeus received Jesus joyfully – so will those you introduce Him to.
The Salvation of Zacchaeus – VS 8-10:
Meeting Jesus changes people.
2 Corinthians 5:14-18, For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation …
Changes in Zacchaeus
Repentance – 2 Corinthians 7:10, Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Repayment – Exodus 22:3-4, "Anyone who steals must certainly make restitution, but if they have nothing, they must be sold to pay for their theft. If the stolen animal is found alive in their possession—whether ox or donkey or sheep—they must pay back double.
Faith - Romans 3:22, … this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile …
Proclaimed a son of Abraham by Jesus.
Now Zacchaeus lived up to his name – Pure.
He gave a great fragrance to the place of fragrance – Jericho
Why did Jesus bother with Zacchaeus? – VS 9
Jesus came to those most in need. Mark 2:15-17, While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
Luke 15:3-7, Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
We are to follow His example.
1 Corinthians 11:1, Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
So when you share the Lord with others, do not look at the outward appearance.
1 Samuel 16:7, But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Aleita J. 'Leigh' Morton
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