Zacheus

Luke 19:1–4 KJV 1900

1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

The 3D Power of Jesus

Opening illustration:

While 3D seems other-worldly,it is really nothing more than a special image, viewed by special glasses. In order for us to see things in “3D”, each eye must see a slightly different picture. This is done in the real world by your eyes being spaced apart about 3” (meaning each eye has its own distinct view). Your brain needs both pictures to form one image that has depth to it.

an image is printed in two different colors, and each eye “sees” only one color. Usually the image is made of red and deep cyan (blue). That’s why most common 3D glasses have a red and blue lens (sometimes green is used instead of blue). So with the red/blue glasses, one eye sees the red part, the other sees the blue. Put them together, and viola’ – 3D

That’s also why a 3D image or film viewed without 3D glasses is “odd looking” – you see a red/blue fuzzy image. But put the glasses on, and your brain sees two separate images that it puts together.

3-D width, height and the added dimension of depth.

Today, not only can images be viewed in 3 Dimensions, technology has advanced to the point of 3 Dimensional printing.

this added dimension of depth, literally brings things to life. Watching a movie in 2D might be entertaining, but adding the third dimension makes it interactive, the added dimension of depth demands a response from the audience.

In the book of Luke, we find 3 Dimensions of the power of Jesus on display.

Just as 3D films can only be 3D when an additional slightly different picture is presented, the depth of God’s power can only be expressed through these added images of his demonstration. and…when we bring those images together, we see not only the height and the width of his power…but additionally the depth.

and So for just a few minutes, I want to present to you three images of the power of Jesus, as expressed in His Word, to hopefully convey to you the depth of what He is able to do in this place today.

And in order to grasp the magnitude and the depth of the power of Jesus Christ…we must also understand that no two people in this building are the same.

Our lives are different. Our stories are different. Our capabilities and our limitations are unique. There may be surface similarities that present groupings or categories. Gender distinctions that would move us into 2 groups. Skin tones and colors. Languages and dialects. Nationalities and citizenship. Those might bring us to a place of relatability, but the fact is that we are all different and we are all unique.

And so we come with

3 figures in the scripture that all come to Jesus from different directions.

Luke 8:43 tells us of a woman that had an issue of blood for 12 years. And the language that is used to introduce this woman is very specific, and very unique.

the bible tells us that she had spent ALL of her living upon physicians, but hadn’t been healed of any.

We read that and we rush past it.

but I want you to pause and put yourself in the shoes of this woman (or sandals, more likely). For 12 years she had spent, given, hoped and trusted. but nothing had changed. And now she has no money left. She is broke

Mark 5:26 says it this way...(She) had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse...

Can I ask what you are feeling when you hear that another physician is passing through town with the promise of healing?

What is your first thought?

Be honest…it isn’t to go lace up your sandals and race down the road…find this Jesus and make yourself vulnerable all over again…No…there was skepticism…cynicism…doubt…and…DELAY

Mark 5:27 says it this way…When She HAD HEARD about Jesus. Not when she heard…when she HAD heard…past tense.

Perhaps, you could say I am reading too much into the language…that I’m being picky over semantics…but look at what it says next...

She came in behind him

Mark says “she came in behind the press”…After

She was late to the party.

Perhaps she sat there for a few minutes…an hour…while Jaraius ran to him and asked him to come and heal his daughter who was sick unto death…the woman with the issue of blood, rocked on her couch and wrestled with her cynicism...

But then she realized that she quite literally had nothing to lose...

I’ve spent everything that I’ve got.

I’ve tried everything else that I could possibly try…and I’m no better now than I was then.

I’m preaching to someone today that you feel like you are late to the party! You have paused when you should have pursued…because you are struggling with skepticism and doubt.

But the bible says that when she came behind Jesus in the press, and she touched the hem of his garment…what did Jesus to?

Someone read Mark 5 vs. 30 “Turned him about”

He turned him about. she was late to the party…she was

Jewish law, it was unlawful for a woman to touch a man, unless they were family...

So when she touched Jesus…undoubtedly…the Pharisees were licking their chops…

But Jesus looked at her and what did he say? “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole”

I’m preaching about the 3-D power of Jesus…the depth of the love of Jesus...

the next is found in Luke chapter 18 vs. 35

Jesus is passing through Jericho…and as he draws near to the city…there sits a blind man begging…a man named Bartimaeus.

Bartimaeus…hears the rising noise of the multitude approaching.

He asks someone nearby…perhaps grabbing the arm of a part of the multitude and imploring that they tell him what the excited shouts and cries are about.

Bartimaeus, unlike the woman with the issue with blood had everything.

This would be the last time that Jesus passed through Jericho, triumphal entry, palm Sunday, crucifixion...

He didn’t have the luxury of a pause.

Following behind wasn’t an option. His condition had him confined to this one spot.

It was now or never.

Luke says…they told him that Jesus is passing by (now) and he cried...

I’m preaching to someone today that you don’t have the luxury of a delay!

You recognize that today is your day! You can’t afford to wait!

In fact, the crowd told Bartimaues to quiet down…stop shouting so loud…But Bartimaeus cried out the louder...

I can’t let this moment pass me by!

Others were worried that his loud cry was going to inconvenience Jesus…that it was bothersome…that it was out of place.

And the bible says that when he cried out the louder…what did Jesus to?

Someone read Luke 18:40 “And Jesus stood”

He stood still…he stopped walking.

I’m preaching about the 3-D power of Jesus....If you’ve got nothing to lose or everything to lose, Jesus is the answer!

Zacchaues

At face value…upon the introduction…they tell us that you make up your mind about someone within seconds of meeting them.

Career experts say it takes just three seconds for someone to determine whether they like you and want to do business with you.

If this is the case, while the the woman with the issue had nothing to lose, and Bartimaeus had everything to lose…Zacchaeus had nothing to gain.

Because we build this mentality that only beggars need Jesus…that only the sick and the struggling need Jesus…Only people with visible flaws and outward limitations need Jesus.

He had rank - He was a chief tax collector

He was rich

What could Zacchaeus possibly gain from meeting Jesus!?!

He had climbed the corporate ladder.

He had scaled the summit of wealth and riches.

Yet, there was something within Zachaues that status didn’t satisfy and riches couldn’t rectify.

the woman with the issue came from behind…The blind man hollered when he heard…but the Bible tell us that Zacchaeus ran before!!

Can I say today…that when Jesus is really what you are looking for…nothing will stop you from getting to him. Each of them had a crowd to content with…and each were coming from different directions…but they all found a way to get there!

I’ll holler if I have to!

I’ll crawl if thats what it takes

I’ll climb if need be.

There is a certain quality about Zacchaeus that I believe needs to get loose in the church today.

Its being syphoned from culture. It’s the absence of a dream, and the void of desire.

We’re more happy to let someone else pay our bills than we are to pursue progress!!!

Listen…god can’t do much with apathy. It’s hard to get a mule to move. But you can put a bridle on a horse.

Zacchaeus was a man that was motivated. He had climbed the ranks, he had worked hard to obtain wealth and riches...

He was motivated…albeit his motivation was misguided…

But he took that motivation that had elevated him in business

That had elevated him in wealth…and he applied it to his pursuit of Jesus!

Tell your neighbor, get motivated.

Usually when people come to Jesus and they have not motivation to do anything to improve themselves in society, they bring that same lethargy and apathy into the Kingdom of God.

And Zacchaeus ran ahead!

Zacchaeus made a decision, I want to get in God’s path!

Im going to position myself where God is going.

He tried the Bartimaeuss approach, but his limitations and the obstacles in his way, proved to be an obstruction too great.

And for many, they give up when their limitations meet an obstacle.

But not Zacchaeus. He recognized…i may not have the stature to get in on this moment…but I’m in it for the long haul…to I’m going to run ahead and get in his path!

I’m going to run ahead and position myself in such a way that my limitations wont stop me! I’m going to run ahead and posture myself in such away, that won’t nobody be able to block my view!

Can I tell you what Zacchaeus demonstrated?

Faith

faith is the substance of things hoped FOR…the evidence of things NOT YET SEEN!

Zacchaeus said, Im making some mover not just for the moment…not just with right now in mind…but I’m making some moves with what is coming next in mind!

Golf tournament - Tiger Woods.

And what did Jesus do when he passed by? He looked up.

For the woman with the issue that was late to the party…he turned around

For the blind man that had everything to lose…he stood still

For the rich tax collector that ran ahead…he looked up.

Thats the 3-Dimensional power of Jesus…no matter where you are coming from, he will meet you!

No matter if you are late to the party, in a desperate need now, or if you’ve got the faith to run ahead…if you will respond…Jesus will find you!!

You won’t make a move that Jesus won’t recognize!

You wan’t take a step that Jesus won’t reward!

Reach out and touch the Lord as he passes by, you will find he’s not too busy to hear your hearts cry....He’s passing by this moment, your needs to supply, so reach out and touch the Lord as he goes by!

The moment of truth comes in vs. 5

Luke 19:5 KJV 1900

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

This is the one factor that is different than the others. What separates the story of Zacchaeus from the story of the woman with the issue and the blind man.

This is what separates what Jesus will do in the life of those that come to him in faith…they run ahead because they recognize where Jesus is headed…they run ahead and they find a tree to climb, because they realize the power of getting in the path of Jesus!

He healed the woman with the issue and she went her way in peace

He healed the Bartimaeus and Bartimaeus followed him in the way

But, with Zacchaeus, Jesus said…I’m going to dwell…I’m going to abide in your house!

And our traditions, we have Jesus going to Zacchaeus to Taco Bell…or McDonalds…or maybe coming to Zachaeus home and them doordashing some fishes and loaves.

But the scripture doesn’t say anything about lunch…it says…im going to abide there…I’m going to stay there!

And this is the moment of truth. Zacchaeus did you climb out of curiosity…or are you willing to let me dwell with you?

Are you ready to make room…are you willing to push some things to the side in your life? Are you ready to create space for me?

Gladly he received him!

CLOSING: Somewhere in there, there is a conversation....We don’t know what Jesus says…and I believe it is intentionally left out…because its between Jesus and Zachaeus…what we do know is that when the conversation is over, Zacchaeus stands up and devotes himself to make wrongs right.