A Man Called Zacchaeus
Who would you say would be the smallest man in the Bible? Zacchaeus, the key is, you know, I know I'm up, I'm not a comedian but I do have some suggestions and pretty pretty funny. They got
Nia. Maya Nehemiah, that's funny.
If you got bildad, the shuhite.
That's good one, right? engorged Bible tells us Peter slept on his watch, so I want to see how Peter slept on his watch. But anyways.
Small people, small people. So who do you think about? We mention this mommy in the Bible, Brother. Richard said Zaki is. So most of us probably be called the childhood song about Zacchaeus and they want Singapore's. Zacchaeus Was a wee little man. A wee little man. Was he is that how it went? Yo, great song, but it leaves out so much about the kids. As we were going to take a brief look at him this evening.
Herobrine got these little. That's a good ones. They got anything.
Luke chapter, 19. Starting verse 1. The Jesus entered and passed through Jericho now. The whole, there was a man named Jackie is it was a chief tax collector and he was rich and he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd for. He was short stature. So we ran ahead and climbed up in the sycamore tree to see him for, he was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, I said to him is Zacchaeus make haste and come down for today, I must stay at your house so he made haste and came down and received him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complain saying he is going to be a guest for the man who is a center. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord look Lord I give half of my goods to the poor and if I have taken anything from anyone, buy false accusation, Iris, restore fourfold. And Jesus said to him today, salvation has come to this house Because he also is a son of Abraham for the son of man is come to seek and to save that, which was lost, but its prey. Barely father, we thank you for this evening. Father Atlantis, the guy that your house once again, father and it's we just do this brief Bible study here. Father. I just pray that that you help us see some some very important truths that we can take away from your scripture. Father, we thank you for allowing us to be here once again. Father in Jesus name I pray. Amen.
So looking at that kiss we read about this man. Things that key is we see in verse 2, it tells us now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector and he was rich. He was one of the head tax collectors in the region of Jericho in the Bible says that he was a rich man. Jewish Tax Collectors like Zacchaeus for a scorned by their countrymen because they were known for cheating. The taxpayer and they worked for wrong. So he's a tax collector and he collected money from his own friends and neighbors for the Roman Empire. Tax Collectors here, we're not well, lie. Course he locks Tax Collectors, right? And we pay taxes on everything. It seems like But the tax collectors here, they were corrupt. And they always took more than what was needed and they would keep the excess and virtually they would live. Like kings many of them were rich with money that they swindled from their own countrymen. So we can see that they were not well liked and they were considered as thieves. He's not locked at all and no one wants anything to do with them. Verse 3 tells us and he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd for he was of short stature. And this verse we learned two things about the kiss here. In this verse, we see that he sought to see who Jesus was why we don't know. But we know that he is drawn to Christ. He's probably heard about Christ and he is drawn to him and he wants to see him. And, secondly, we see that he could not see, because of the crowd, because he was so short. So, why that pointed out in scripture? I can't tell you, but it's there. We know that he was drawn to Christ and he knew that he could not see over the taller people. So we rehear that Zacchaeus Was yours statue, meaning that he wasn't very tall at all. Zack his new that he was that Jesus was passing by. He wanted to see Jesus as he passed through town and then reverse 10, when you go in first 10 to get some insight to to that we can look back and see why Zacchaeus wanted to see Christ. It says that the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost and we know that from that the introduction we've had is that kiss that he was not a great man he was corrupt he was a sinner. Zacchaeus Was lost, he heard about Christ and was wanting to see who Jesus was as he was passing through on his way through. He had enough money to have whatever he could want, but something was missing. He was empty inside, his send left him lonely and when he hears about Jesus, he just has to see him. He's got to see who this man is. And as Believers when we sin against God, we should feel ashamed and we should feel very short and extremely small inside ourselves. It should break our hearts when we sin against God because he is, Holy Justin, true. And we look at everything that God has done for us and what he is supposed to be Lord of everything. You know, when people make Like they trying to make a list of priorities and we make it and we tried to put Jesus number 1 on the priority list but still, that's not enough for him. Why? Because Jesus should be the owner of the priority list. Here's our Lord. Hope it makes sense. Everything should come first. The Christ. So even when we make our own priorities, we can prioritize to make Christ first. But do we actually do it? Most of the time we don't. And we're out the Lord's will we can feel depressed and undeserving and at times we can think that we deserve more because we think that we are better. Zacchaeus may have been down on the inside, but Jesus was about to pass by where he was at and he had a desire to get close to him as he could. It's as though, he had found a sparkly life just by hearing about Jesus and verse for it tells us, so he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for, he was going to pass that way something. So we can see he he he knew Jesus was going to, he couldn't see Jesus where he was at, but he knew Jesus was going to a certain place. So he put himself in a position where he could see Christ. How often do we do that ourselves? How do we put ourselves in the position where we can be in the side of Christ? I sent to think about right.
I lost passport. I wonder what the people must have thought that knew him. So here's a rich man running through the crowd rich. Men did not run. They probably thought he had lost his mind. They've used to seeing him slowly taking his time, doing whatever he wants to do. But when Jesus came along, he was up and running and we see that he climbing a tree. See you in a minute this time. It was unusual for wealthy men to run, especially a wealthy man. There was a government official yet. Zacchaeus friend, down the street, like a little boy, following a parade. I hope you can see the picture here. There was just something about the man name of Jesus, that made Zacchaeus want to see him, no matter what he had to do in order to see Zacchaeus had a burning desire to meet the Lord, just to see him as he just passed by, he put himself in a position to see Christ and many of us are traveling down the wrong path for a lot even though Jesus Christ is calling us to follow him just like Zacchaeus many of us feel very small and helpless for many people when Jesus passes their way. They determine that, it's too hard to change to follow him. They can't complain that they can't reach Jesus for all the obstacles that are in their way and many people. Allow other people to hinder them from reaching cries by holding onto past grudges and keeping bitterness in their hearts. They were people that day who could have hindered Zacchaeus from coming to Christ but Zacchaeus did not let that happen. We read that a large crowd of people were who were much taller than he was with blocking. His view is Ikea's could have complain to set up. There was too many people on his way, but he didn't do that. He didn't offer any excuse for his physical state. He was seeking after Christ, he was small in height and the spirit but he mustered the strength. And the gumption to rise above the crowd of people in order to look upon the savior
People that sincerely desire to see, Jesus Christ will use the proper means that it might take to see him and we'll make it through a great deal of difficulty in opposition and would be willing to take pains to see him. How many times do we let obstacles? Get in our way and how many times are we ourselves that obstacle? You see, whatever the situation we may be in. We must take the advantages that we can, the advantage is that God gives us And we are to Humble ourselves. in order to put us in a position where we can see Christ, Zacchaeus Was very short in height and spirit and it was a large crowd, separating him from Jesus be here but he had a desire to see Christ and if we ever decide that Jesus stuff to see Jesus, we will find him. Jesus was not at all surprised that Zacchaeus Was in the sycamore tree. Jesus knew exactly where he was. This was to be the most joyous day of Zacchaeus is live. He would never be the same after this Day, verses 5 and 6, tell us. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him and said to him is that keep us make haste and come down for today, I must stay at your house. So we made haste and came down and received him, joyfully from these verses. We see that Zacchaeus thought that he was seeking Jesus, but Jesus was seeking him. in Romans 3 11, we read there is none that seeketh after God when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden by eating the forbidden fruit, they hit from God, but God came in looking for them and asked Where are you?
Where are you at him? And God was waiting for what he was waiting for confession. Adelman sand.
The Lord is asking the same question and he asked many people today. That question and Revelation 3:20. Jesus says, behold I stand at the door and knock If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come to him and will sup with him. And he with me that's exactly what Jesus did was Zacchaeus. Open the door to his heart. He went into his house and he had dinner with him. Verse 5 Jesus says, Zacchaeus make haste and come down. What did he call him? He called him by name Zacchaeus. When Jesus speaks us, he calls us by our names as he did Zacchaeus for. He knows his chosen ones by name. Jesus says, in John 10 verse 3 in the sheep, hear his voice and he calls his own Sheep by name. If you are here, is Jesus called you by name, because he deeply loves you. If we hear Jesus call her name, let's not question him. Let's follow him. If he calls her name it means he has chosen us. So we do not need to hesitate to answer that. Call in verses 5 and 6. We see that Jesus invited himself. It is at kisses house and Zacchaeus received him. Joyfully Joy is one of the key themes in the Gospel of Luke and the word is found over 20 times in one form or another when Jesus calls us by name and the boxes to become of his own beloved and chosen sheep. He desires to bring joy into our lives. You see, Joy's equality? It is a quality, not a simple. Emotion is grounded, upon God himself. And it comes from God. So what do you think about me? Think about joy. We tied to what we describe his happiness, right? Happiness.
When we look at happiness, we think it's something that is comparative to a person's life or situation and that it varies based on external forces outside of a person.
My news today, believe that happiness is something that we have when things are happening the way we want it to write. But Joe is not based on what is happening around us. Joy is a gift from God. Joy is something that is stable in an unstable World. There are many today or trying to follow God and trying, also to follow a life of sin, and because they are both mentally and spiritually, spiritually unstable. It puts them in a position where they're double-minded. And the double-minded person is trying to get is trying to go to different directions and we cannot do that and it's dangerous when we try to do. So James, 18 tells us that a double-minded man is unstable in his ways. Jesus, bring stability to us, he brought stability to Zacchaeus, he brought stability to his unstable life. He gives him joy and he wants to give each and everyone of us joy. Zacchaeus Was a small man in stature, but when Jesus came into his life, he became full of joy. Christ saved. A very simple man here in our text, right? So, moving on and we see an unhappy crowd in a saved man. First n7210 tells us but when they saw it they all complain saying he is going to be a guest of the man who is a sinner who did Christ come to save.
Save that which was lost. And he's doing so there's like he has stood and said to the Lord Lord local where I get half of my goods to the poor. And if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold. And Jesus said to him today, salvation has come to his house and because he is also son of Abraham. For the son of man is come to seek to save that which was lost. So hear the crowd complained that Zacchaeus Was a tax collector, he was a sinner that put him with a crowd of people that nobody likes. How often do we do that ourselves? It's easily done. Is it not? It was not Zacchaeus fault that he was a little stature. And he could not see over the crowd but he did what he could to see Jesus by putting aside his pride and climbing that tree. Zacchaeus rely realized that his in his current condition, he was lost and that he needed Christ. What do we get when we try to do things on her own? A lot of times nothing, A lot of times, we make a bigger mess and then what we're in, right?
Christ, Drew Zacchaeus to hymns that kids had to see who he was. Romans 6:23 says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. So no one measures up to God standards. The tragedy is many of the Lost think that they do. They measure themselves by men standards. It's easily done. We value status by money and position of authority and popularity. And in, in culture, today, we're holding on to things that are Abominations in the sight of God. They think that they have everything when they really have nothing is Zacchaeus. As we can see from over, you know, in the text, he is a man that had everything, right? He had the riches, he had the position, the other power, but something was in was missing.
and when he found that the only thing that could feel that void that loneliness with Christ,
He was drawn to Christ, he had a hunger and a desire to see Christ. It was going to do, whatever it took to seek him out. There were many obstacles in his way. We know that Satan is the master of putting obstacles in our way. He likes to get us lost in this maze, right? He gets lost in the Maze of confusion, he start rationalizing, things our own mind and we get away from scripture and we trying to do what's just right by our standards today. We have so many obstacles that we let get in our way. We're influenced by television my Facebook by public opinion. Some people have a difficult time coming to Jesus because they had a bad experience in the past. They was something or someone or some church that really offended them. They can't see past that. Other struggle with coming to Christ because they don't want to give up control of their life. It's hard work. Being a Christian. Is it not? It's hard work getting ourselves out of the way. I know I struggle with a constantly.
Satan likes using circumstances. He likes using the luxuries of comfort and many other obstacles to keep us away from Christ. Today, we must humble ourselves and put our pride aside and go seeking after Christ, how can we seek after him, because he has sought us, he is desired us to know him, is giving us a hunger and a desire to see who he is. Him today we are economic downturn. Again, it seems like it never goes away, right? Inflation is out of control, and our own government is encouraging people to think that they deserve to have everything that they want. We have become greedy and everything that we want. Today, we are in spiritual decline. As a nation depravity is taking over and seeing is accepted as good. And that's a bad place to be, never talked about being double-minded while ago. Our culture pushes for tolerance of seeing Christians today face compromise. As soon as that portrayed as good. Instead of evil, we got to constantly stay on guard constantly, stay in God's word. We have to go near to God so he can draw near to us. And as we draw near to God, we start to love the things that he loves and hate the things that he hates. And the bad thing. Now, is when we speak the truth, the truth is uncomfortable around many people cuz they're so used to living in their simple Lifestyles and they say it's hurtful and we end up being called Hypocrites and big is right because everybody knows that were perfect, right? We make our mistakes. But our desire should be to seek God to see him. To seek his face. We should be seeking out for wisdom and guidance, Zacchaeus Was lost. He was missing something and he went to Christ. So, we have decisions that we all have to make. One of the biggest ones is who we going to serve.
I want to point out that Zacchaeus shows us something very important here.
Zacchaeus went to Christ, right? Where he was at.
He wasn't going to church on a Tampa, but he was in a crowd and he would desire to see the Lord. He couldn't see God. So he put himself in the position. He humbled himself even though he climb that tree to where he could meet Christ where you could see him. He had no idea that Christ was going to point him out. And come and stay in his house and what a blessing that must have been. So we see a change in Zacchaeus verse 8 tells us that he gives half of what he had to the poor to pay back with interest of everyone. He ripped off. Can you see the DraStic change in that man's life and do short 10 verses that we just read? We see a saved, man. Christ said for the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. When we look at that kiss. I hope we remember more than just a childhood song that we know of him. We see a man who had everything but had nothing until he had Christ. I think you're feeling me, share that with y'all this evening, I know, we got done early. That's all I have. If I keep going out, mess it up. We're going to prayer request. It's ma'am.
Miss Norma. Is having a heart cath on Monday.