Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

Opening Hymn 245: More About Jesus

Closing Hymn 493: Fill My Cup

Scripture Reading

Luke 19:1–10 ESV

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Introduction

Title comes from the 1967 movie starring Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn

The film depicted a interracial marriage - at the time interracial marriage was illegal in 17 states in the US

At the heart of the movie is the white daughter introduces Sidney Poitier’s character for the first time, unexpectedly, to the parents who surprised to hear that their daughter is engaged and to be married to a black man

I cannot say that the concept of the film was inspired by the story of Zac. but what I can say is that Jesus being a guest at the house of a tax collector would have brought similar surprise and in some circles disgust as it would a black man marrying a white woman in 1967 America.

Who Then Can Be Saved?

Luke 19:2 ESV

2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.

There are three things we learn about rich people in Luke:

Luke 12 - Jesus’ parable about the rich fool

Luke 16 - Jesus’ second parable about Lazarus going to heaven

Luke 18 - Third Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler

And the question is asked in Luke 18:27

Luke 18:26 ESV

26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

Jesus’ encounter with Zac. is an answer to that question. Zac. was rich but he didn’t allow his wealth to blind him.

How Undignified

Luke 19:4 ESV

4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

Climbing trees was associated with children

For a man, especially one who is wealthy it was considered undignified.

Zac. had to let go of his pride unlike the rich young ruler

If there’s one thing that continues to define God’s people in the last days is our wealth and our pride:

Revelation 3:17 ESV

17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

“The proud person always wants to do the right thing, the great thing. But because he wants to do it in his own strength, he is fighting not with man, but with God.” ― Soren A. Kierkegaard

Today

Luke 19:9 ESV

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.

“The moment Jesus said ‘today’, yesterday was defeated.”

There are people who are living today in yesterday’s problems

There are people living today with yesterday’s pain

And there are people making judgment of others because of the mistakes they made yesterday

Today is a new day because Jesus has defeated - yesterday!

Don’t allow your past to rob you of today

Conclusion

Jesus says “Today salvation has come to this home.”

Jesus also said:

Revelation 3:20 ESV

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

If there’s a knock on the door of your heart - guess who’s coming to dinner?