Zach The Camel that went through the Needle

Going Through the Needle

2023 Spring Branch

Luke 19:1-10

Zacchaeus: The Camel That Went Through The Needle

Verse 2 – Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and he was rich. “Well, he must have had a lot of friends…” No. He would be considered a disloyal Israelite and a traitor to his people. Tax collectors were hired by the Romans to tax other Jews, and no doubt… these Jews took advantage of their position and took more than what they should have. Matthew, Levi, was one of them as well.

Zach was a chief tax collector… so he most likely oversaw a large tax district and he had other tax collectors working for him. And being in Jericho, a prosperous trading center… Zach was a very rich man.

But… make no mistake… tax collectors became symbols of the worst kind of people. Zach was a symbol of the worst kind of people, the worst sinner… in this case… the “chief” of sinners.

But… there is a difference between Zach and all other sinners in this story… what is that?

Verse 3 – He sought to see who Jesus was.

All are sinners, but not all seek and search out Jesus. All are in need, but not all seek provision from the Provider. All are dead in their sins and trespasses… but not all seek the Resurrection and the Life.

Something was stirring inside Zach’s heart. Zach was troubled and was not content. Zach could not stay where he was; he could not live any longer in his current state of being… he had to see Jesus.

But something happened along the way… what’s that?

People got in His way. People restricted and hindered him… But… his physical restrictions did not limit him or stop him. What did Zach do?

Verse 4 – Zach ran. Zach got away from the hindrances and restrictions around him… and went as far as climbing a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus.

And FYI… this is not what dignified people do. Zach would be considered among the dignified. He was rich. He had people working under him, who are probably… literally under him at this point scratching their heads, laughing, ridiculing… or just simply asking him to come down and quit acting “undignified.”

What would make a person react and respond in such a way? Only a desperate man with faith.

Holy desperation and faith will make you break away from those influencers, restrictors and hindrances around you. Holy desperation and faith will make you seek, search, get aggressive, run and climb.

Holy desperation and faith will make you act undignified… and make us become radicals for Jesus, radical for change… radical for prayer and worship… radical for evangelism.

You cannot stop the desperate woman/man when his or her mind is made up. They have their eyes fixed and their ears bent. You don’t need an invitation song… they make their own and run!

What kind of faith is this? This kind of faith leaves comfort for the uncomfortable. This kind of faith gets you up to meet with Jesus through prayer and Bible study. This kind of faith gets you up to spend time with God’s people at the church house. This gets you up singing, worshipping, telling others…

Listen: When we are desperate for change… we will change. When our misery is greater than our fear… we will pursue answers, healing and change in our lives.

Desperation and faith moves us out on a limb. We have heard the expression: “Going out on a limb.” It means doing something we believe in even though it is risky or extreme, and we are likely to be criticized for it… But… when we go out on a limb for Jesus… we will find fruit and will be fruitful.

Are you desperate for change in your life? Are you desperate for answers? Are you desperate for spiritual progress? What are you willing to do?

And here we see… Zach hanging onto a sycamore tree limb. What does Jesus do? Does He ignore this kind of desperation and faith? No. “But, Zach is the chief among sinners and a vile rank to the Jew!”

Jesus looks through all that which Zach had done… to the faith that now is… and this stops Jesus in His tracks to reward the chief of sinners.

Verse 5 - This kind of faith is rewarded. Jesus saw Zach’s faith and rewarded his faith with His presence and salvation. “I must stay at your house today.”

Verse 6 - What did Zach do? Zach jumped down and received Jesus joyfully. Why? Because joy was in Zach’s heart. Jesus stopped for him. Jesus talked with him. Jesus wanted to go with him and stay at his house. And this excited Zach. This relationship excited Zach… why shouldn’t it?

I believe many Christians have become too dignified to become excited about these realities. Too many Christians lose their joy about Jesus being in their lives… talking with them, walking with them, and Jesus staying in their houses… wanting to be their Savior and Friend.

I wonder how many Christians are too dignified to be joyful during worship today… Listen… it is ok to be composed and serious at times… But… it is ok to “express” your heart to the One Who died for you!

Worship and praise services are times to express our hearts to Christ… joyfully. Meeting with Christ in Church services require us getting off our tree limbs, rubbing the painful look off our faces… and enjoying fellowship with Christ as His people…

“What will everyone think of me if I come to Christ and worship Him with joy?”

What did the on-lookers do? They murmured and whispered about Jesus and Zach… “that sinner… and Jesus is going to his house…?”

People will talk, murmur, gossip and whisper about anything and everything… even Jesus… but when they talk about Christ’s Church, Christ’s people coming to Christ and worshipping Christ… they are not just talking about people… they are talking about Christ Himself when they make fun of us.

Pleasing Christ is our goal… not pleasing men. Expressing joy is nothing to be embarrassed about.

Verse 8 – What do we see next? Repentance and recompence. Something happened very quickly within Zach’s heart and he willingly offered to make things right with everyone.

Verse 9 – “What happened?” Jesus answers: Today… Salvation has come to this house. Jesus went into his house… and Zach’s life was forevermore changed by the One he sought and found.

What happened that made Zach not care about his status and riches anymore? Why did he want to make everything right and work to bring restoration and reconciliation to relationships??? Why did Zach offer to pay back more than the law commanded him to pay?

Because Luke 18:25 happened: The camel passed through the eye of the needle. “Do what?” The impossible happened.

18:27 – But… the things which are impossible with men are possible with God. The heart was changed, and Zach was born again.

Even the chief of sinners can be saved. Even the chief of the despised can have a new life… can be changed… can find the Truth, the Way, and the Life. Even they can have a relationship with God. Even they can have joy in their lives.

Even them??? Even us…

1. Is there anything or anyone hindering your pursuit to or with Jesus? You may need to break away from some influencers in your life. You may need to put yourself in a better position to follow Christ.

2. What about physical limitations? Do you think that stature, your looks, your intellect, or your sickness/physical limitations can keep you from following Christ and serving Him? Absolutely not! Nothing can keep you from His love, and nothing can keep you from seeking and serving Him. Do what you can do; and do what you got to do to serve Him where you can.

3. Zach received Jesus joyfully. Joy is the characteristic of the Christian. Have you lost the joy of your salvation? Is there joy in your singing? Is joy experienced on a regular basis? If not, there is a problem… Pray Psalm 51:12 today: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation…”

Are you desperate today? Are you miserable today? Do you want to experience life as you were created to experience it? Are you desperate for change, for salvation, for newness of life, for growth and joy? If so… you are in a position to go out on a limb, and experience Jesus like never before.

We see what Zach did… What will you do?