Why? (100823)
Pastor Joseph Campbell
Sunday Morning • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 30:13
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Transcript
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
Why?
Why?
Here we are introduced to a Jewish gentleman by the name of Zacchaeus.
The question for us to consider:
Why did Zacchaeus have any desire to go and see Jesus who was - by all accounts - simply the son of a poor carpenter?
According to what we’ve read, it wouldn’t seem that Jesus had anything at all that he could offer Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus, albeit short, was a man with a position and with that position came wealth. Humanly speaking, it wouldn’t seem that Zacchaeus had any need for anything that Jesus had to offer.
And yet…he sought to see Jesus who he was...
May I ask you this question?
Why did you come to our Friend Day this morning?
Why did you come to our Friend Day this morning?
Maybe you are like Zacchaeus. Your life isn’t perfect but, humanly speaking, you have everything that you need. Sure, things could be better but you really don’t have anything to complain about. Even on your bad days you might reason: Things could be worse!
And yet…you came this morning - to church. What could we possibly offer you that could make any difference in your life?
Jesus spoke these words:
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Maybe that’s it. Although you might not like to admit it, maybe there is something; something more - something deep down inside.
You can’t describe what it is but you notice it the most when you’re alone, when things in your life have really gotten bad or when life seems uncertain.
You can’t necessarily put your finger on it but there’s a longing, an emptiness, a nagging feeling of doubt or fear that you just can’t seem to get away from which is why you busy yourself with all of the things that life has to offer.
…he sought to see Jesus who he was...
Who is Jesus?
Maybe you think you know Who Jesus is. Maybe you’ve never given it much thought.
Jesus spoke these words himself:
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Peter, who was one who probably knew Jesus the best, said this:
Acts 4:10–12 (KJV 1900)
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Paul, who spent his years going from city to city to introduce individuals to Jesus said this:
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Jesus Christ is the subject of probably the most well-known verse in the Bible:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
That’s Who Jesus was - that’s Who Jesus is.
That’s Who Zacchaeus was going see.
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
Luke 19:5 (KJV 1900)
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.
…he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him...
Jesus knew who Zacchaeus was.
Jesus took time to acknowledge Zacchaeus.
Jesus spoke to Zacchaeus.
Jesus wanted to spend time with Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus wanted to know - truly know - who Jesus was. Jesus was more than happy to oblige.
“Zacchaeus, you want to know who I am. Okay. I’ll take the time to make sure that you know who I am!”
This morning, Jesus knows who you are; He knows exactly what’s going on in your life and, if you truly want to know who Jesus is - you can. He wants you to know Him - personally!
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
...received him joyfully.
That phrase will be important for you to keep in mind as I will come back to it in just a few minutes.
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
…a man that is a sinner.
This is another important phrase.
Everyone knew that Zacchaeus was a sinner. However, Zacchaeus needed to come to that realization for himself.
Luke 19:8 (KJV 1900)
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
There it is…Zacchaeus stands and publically admits to Jesus that he was a liar and a thief. That required Zacchaeus to humbly admit what Jesus already knew and what everyone else in Jericho already knew.
Also, notice in this verse that Zaccheus went from saying, “Jesus? Who is He?” to saying, “Lord.”
Within the time that Jesus spent there with Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus came to truly know Who Jesus was.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Now, do you remember the phrase, back in verse 6: and received him joyfully?
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
How about you?
Are you willing to humbly acknowledge and admit that you are a sinner?
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
But, Pastor Campbell, I try to do good. I think I’m a pretty good person!
But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Apart from God, any “good” that you have done - or are able to do - is, in God’s eyes, as filthy rags.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Are you willing to acknowledge and accept the truth that Jesus Christ is/was more than just a good person? Are you willing to acknowledge and accept the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; He is God. He loved you enough to die on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Finally, are you willing to receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?
Again...
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
…This day is salvation come to his house...
Zacchaeus was saved. Not because of what he said he would do back in vs. 8 but because he responded, in faith, to who Jesus was!
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Why?
Why?
More important than why Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus that day was why Jesus came?
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
That day, Zacchaeus thought he was going to see and to learn more about who Jesus was.
Little did Zacchaeus know that instead, it was Jesus who was seeking him so that he could experience the forgiveness of his sins and experience the miracle of eternal life.
This morning, when I asked, Why did you come?, I don’t how you may have answered. However, I can tell you this…Even more important than why you came is the fact that Jesus Christ is seeking you. He desires to forgive your sins and to give you everlasting life!