Whatever it takes

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

8 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 by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Lk 19:1–10.Intro

Intro

Will you do whatever it takes? It was a particularly hot and humid day as I sat on the porch of a beat up summer camp cabin. Staring back at me was a middle school boy named Jackson. The question I had just asked him had frozen a moment in time. You see if he said yes, Jackson’s whole world would shatter. To say no would be safer, more comfortable, and yet he knew, impossible. Just a few days before, Jackson’s comfortable life was interuppted by this man named Jesus. This man quickly was revealed to be God. And this God wanted a reltionship with him. You see Jackson’s life was far from easy, but he knew how to navigate it. Forgotten, alone, abused, passed along. Jackson often coped with explosive bouts of anger and self harm. These things gave him a sense of control, even if for just a moment. God would be an unwelcomed interuption. Yet he knew, deep in his bones, that this Jesus wasn’t going to leave him alone. Could Jesus really keep me safe? Will he leave me too? I sin a lot. What if i can’t stop? What if I can’t change? What if I am not enough? What if the burden is too much for me to bear? What if.... What if Jesus is the only one who holds the words of life? Sunday I met a scared and angry kid who just wanted to win all the camp games and keep everyone at arms length. By Wednesday there was a curious, hungry young man. After days of answering every question a middle schooler could ask, which is a lot, I had one of my own. Will you do whatever it takes?

Today’s passage focuses on a man named Zacchaues. Far more than someone known for being short and being a part of a catchy children’s song. This man had a radical and polarizing conversion that shouts the goodness of God even still. Zachaues, like Jackson, had heard of this man named Jesus. And he knew that Jesus was the only hope he had for redemption. Because of this, Zachaues was willing to do whatever it takes to get to Christ, to live like Christ, and to bring others to Christ. As we move through the scriptures today, I want you to ask these very same questions alongside of Zacchaues. So lets begin, Are you willing to do whatever it takes to come to Christ?

Whatever it takes to get to Christ

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Lk 19:1–6.

1.Explain. Not much is known about Zacchaues before his encounter with Jesus. What we do know is not great news. At least for his spiritual condition. Zacchaues was a tax collector. Not just any tax collector, but the cheif of tax collectors in the city of Jericho. A tax collector had a certain amount of money they had to collect from each resident in the city. But they could charge whatever they wanted and it was a legal requirement to give the tax collector whatever they demanded. If you owed $10, and they asked for $100, you were out of luck. To be a tax collector meant to be despised by the Jewish people. He had chosen to serve the oppressors. Because of this, it had likely been some time since Zacchaues had visited the temple, worshiped in the synagogue, or even been welcomed to dinner by a fellow Jew. Guilt, shame, shunning. Their judgemental looks followed him everywhere. But none were worse than his own concience. Zachaues was a rich man, his wealth no doubt a result of sinful gain. (proof)

Prove

Jesus had a lot to say about wealth. Just a few verses before Jesus had met another rich man. This rich man had obeyed the law, lived a good life. But he wanted to make sure he still qualified for heaven. “Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Lk 18:18.

Jesus’s answer is a simple one. Yet it proves to be too much..

You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Lk 18:22–25.

It was not the money that made this man unqualified. He simply was not willing to do whatever it takes.

Zacchaues’s advantages in this life, had shorted him in the one to come. For that very morning, a man of no advantage was made well. Luke 18:35

The New King James Version Chapter 18

Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

In contrast to Zachaues’s wealth was a poor blind beggar resting near the outskirts of Jericho. With nothing to loose this man cried out for mercy, hoping that Jesus would hear him.

The New King James Version Chapter 18

Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

He could not be silenced. If Jesus would only hear me. I’ll do whatever it takes.

The New King James Version Chapter 18

So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”

42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

And here we see Zachaues. A rich man. Outcast from Jewish society. Lost. Alone. Yet he heard whispers of a messiah. Tales from his youth, prophecies from the Torah flooded his mind as the streets of Jericho were filled with one name. Jesus of Nazereth. For news of that morning’s events had already spread across the the city. As the crowds flooded the streets, Zachaues had but one thought, whatever it takes.

The New King James Version Chapter 19

Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.

There was little chance that Zacchaues would have been able to push through the crowds. And unlike the blind man, no one would have led him to Christ. Seeing that his chance to catch a glimpse of the messiah was slipping away, he took off running. Now Jewish men never ran. It would have been a great dishonor to do so in a public place. Moreover this Grown man, who is a Jew and a goverment official decides to climb a tree. This seen must have been quite ridiculous. He had no care of what others would think of him. Rather he had the faith of a mere child. If I can just see the messiah perhaps there is hope for me. Much like the blind man who just wanted to be heard by Christ, or the woman who sought to just touch his cloak. Whatever it takes to catch a glimpse.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible Chapter 19

Those who sincerely desire a sight of Christ, like Zaccheus, will break through opposition, and take pains to see him

Do you have this kind of faith? Do you seek after God with such passion? Of course this is a call to those who know not their savior. But Christian, look at me, where has that child like faith gone? Like a young child, do you yearn to talk to your heavenly father? We live in one of the freest most accessible times in history. Yet do you access God regularly? Or is your Bible only ever opened at church? Are your prayers short and empty? You might say I am too busy in the day. My brothers and sisters then you need to reprioritize. Whatever it takes to get to God.

Martin Luther is atributed with saving something to the affect” I have so much to do today, that I must spend the first three hours in prayer” May our lives look like that.

Zacchaues’s efforts were not in vain. Jesus knew just where his lost sheep was.

The New King James Version Chapter 19

And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully

The word here for “joyfully” is rather unique. Luke, the author of this book, only ever uses it to describe the overwhelming feeling someone has at conversion. Such Joy there must of been as the savior welcomed the lost and the lost welcomed his savior. Jesus was telling Zacchaues that this was a part of his divine will when he invited himself as a guest. There was no hint of annoyance from Zachaues. Rather he felt great joy. God is always faithful. So do whatever it takes to get to him.

3. Illustrate

Apply

Whatever it takes to live like Christ

Are you willing to do whatever it takes to to live like Christ?

But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

8 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 by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Lk 19:7–8.

Zacchaues is on a spiritual mountain top. Now the call to salvation that Jesus always gives is “repent and believe” Zachaues had already believed. And the fruits of this are shown through his outward repentance. For much of his life, Zachaues had made dishonest money. He was going to pay in back. Jewish law as presented in Leviticus 6 only requires that a minor infraction is paid back with the original amount stolen plus 20 percent. But Zachaues believes his sin to be great. His Promise to pay back fourfould is what was required for grevios trangressions. Lest you think that Zacchaues is just trying to follow the law and avaid the consequences of his actions, Zachaues gives away half of his possesions. The things that he legitimately owns, he gives away freely to those in need. This is a great expression of a changed heart. The principle at play here is what I call take off, put on. Ephesians 4:20-24

The New King James Version Chapter 4

But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

When we repent, that is when we turn away from a bad behavior we must purposefully fill it with a new, good behavior. Otherwise, that hole is just going to be filled with something else that is sinful and we have to restart the process. A few verse later Paul says this, Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Eph 4:28.

These are the exact results of Zachaues’s conversion. Now this in no way should be just glanced over. Because making amends in such a way must have been grueling. To look in the eyes of the family you’ve robbed for years and ask for forgivness. To give away what was actually yours? It says he was a rich man, he had to of had lots of stuff. Notice the jab that the observors made in verse 7? Now they all loved Jesus. He could heal the blind man and they all celbrated. But he saves the rich man, and now Jesus is the bad guy. Like the older brother in the story of the prodigal son, I too can be stuck in my pride. I don’t always want to show others the grace that God has shown to me. Let us all seek to have a heart like Christ in this passage. When we focus on doing the right thing, there will be scoffers. But let us be so focused on doing good that we don’t even notice.

I don’t know what sin you may be battling with today. Whatever it is, stopping it is only the first half of the equation. Do you gossip? Pray for that person instead. Are you mean with your words? Make it a point to rehularly compliment others? Are you angry? Serve the one who frustrates you.

This kind of love is radical in a culture that is focused on the self. It’s also rather uncomfortable. Financial loss to social akwardness. The Christian life is one of sacrifice.

The New King James Version Chapter 16

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

To bear a cross was to be an enemy of the systems of this world. The weight of the Christian life is a serious one. Fight for your relationship with Christ.

May we say with Zachaues that we are willing to do whatever it takes to look like Jesus

Prove

Illustrate

Take off Put on

Apply

Whatever it takes to bring others to Christ

Are you willing to do whatever it takes to bring others to Christ?

The New King James Version Chapter 19

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Today, this very day. Salvation has come. Jesus had told Zacchaues that he must stay in his house “today” And that very day, salvation came with Jesus. There has been some debate amongst scholars about the second part of this verse, “because he also is a son of Abraham” Was Zacchaues saved only because of his physical lineage? No, most certainly not. There is most definetely a sense where this man’s salvation was a fufilment of God’s promises to Abraham. But remember, Zacchaeus had given up any advantage he once held as a Jew when he became an unclean tax collector. It was the spiritual reality being talked about here

“And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ga 3:29.A

then understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons

The Holy Bible: Holman Christian Standard Version. (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2009), Ga 3:7.

It is the redeemed soul that makes one a child of Abraham, heir to all the promises of old.

Dr. Thomas Constable, a dispensational theologian, says this “Salvation had come to his house because Zaccheus had exercised saving faith and had therby proved to be a genuine descendent of Abraham, who is the spiritual father of all believers. Zaccheus’ faith and works proved that he was a true spiritual son of Abraham, and not just one of his physical descendants. Now he had salvation, not because he was a jew physically but because he was a believer in Jesus”

The Pharisees were often hyperfocused on themselves being phyical descendants of Abraham that they were never spiritual ones. Jesus strongly rebuked them.

Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Lk 3:7–8.

If God can make rocks children of abraham, he can certainly bring any prodigal son, jew or gentile, into the fold.

We live in a day where every morning I read the news headlines, it feels like we are living a new chapter of Revelation. All I will say on the matter is be careful that you do not spend too much time focused on the physical descendants of Abraham who have largely rejected God and not the spiritual descendents who are advancing the kingdom.

In many eastern cultures, names carry a lot of meaning. Zachaeus means “blameless one.” I wonder How he felt every time someone called his name before Christ. As he robbed people blind, “leave us alone oh blameless one.” It certainly must have stung. But God, interuppted the narrative of his life. Now every time some said the name “Zacchaeus” it was a testimony of the redemptive power of Christ. He had traded his sin, guilt, and shame for the righteousness of Christ. As Zacchaeus was giving to the poor, or paying back what he had stolen, he had a built in easy transition to talk about the Gospel with non believers.

As we land the plane, lets take a look at Luke 19:10

Luke 19:10 HCSB

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

This was why Christ came to earth. We rarely take the proper time to to truly consider the incarnation. God, preexistant needing nothing and no one. Who is worshiped for all time as he rules above all. Took on flesh.Left the glory of the heavens. For the first time God had needs. Jesus depended on his mother to care for him. For the first time God was hungry. He felt pain. Jesus wept. Suffered. He lived a life free from sin. Not easy to do by the way. I’ve probably sinned since I’ve been at church this morning. And he died, a gruesome, slow, and painful death. Jesu took upon himself the wrath of God that was reserved for me and my sin. He did this to seek and save those who are lost.

Ezekiel 34:16 says

“I will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bandage the injured, and strengthen the weak, but I will destroy the fat and the strong. I will shepherd them with justice.

Jesus is gentle. Caring for those broken and hurting. Caring for me. Dying for you. Maybe you’re hear today and you’ve never accepted Christ as your savior. Today is the day of salvation. My friends Do have a heart for the lost? Everyone has a destination after death. And Jesus taught far more about hell and its pain than he did heaven and its wonder. Your neighbor is going there. Your coworker is going there. Your child or parent or sibling or friend is going there. Why won’t you do whatever it takes to make sure they here the Gospel? You used to be going there too. Share the grace you have been given My mind is drawn to Mark chapter 2. This is where we’ll close if you want to turn there.

Prove

Illustrate

The New King James Version (Chapter 2)

And again He (Jesus) entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

Imagine this scene. Like Zachaues, the blind man, the woman, this paralyzed man had heard the tales of Jesus. This man could be healed by a mere touch, and maybe, just maybe, there was hope for his soul too. As the man’s four friends bring him, theres a problem. Everyone else had heard the tales too. It appears as if these 4 friends tried for some time to bring their friend through the crowd. But it was of no use. Now any reasonable person would have gone home. But when your friend does not have Christ, drastic measures must be taken. These men somehow climb onto the roof, dragging their paralyzed friend along. Now there was no way down. So the next course of action was obviously to break the roof. This wasn’t a straw roof. It was thick clay. Now assuming these men had tools, it still would have taken them several hours to beat their way into the house. All of this while Jesus was teahing, thwack. He’s try to talk again and then there was another thwack. For hours. Then they lowered this paralyzed man down for a mere chance that Jesus would heal him. The faith and boldness of these men proved they would do whatever it takes for their friend to meet Christ. Will you?

Our excuses for not evangelizing are often so pitiful. We won’t wake our kids up to go to church because we are scared they won’t like it. We don’t want to have that conversation at work because the gossip may become about us. We don’t talk to that person at the park because we will feel too akward. Souls are at stake. Souls are at stake. Step out of your comfort zone. If Jesus can die and rise again, you can feel a bit uncomfortable.

Apply

Conclusion

List Points

Will you do whatever it takes to come to Christ?

Will you do whatever it takes to live like Christ?

Will you do whatever it takes to bring others to Christ?

Pray for non believers

Pray for Christians

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

List application

Exhort

Pray