Christ Receives Sinful People

Text: “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 RSV).

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:1–10

Offertory Prayer: Our heavenly Father, today we rejoice over the fact that our Savior came into this world to rescue us from the waste and ruin of sin. Today we give not only our tithes and offerings, but also we give ourselves in efforts to help others come to know Jesus as the Savior from sin and as the Friend they need for the living of life. Bless the gift of our substance. And bless us as we give ourselves to you. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Introduction

Our God is obviously a big God. He created the world. He spoke the stars into place, instructed the mountains to rise, filled the oceans with water and fish, and out of dirt formed man in his own image and breathed into him the breath of life. And still, he is about the business of sustaining and redeeming the whole world. As the old song aptly puts it, “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” I don’t find it hard to believe in a big God. When I look at the majesty of creation I expect a big God. What I want to know is, does He have time for me?Is he a personal God? I know he wants to redeemthe whole world, but how about me? Does he have time for this little drop in the bucket?I cant help but think of John 3:16

 John 3:16

16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

NIV

I. The setting.

Jesus was passing through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem for his royal and triumphal entry into the city. On his mind was the redemption of the whole world, for which he had come.

1.    In the previous episode in the gospel of Luke, Jesus had healed blind Bartimaeus.

a.  As Jesus arrived in Jericho, Zacchaeus, a tax collector who was short in stature, wanted to see him.

b. Zacchaeus’s profession had alienated him from Jewish society in general and the Jewish religious community in particular.

c.   For Zacchaeus to collect taxes for Rome was to acknowledge Rome’s right to do so, and that necessitated the implied admission that Caesar was king and not Yahweh.

2.     To make matters worse, the tax collector’s profit came from the extra he could extract from citizens beyond what they legally owed.

a.   Thus, the tax collector was seen not only as a conspirator and a traitor but also as a cheat and a thief.

3.   But Zacchaeus’s problems did not end with his social ostracism; he was at odds with himself as well.

a. Life was lonely without friends.

b.  And mark these words: life without vital, intimate relationships is absurd and without meaning!

4.  Zacchaeus knew it.

a. He knew that he was not who or what he was supposed to be.

b.   Luke rarely recorded names, but in this story he did so to make a point.                                                     i. The name Zacchaeus meant “pure, innocent, just, righteous”; yet this man had become a corrupt, manipulative, and despicable tax collector.

c. Those with whom he lived did not see him as pure and just, but rather as a cutthroat, cheat, robber, informer, and traitor.

II. The encounter.

But this day someone different was coming to town.

a. Zacchaeus had heard that Jesus was a friend of sinners and that he even ate with them.

b. Just once this little man wanted to be treated like a human being.

c. He wanted to feel love and care and respect and friendship coming to him from another person.

d. Maybe this man could give him some warmth.

2. In an act of desperation, the outcast went to see this friend of sinners—but he faced bstacles.

a. Being a short man, he could not see over the crowds, and they certainly were not going to make room for him.

b. He risked mingling with a crowd of persons who wanted a chance to get even: to taunt him, to push him out of the way, to kick and hit him.

c. He was desperate.

3. Since Zacchaeus was too short to see over the crowds, he climbed a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus.

a. What would happen now?

b. Would Jesus Walk by unaware of Zacchaeus’s presence and thus unintentionally ignore him?                                                                i. After all, many had overlooked this little man.

ii.  We know the feeling.

iii. What we think or want is often unimportant to everyone but ourselves.

iv. Or would Jesus be aware of Zacchaeus’s presence in the tree and intentionally ignore him?

c. After all, everybody else was ignoring him on purpose.

4. Sometimes we know that feeling too.

a. Now was the moment of encounter.

b. Jesus was probably walking with his head down, for on his shoulders was the weight of the world.

c. He was going to Jerusalem to live out his last week.

d. It was about time for him to be betrayed, arrested, deserted, denied, tried, insulted, beaten, sentenced, and executed—in short, it was about time for him to redeem the whole world.

5.       Who would have expected what happened next?

a. Jesus stopped under the tree, looked up, and said, “Zacchaeus.”

b. Jesus called him by name! Imagine that!

c.  This obviously significant person had called this little man by name as if they were friends—or at least could become friends.

6. Next Jesus instructed Zacchaeus to come down.

a. And then Jesus invited himself to dinner!

b. The Son of God having dinner with this sinner?

c. Preposterous! Crazy! Wonderful!

7. Jesus felt he had to: “I must stay at your house today,” he said (v. 5 RSV).

a. Jesus couldn’t redeem the whole world without saving one person.

b. He knew that. Calling scoundrels such as Zacchaeus was essential to who he was and why he had come.

c. And that is still true.

d. He still calls us by name and has dinner with us sinners.

 Rev 3:20

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

NIV

 III. The salvation.

Jesus scandalized pious Jews by accepting the hospitality of a social and religious outcast.

a. He showed that he had courage by boldly and publicly associating with all kinds of people.

b. When it came to the welfare of people, Jesus knew nothing of taboos and protocol.

c. He ate with tax collectors, prostitutes, even religious types.

2. Zacchaeus was beside himself.

a. This unique man had spoken to him with acceptance and grace and had offered him warmth and worth.

3. Jesus would become Zacchaeus’s friend, companion, and savior.

a. Zacchaeus’s response was eager and joyous acceptance.

b. But then he did something we don’t dare do—he let the joy and excitement of Jesus’ friendship get the best of him.

c. Under the impact of unconditional acceptance, a transformation took place in the value of things.

d. Zacchaeus stood up and said excitedly, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and those I have cheated I will pay back four times the amount!”

Exodus 22:1 (HCSB)

22  “When a man steals an ox or a sheep and butchers it or sells it, he must repay  five cattle for the ox or four sheep for the sheep.

2 Samuel 12:6 (HCSB)

6 Because he has done this thing and shown no pity, he must pay four lambs for that lamb.”

4. Grace had caused Zacchaeus to far exceed the demands of the law.

a. Notice that it was after the commitment Zacchaeus made that Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house” (v. 9 RSV).

5. Do not let this story end too early. Grace led to commitment.

a. Jesus’ openness to Zacchaeus had the effect of bringing Zacchaeus to a new awareness of himself, his possibilities, and his place in life.

6. Salvation is committing yourself to the lordship of Jesus Christ in the best way you know how—no more and no less.

7. Zacchaeus accepted God’s acceptance of him.

Conclusion

As Augustine was fond of saying, “He loves each as if there were no other in all the world to love, and he loves all as he loves each.”

God loves us and calls us by name. He accepts us.

a. We cannot get so despicable that God doesn’t desire us.

b. We cannot get so outcast that Jesus does not invite us in.

c. We cannot be so lost that he cannot find us.

d. We cannot be such traitors that he cannot forgive us.  

e. We cannot be such scoundrels that he cannot accept us.

f. We cannot be such sinners that he will not come to dinner.

g. That is good news!

Well, what are you waiting for? Come down out of that tree!

Jesua said

Luke 19:10 (HCSB)

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

What are you waiting for?

· If you have fallen out of fellowship with Jesus, then He is calling you today.

o Jesus said

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:27-28    

· If you never knew Jesus, then he is calling you today.

o    You may have heard Him speaking to you.

o    You may feel a tug like I need to tell somebody.

Altar Call

 I want to extend an invitation to each one of you. This is a moment of reflection, a moment to open our hearts and minds to the possibilities that lie ahead. If you feel a stirring in your heart, a call to deepen your faith, or a desire to seek a closer relationship with Jesus, I invite you to come forward. If you don’t want to that’s ok. You can stay right where you are.

Whether you are seeking guidance, forgiveness, or simply grace, know that you are not alone. We are here to support you, to pray with you, and to walk alongside you on your spiritual journey.

Please, do not hesitate. Come as you are, with all your hopes, fears, and dreams. Let us come together in faith, and love.

Scripture Reading:

"For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10 RSV).

Amen.

·         Luke 18:18-23 The rich young ruler.

·         Luke 3:8

 Therefore, produce fruit consistent with repentance. And don’t start saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!

·         Galatians 3:7 

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