Zaqueo (Aniversario)

Lectura: Lucas 19:1-10

¿Cómo sentirías de un traidor asi?

Introducción: Imagina que un día, sin previo aviso, China invade México y lo controlan. Los soldados chinos ahora patrullan las calles. Las escuelas enseñan su idioma.

Las leyes ya no se escriben en español. Y los mexicanos… tienen que obedecer o desaparecer.

En un pequeño pueblo, la gente intenta seguir adelante: sembrando lo que puede, vendiendo en el tianguis, cuidando a sus familias.

Pero ahora todo cuesta el doble, y todo lo poco que ganan… se lo lleva el nuevo “colector de impuestos”.

Ese colector no es chino.

Es mexicano.

Es Rubén. El mismo que creció jugando canicas contigo en la calle. El que iba contigo a la escuela … ahora trabaja para ellos.

Rubén se vendió.

Anda con su camisa elegante y una camioneta del año con llantas y rines de plata, pagada con las lágrimas de su pueblo.

Cobra impuestos que los chinos le asignan, pero les aumenta un extra… “para su comisión” supuestamente.

¿Y si no pagas? Los soldados vienen a tu casa. Te quitan tu terreno. Tu hija desaparece.

Y Rubén duerme tranquilo.

Rubén no fue forzado. Él eligió. Eligió traicionar a su gente por dinero, por comodidad, por poder.

¿Si te dieras cuenta de un traidor así, que sentirías acerca de él?

We are about to see in the Bible, that Jesus felt very differently about one man than we would. And thank God, because we are that man! In this chapter, although there are multitudes around, the central people are a sinner, Zaccheus, who lived the life of Ruben, collecting taxes for the Romans against his own people the Jews, and Jesus, who purposefully comes to meet him and give him what no money could buy, the salvation of his soul.

La Situación (Lucas 18:35-43)

The text brings us to a large prominent city named Jericho. In the previous chapter, in the outskirts of Jericho, Christ had gloriously healed a blind man in front of a multitude of people, of a , and due to this amazing miracle, As Jesus went from place to place,

El Caracter del Pecador (Lucas 19:1-5)

Zaqueo era un Delinquente (Lucas 19:1-2)

Texto: “Habiendo entrado Jesús en Jericó, iba pasando por la ciudad. Y sucedió que un varón llamado Zaqueo, que era jefe de los publicanos, y rico.” (Lucas 19:1-2)

Exp. The meaning of the name Zaccheus is “Innocent”, but his character was the opposite. Though he lived in a city of history where God did grand things, Jericho, bringing their walls to fall by a grand miracle, and surely Zaccheus definitely knew of God’s greatness, he loved material and not God! And it wasn’t just the fact that he knew about what God did at Jericho.

Surely, he also knew of the famous greed of Achan, who God killed for his love of many at the same place, Jericho, he became a thief anyway.

Ill. A woman wakes up at night to the sound of her smoke alarm blaring. She smells something burning in the kitchen. Instead of getting up, she walks over, rips the batteries out of the alarm, and goes back to bed. Minutes later, the fire consumes the house. That’s what happens when someone hears God's warning, feels conviction... and silences it.

You see, for Zaccheus, when it came time to decide on a career, he decided not to be a carpenter, nor a shepherd, but a publican, a professional thief, and he was astute at work to move up the ladder, and become “jefe de los publicanos”.

Zaccheus was the betrayer of his neighbors and family members.

His wealth wasn’t an honest wealth collected by hard labor in the field, or selling tamales, but by selling out his own people.

Stealing from his neighbors and family. From parents who could barely feed their children. From widows. From the elderly. And he didn't just charge the right amount... he overcharged!

Zacchaeus grew rich while his people grew poor. Every brick of his luxurious home in Jericho was stained with the suffering of his brothers.

Zaqueo “que era jefe de los publicanos, y rico.” (Lucas 19:1-2)

There are certain offices that no matter how good you try to make, them, there is no honor there: hitman, bar owner, governor, drug dealer.

And to be the jefe de los publicanos, it is like saying the “El Chapo” o “El Mencho” among the narcos.

The worst of the worst.

God knew so much his sin, that he included his sinful job title in the text. It was not that he was rich because he inherited money or lands from his father, or that he made wise investments, it was that he was rich because he was the jefe de los publicanos.

Arg. “Los ojos de Jehova estan en todo lugar, mirando a los buenos y a los malos.” (Prov. 15:3)

¡Ay de los que se esconden de Jehová, encubriendo el consejo, y sus obras están en tinieblas, y dicen: ¿Quién nos ve, y quién nos conoce?! (Is. 29:15).

App. God also knows our sin distinctly. Zaccheus could not hide among the multitude in Jericho, and neither can any of us hide behind another.

Zaqueo era Despreciado (Lucas 19:3)

Texto: “Procuraba ver quién era Jesús; pero no podía a causa de la multitud, pues era pequeño de estatura.”

Exp. Zaccheus is the Rubén of the story we opened with.

La gente no lo odiaba por envidia. Lo odiaban porque lo conocían. Ellos habían visto a su primo perder su campo por una deuda inventada. Habían visto a su tío vender su mula para pagarle.

We know he was despised because of his need to climb the tree. Usually, when multitudes gather together, typically there is a respect for people smaller, and they let them through to the front.

Children and shorter people can make their way through. A crowd is kind to those who by nature are at a disadvantage.

But here, no. “no podía a causa de la multitud.

The public had decided, that if a prophet, a holy man were entering into their town, there would be no permission that Zaccheus, the worst of them should have access to him. So none let him through.

This is a second consequence of sin, that not only does it interrupt our vertical relationship with God, but how many near relationships does it ruin?

Arg. “No tienen en poco al ladrón si hurta para saciar su apetito cuando tiene hambre;” (Prov. 6:30).

App. How sin not only separates us from God, but also from man! Can you think of human relationships that are also in danger with you because of your sin?

Zaqueo era Determinado (Lucas 19:4)

Texto: “Y corriendo delante, subió a un árbol sicómoro para verle; porque había de pasar por allí.”

Exp. It was known that among Jesus’ disciples, there was on ex-publican, Matthew. With the weight of his sin on his mind, and his guilty conscience bothering him like a “piedra en el zapato”, he ignores the mocking crowd and disdain of the thousands of Jericho, and runs, not walks to be near to Jesus.

If He could forgive and transform Matthew, He can save and transform me!

Picture him running. As he is, he is certain of two things:

-This is his chance for salvation: This is the last recorded time that Jesus was coming through Jericho. He would not return. So what did Zaccheus do? ...corriendo delante

This was Zaccheus opportunity, and thank God after many bad decisions, he made a good one, to hurry toward Christ.

-His natural condition makes him unable to see Jesus: Rather “subió a un árbol sicómoro para verle.”

And when he gets as close as he can, like a child, climbs a tree. This is a professional man in front of thousands, but caring for one matter....his soul!

App. Your natural condition as a sinner

Arg. “Si hoy oyeres Su voz, no endurezcais su corazón.” “Como escaparemos si descuidamos una salvación tan grande.”

“El hombre que reprendido endurece la cerviz, De repente será quebrantado, y no habrá para él medicina.”

Ill. An incident from the American Revolution illustrates what tragedy can result from procrastination.

It is reported that Colonel Rahl, commander of the British troops in Trenton, New Jersey, was playing cards when a courier brought an urgent message stating that General George Washington was crossing the Delaware River.

Rahl put the letter in his pocket and didn't bother to read it until the game was finished.

Then, realizing the seriousness of the situation, he hurriedly tried to rally his men to meet the coming attack, but his procrastination was his undoing. He and many of his men were killed and the rest of the regiment were capture.

Nolbert Quayle said, "Only a few minutes' delay cost him his life, his honor, and the liberty of his soldiers.

App. As Zaccheus may you come to Jesus knowing two things...

-His natural condition makes him unable to see Jesus:

-This is his chance for salvation:

App. Run, do not walk, to Christ this morning. Forget every obstacle and see your opportunity! God put the tree there for you to come!

App. Church members, on this Anniversary, may you be as that tree! Firm, fruitful, and there so others can see Jesus!

El Caracter del Salvador

Cristo era Personal (Lucas 19:5a)

Texto: “Cuando Jesús llegó a aquel lugar, mirando hacia arriba, le vio, y le dijo: Zaqueo...”

Exp. As you look back to the last part of Luke 18, we see Jesus is on the move, going from place to place healing and preaching. And as we come into Luke 19, his healing of a blind man Him a magnet for multitudes to be near Him. And here He comes to the entrance of Jericho:

Así entró Jesús en Jericó. No como un rey en carroza, sino como el Mesías rodeado de gente común: los cojos, los pobres, los rechazados, los que tenían hambre de esperanza. Todos empujaban para tocarlo, para verlo, para escuchar su voz.

Los niños corrían delante de Él. Los ancianos lloraban. Las madres levantaban a sus hijos sobre los hombros. Gente salía de sus casas, cerraban sus tiendas, dejaban sus cultivos a medio trabajar. El Nazareno ha llegado.

Pero entre la multitud, Jesús buscaba a alguien.

En medio del caos, en medio de los gritos, las lágrimas, los cantos… Jesús levanta los ojos.

Y lo ve. Un solo pecador, rechazado por los hombres, pero amado por Dios,

And in the middle of thousands of needs, He stops for one, and says His name: “mirando hacia arriba, le vio, y le dijo: Zaqueo.”

In that multitude, we know no one else’s name, but we know the worst guy’s name because Jesus knew it and called it out.

App. You are not saved because you are here in the middle of a good group that has congregated here. You too must have a personal encounter with a personal Savior. Jesus does not save the multitude of people, but individuals.

Cristo era Piadoso (Lucas 19:5b)

Texto: “...date prisa, desciende, porque hoy es necesario que pose yo en tu casa.”

Exp. Un hombre pequeño, encaramado como un niño sobre un árbol de sicómoro.

Un hombre rico, odiado, vestido con ropas finas pero con un alma podrida de vergüenza. Zaqueo. El traidor. El vendido.

El que nadie quería acercar… excepto por Jesús.

Y entonces, el escándalo:

“¡Zaqueo! Baja de ahí. Hoy voy a quedarme en tu casa.”

¡En su casa! No en la del sacerdote. No en la del anciano respetado. En la casa del más despreciado del pueblo.

La Santidad vino a convivir con la Iniquidad!

La multitud enmudece. La tensión es fuerte. Pero Jesús ya ha tomado Su decisión.

Porque así es Su gracia. Penetra el corazón que todos desechan.

Y ese día, mientras el pueblo murmura, mientras Zaqueo tiembla, mientras la historia cambia…

Porque el Rey entró no solo en Jericó.

Sino en el alma de un pecador perdido.

Be fascinated by what happens between v. 1, when Jesus’ intentions were to simply pass through, and v. 5, when he sees Zaccheus, He decides to stay in Jericho to be with Zaccheus.

The Savior did not say He would stay to eat, or to visit famous spots in the town, but to be with the worst sinner among them.

He changed His plans for a sinner!

And in the Father’s will, it was not optional, “es necesario que yo pose en tu casa.”

Then there is a short moment where Jesus hears two conversations (vv. 7-8): One of accusation: “Al ver esto, todos murmuraban, diciendo que había entrado a posar con un hombre pecador.” (v.7)

One of arrepentimiento: “Entonces Zaqueo, puesto en pie, dijo al Señor: He aquí, Señor, la mitad de mis bienes doy a los pobres; y si en algo he defraudado a alguno, se lo devuelvo cuadruplicado.” (v.8)

Although the voices of accusation were many, and the voice of the repentant was only one, Jesus stayed quiet for a minute as all marvelled, and then with divine pleasure:

Then the Son of God finally responded in the tense moment...

“Jesús le dijo: Hoy ha venido la salvación a esta casa; por cuanto él también es hijo de Abraham. Porque el Hijo del Hombre vino a buscar y a salvar lo que se había perdido.” (vv. 9-10).

How could Jesus just forgive him?

Because just as Zaccheus was a man shamed on a tree, one day Jesus would be too.

App. Thank God today, Jesus isn’t looking for moral people to make a little better, but for the worst people to turn into the best people.

Do you want to know a Jesus that is personal and piadoso?

Forget what everyone thinks, and make that decision this morning!