Jesus and Zacchaeus

CALL TO WORSHIP

Every day we meet with God, but Sunday is a special day, and this is a special place. So, we gather for our special meeting with God in Jesus, in excited expectation that our lives will be enriched, and that we will journey into the week ahead as changed and ever-changing people.

HYMN

My soul finds rest in God alone 663

GATHERING PRAYER

As we enter prayer now, let us pause to be still,

To breath more slowly, to re-centre our scattered senses upon the presence of God.

Breath od God, breath fresh life to our minds and to our souls. Wake us up to your presence and help us to see what you are doing in these days we want to join in to play our part in advancing your kingdom.

Amen.

All-forgiving, all-loving God, we worship you today. We acknowledge your greatness, confessing we cannot understand your ways – but we know that they are wonderful. We bring you all our praise, joining our voices with your children around the world, lifting our hearts and faces to you. You, God of our lives, our hearts, our world, we bless your name today. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Gracious Lord, who sees all, you know all that we hide in our hearts. We lay before you all the things that dishonour you and us, acknowledging the damage they cause. We turn from hate and greed and pride. We ask that you would restore us and renew us, transforming our lives by the words and actions of your Son, Jesus, and cleansing us with your Holy Spirit, through whom you make your home in us. Amen.

The God who called us, calls us still: cleansing our hearts and renewing our minds. We delight in knowing that we are forgiven, that we can turn away from wrongdoing, that we can start afresh today. In God’s great love, we choose to live differently. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done.

On earth as it is in heaven,

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those that trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

Forever and ever Amen.

HYMN

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases 66

Introduction

Our OT reading from Isaiah offers a message that is still relevant today. This passage challenges us to reflect on our actions and the sincerity behind our religious practices.

READING 1

Isaiah 1: 10-18

God’s Challenge to Empty Rituals

“Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!”

The passage begins with a stark rebuke, comparing the leaders of Judah to Sodom and Gomorrah—cities filled with wickedness destroyed by God. This is not merely a comparison, but a wake-up call. God is not impressed by sacrifices and burnt offerings.

You see they have moved their motivation away from God failing to seek justice and mercy.

So, the rituals, they followed though commanded, by God have lost their meaning because they are performed without sincerity.

Call to Genuine Worship

The scripture criticizes empty rituals and emphasises the importance of heartfelt devotion. It reminds us, that outward observances alone are not enough; what truly matters is the integrity of our intentions and the way we live our faith.

The Call for Repentance and Justice

Isaiah’s message is extremely clear: “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

Here, we see that God’s desire is not for empty ceremony, but for a transformation of life.

True worship is revealed in acts of justice, and compassion. The passage is a reminder that faith must be lived out in real ways, ways that reflect God’s character.

Relevance for Today

So, what does this passage mean for us in our modern context.

Isn’t it so easy to fall into routines of religious observance—attending services, reciting prayers, performing rituals—without allowing them to shape our actions and relationships.

Isaiah 1:10-18 challenges us to examine the authenticity of our worship.

The question we are asked in this reading is this are we simply going through the motions, or are we allowing God’s word to transform our hearts and prompt us to consider our motives?

Can I ask a question?

Imagine Jesus is with us coming to Church in the car.

Where is he? Is he in the boot that you open as you come into Church?

Let him out for an hour then after the service back in the boot you go until next week.

Or is he in the car, is he your passenger on your journeys, someone you chat to on the way, very nice.

Or even more, is he the driver?

Great!

But as your going down the road Jesus turns left instead of right, where are you going Jesus you’re going the wrong way, “I am taking you down the road of generosity” Oh I don’t want to go that way, I don’t feel that generous.

Then Jesus turns right instead of left “Jesus you’re going the wrong way again. “I’m taking you down the road of forgiveness.

“I don’t want to I will never forgive that person.”

What do you say to the person who has forgiven you so much?

This reading is a call to defend the oppressed and care for the vulnerable and this remains urgent just as urgent today. In a world marked by inequality, injustice, and suffering, God’s people are called to be agents of change—people of forgiveness standing up for those who can’t stand for themselves and working towards a society that reflects compassion of our God.

Isaiah 1: 10-18 continues to challenge and inspire, urging us to align our faith with action, and to prioritize justice and mercy in our daily lives.

     HYMN

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, 254

Introduction

Luke 19:1-10 recounts the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector in Jericho. Zacchaeus, known for his wealth and unpopular profession, becomes a surprising central figure in this passage. The narrative demonstrates themes of repentance, acceptance, and transformation, resonating deeply with readers across generations.

READING 2

Luke 19: 1-10

SERMON

The SPY

Imagine for a moment and I guess it’s not beyond belief that there would be spies working for the Sanhedrin following and reporting on what Jesus is up to:

Here is maybe one of the reports.

Honoured, chief priests, teachers of the law, leaders of our nation, I beg to present my latest report on Jesus of Nazareth.

He is dangerous!

As I speak, he is approaching Jerusalem. He has already caused a disturbance in Jericho. As he was passing through the town, he drew such a crowd that people too short to see from the back were scrambling up trees like children to catch a glimpse of him. The local chief tax collector, a wealthy man called Zacchaeus, was one of them.

He climbed a sycamore and Jesus spotted him there. He shouted out to him, “Zacchaeus, get down from there at once and take me to your house.’ And he did.

There was uproar because Jesus was going to be the guest of a sinner. Then the tax collector found his voice, called Jesus, ‘Lord’ and shouted out that he’d give half his money to the poor and reimburse anyone he’d defrauded four times over.

Jesus even called him a son of Abraham. And called himself the Son of Man!

Said salvation had come to Zacchaeus – that he, Jesus, had come to save the lost.

There is no doubt in my mind, this man is a threat – if he can turn a tax collector heart with a word this man is truly dangerous!

The Story in Brief

Jesus enters Jericho, attracting a large crowd. Zacchaeus, being short, climbs a sycamore tree to see Jesus passing by.

Jesus sees him, calls him by name, and announces his intention to stay at Zacchaeus’s house.

This invitation causes murmurs among the crowd, because Zacchaeus is considered a sinner due to his occupation. However, Zacchaeus responds with joy and pledges to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he has cheated four times over. Jesus affirms Zacchaeus’s salvation, stating that the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.

Themes and Lessons

· Seeking and Being Sought

· Zacchaeus’s determination to see Jesus, despite social and physical obstacles, reflects the human longing for meaning and acceptance. Yet, it is ultimately Jesus who seeks Zacchaeus, demonstrating that divine grace often reaches out to us before we fully comprehend our own need.

· Transformation and Repentance

· The story highlights the power of genuine repentance. Zacchaeus’s willingness to make restitution and change his ways is a powerful example of how encountering Jesus can lead to real, practical transformation in our lives.

· Breaking Social Barriers

· Jesus’s choice to associate with Zacchaeus challenges the prejudices of the day. By entering Zacchaeus’s home, Jesus rejects the social stigma attached to tax collectors and sinners, emphasising that everyone is worthy of God’s attention and love.

· The Joy of Salvation

· Zacchaeus’s response is one of joy, not shame. This joy is a reminder that salvation and reconciliation are not burdens but gifts that bring happiness and renewal.

Personal Reflection

This passage invites us to consider who might be the “Zacchaeus” in our own communities—those overlooked, stigmatised, or dismissed.

It challenges us to move beyond judgement, offering hospitality and acceptance. More than this, it prompts us to self-examination: are there aspects of our lives where we need transformation? Zacchaeus’s courage in acknowledging his faults and making amends is both humbling and inspiring.

Finally, Luke 19:1-10 reassures us that no one is beyond the reach of grace. We are reminded that seeking to encounter Christ is met with Christ’s own seeking of us. The story encourages us to respond with openness, joy, and a willingness to change, confident that such transformation leads to a fuller, more compassionate life.

Conclusion

Both passages today emphasize God's desire for genuine worship and relationship rather than mere ritualism, shown in Isaiah's call for repentance and Zacchaeus's transforming encounter with Jesus.

This encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus is a timeless account of grace, inclusion, and personal renewal. It urges us to approach both ourselves and others with empathy and the expectation that true change is possible when we encounter love and acceptance.

HYMN

Speak, O Lord, as we come to you 161

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Jesus, thank you that you want to meet with us; that you want us to know you. Thank you for your willingness to step into the messiness of our lives, to console us, change us, and celebrate with us, whatever the season or circumstance. Thank you for challenging us to live differently, for modelling integrity and love, and for your indwelling Spirit who makes transformation possible. Thank you, Lord, you are worthy of all our praise; may our lives proclaim your glory and tell your story, now and forever. Amen.

Lord, the world is in turmoil. Our nation is in turmoil. Your created ones are in turmoil.

Come, Lord Jesus, surround with songs of deliverance and bring about change.

We pray for an end to the war in Ukraine. We pray for Somalia where people are enduring drought and facing famine. These are just two countries in the world but many more are in need of your hand.

Come, Lord Jesus, surround with songs of deliverance and bring about change.

Our nation, Lord, is in need of your stability and unifying hand as the third Prime Minister in a year takes up residence in Downing Street. Bring order into the chaos. We pray for an upturn in our economy as more and more workers strike and threaten to strike, due to the biggest squeeze on incomes since the 1950’s.

Come, Lord Jesus, surround with songs of deliverance and bring about change.

Lord, there are many people today lining their pockets at other people’s expense. We pray for all victims of scammers, cheats and fraudsters. We pray for all enduring dark times; for all who can see no way out. May the leaders of your church encourage and build in your name, offering hope where there is none. May your church shine a light on our communities and reach out to all, including those whom society views as unpopular.

Come, Lord Jesus, surround with songs of deliverance and bring about change.

Lord, when you called to Zacchaeus, he gladly welcomed you to his home. His meeting with you brought about inward and outward change. We pray for change to be wrought in your world, in our nation, in us your created ones.

Come, Lord Jesus, surround with songs of deliverance and bring about change. Amen.

HYMN

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father, 51

BLESSING

Thank you, Jesus, for being with us today and every day. In our noisy, busy lives, we pray that we may hear you calling our names and make the effort to see your face in the crowd. Amen.