Grace Came Looking

Grace Came Looking

Luke 19:1-10 (CSB)

Series Big Idea:

Lives Changed by One Meeting with the Savior

Sermon Big Idea:

Jesus seeks those everyone else has given up on.

Introduction

Have you ever noticed how quickly people write others off?

"This person will never change."

"They're too far gone."

"They've made too many mistakes."

Sometimes society gives up on people.

Sometimes families give up on people.

Sadly, sometimes churches give up on people.

Jericho had someone just like that.

His name was Zacchaeus.

If anyone seemed beyond hope, it was him.

He wasn't just a tax collector.

He was the chief tax collector.

He had become wealthy by taking advantage of his own people.

Nobody wanted him.

Nobody respected him.

Nobody expected him to change.

But Jesus saw something no one else could see.

Jesus saw a man who needed grace.

The wonderful truth of the Gospel is this:

Jesus specializes in finding people everyone else has stopped looking for.

(Read Luke 19:1-10)

I. The Curiosity

Luke 19:1-4

Before Zacchaeus ever met Jesus...

God was already stirring his heart.

A. He Wanted to See Jesus

Verse 3 says,

"He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd..."

Something inside Zacchaeus longed for more.

Money hadn't satisfied him.

Power hadn't fulfilled him.

Success hadn't brought peace.

There comes a point when worldly success leaves an empty soul.

Ecclesiastes reminds us that God has placed eternity in our hearts.

Only Christ can satisfy what this world never can.

B. He Refused to Quit

The crowd blocked his view.

His height limited him.

Yet he didn't go home.

He ran ahead.

He climbed a sycamore tree.

His determination reveals that when God begins working in a heart...

people become willing to do what they never imagined.

Pride often keeps people from Jesus.

Humility brings them closer.

C. He Positioned Himself

Zacchaeus climbed exactly where Jesus would pass.

He couldn't make Jesus stop.

But he could place himself where he could encounter Him.

People still encounter Christ when they intentionally place themselves where His Word is preached.

Coming to church doesn't save anyone...

but it puts people in a place where God often works.

Transition

Zacchaeus thought he was looking for Jesus.

In reality...

Jesus was looking for him.

II. The Call

Luke 19:5-7

Grace always takes the initiative.

A. Jesus Saw Him

Verse 5 says,

"When Jesus came to the place, he looked up..."

Thousands of people lined the streets.

Yet Jesus stopped for one man.

Everyone else saw a sinner.

Jesus saw a soul.

Jesus still notices people others overlook.

B. Jesus Called Him

Jesus said,

"Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house."

Jesus knew his name before Zacchaeus introduced himself.

That is personal grace.

The Lord knows every name.

Every hurt.

Every failure.

Every secret.

Yet He still calls us.

C. Jesus Chose Him

The religious crowd began complaining.

"He has gone to stay with a sinful man."

Grace always offends people who believe acceptance must be earned.

Jesus didn't approve of Zacchaeus' sin.

He simply loved him enough to rescue him.

That is exactly what Jesus has done for us.

Transition

One encounter with Jesus immediately changed Zacchaeus.

III. The Change

Luke 19:8

Real salvation always produces transformation.

A. His Heart Changed

Zacchaeus stood and declared,

"Look, I'll give half my possessions to the poor..."

Notice...

Jesus never demanded this.

Grace transformed his heart.

When the heart changes...

behavior follows.

B. His Priorities Changed

Money had once been his master.

Now generosity replaced greed.

The evidence of salvation isn't perfection.

It's direction.

A changed heart produces a changed life.

C. His Relationships Changed

Zacchaeus continued,

"If I have extorted anything from anyone, I'll pay back four times as much."

He desired reconciliation.

Salvation changes how we treat God...

and how we treat people.

True repentance always seeks restoration whenever possible.

Transition

The story ends with celebration.

Not because a rich man became generous...

but because a lost man became saved.

IV. The Celebration

Luke 19:9-10

Heaven always celebrates salvation.

A. Jesus Declared Salvation

Jesus said,

"Today salvation has come to this house..."

Notice...

Jesus didn't say,

"Today Zacchaeus became religious."

He announced salvation.

Christianity isn't behavior modification.

It is salvation through Christ.

B. Jesus Declared His Mission

Verse 10 says,

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

This verse summarizes the entire Gospel of Luke.

Why did Jesus come?

Not merely to teach.

Not merely to heal.

Not merely to perform miracles.

He came to seek...

and to save.

C. Heaven Declared Victory

Though the crowd complained...

Heaven rejoiced.

One sinner had been found.

One family had been changed.

One eternity had been secured.

Every salvation is a reason to celebrate.

The church should never lose its joy over people coming to Christ.

What Do I Do?

Respond to Jesus' Call

If Jesus is calling your heart...

don't delay.

Like Zacchaeus...

come down and receive Him with joy.

Let Grace Change You

Don't settle for an emotional experience.

Allow Christ to transform your heart.

Changed hearts produce changed lives.

Restore What You Can

If God has convicted you of wrongs you've committed...

seek forgiveness.

Make things right where possible.

Grace produces repentance.

Seek the People Others Ignore

Jesus pursued the people everyone else avoided.

Ask God to help you see people the way Jesus sees them.

No one is beyond His grace.

Conclusion

The people of Jericho believed Zacchaeus was beyond hope.

Jesus saw someone worth saving.

The crowd saw a thief.

Jesus saw a testimony.

The crowd saw his past.

Jesus saw his future.

That's grace.

Grace doesn't wait for people to become worthy.

Grace comes looking.

Invitation

Perhaps you've spent years believing you've gone too far.

You've made too many mistakes.

You've ruined too much.

The message of Luke 19 is this:

Jesus still seeks the lost.

He still calls sinners by name.

He still changes hearts.

He still saves.

Or perhaps today God has placed a "Zacchaeus" in your life.

Someone everyone else has written off.

Don't give up.

Because the same grace that found Zacchaeus...

can still find them.

Today, if Jesus is calling your heart...

respond to Him.

Because grace came looking for you.