Little Man, Big Change
The Story - "an interwoven Gospel" • Sermon • Submitted
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· 20 viewsJesus seeks the lost sinner
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A Journey Home
A Journey Home
A journey starts with the first step, and it ends with a final step. Jesus is stepping in His journey closer and closer to the cross and His final step for our redemption. Jesus had people with him along His journey to the cross even when they did not fully understand what He was telling them.
Previously on the journey recently Jesus had told the disciples what was to come when they got to Jerusalem (they are only 6 miles away from there at this point)
31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 “For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon,
33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” 34 But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.
JERICHO
It was a wealthy and very important town, located in the Jordan valley. It was on the passage to get to Jerusalem and the river crossing of the Jordan giving access to the other side of the Jordan.
It was known for its great palm forest, balsam groves (oh what a smell they would put off; a sweet fragrance) Josephus called it “the City of Palms” or “a divine region, the fattest in Palestine.” it was a huge trade city for the Roman empire and one of the biggest places for taxation which comes into play in our story today.
Jericho was one of the last stops for Jesus on His journey home to be with the Father.
Speaking of journey’s Zaccheus is going to make a journey today that is more than what he may have been thinking or planning.
(Slide) The journey of a little man.
(Slide) A man becomes a child (vv.2-4)
A man becomes a child (vv.2-4)
(Slide) A man becomes a seeker (vv. 5-6)
(Slide) A little man becomes big (vv.7-8)
(Slide) A poor man becomes rich (vv.9-10)
(Slide) Turn to pgs. 112-3 in Story and Lk19:1-10 in your Bible
I. A man becomes a child
I. A man becomes a child
(vv.1-4)
In (v.1) I already mentioned about Jericho and was passing through. On His journey, on His way to Jerusalem and the cross and our redemption.
(Slide) What can we learn about Zaccheus (v.2)?
His name - by the way means “righteous one” so surely he was not living up to his name but was about too after being sought out by Jesus.
He was a chief tax collector - he was despised by the Jews for here is a Jew who was working for the Gentiles collecting taxes for Caesar.
12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.”
Tax collectors were known for collecting, exacting more tax than what was do to so line their own pockets and we also know that Zaccheus was rich
There was nothing wrong with paying taxes in fact Jesus advocated paying taxes
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus, we don’t know how he knew about Jesus, but he was seeking Jesus. Maybe he heard about this man who was doing miracles and hung out with sinners. Maybe he was a friend of Matthew who was a tax collector and Matthew told him about Jesus. Maybe Matthew had been praying for him and this had something to do with it. Don’t know the answers to these questions but could be plausible.
(Slide) So what did Zaccheus do (v.4)? First he ran, that is not something of stature, a government official would do, but Zaccheus did as a little child would run following a parade. Then he climbed a tree, again out of the ordinary for someone like him.
(Slide) John Calvin said “curiosity and simplicity are a sort of preparation for faith.”
Child like, running, child like climbing, Jesus spoke of being child like just recently in our studies.
17 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”
II. A man becomes a seeker
II. A man becomes a seeker
5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Now Zaccheus was thinking he was seeking Jesus but now we see in this verse it is Jesus seeking him. Proof of what mission is in
10 “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Even back in the garden when the first sin happen, God sought out the sinner (Gen3:1-10) it wasn’t that He didn’t know where they were but wanted them to turn, trust and come to Him.
While Jesus ministry on earth was to seek and save the lost, that is accomplished today by the work of the Spirit through the church who seek out the lost sinner and show them the way.
Zaccheus had all the world had to offer, money, position and even prestige withing the roman community as a chief tax collector he was still a seeker, he wanted something more.
(Slide) Do we know people who want more from life, not sure what they want, but they want more?
We cannot force people to be a seeker, but we can seek out those who are seekers of something and there are many who desire, want something. Then you can invite them to take a journey with you for you are a seeker too. Just two seekers on a journey together. A seeker does not have to be one who is seeking God, just seeking something better than what they have.
III. A Little man becomes big
III. A Little man becomes big
7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”
Lk19:
(Slide) Do you have a handicap that you do not let hold you back?
Zaccheus had one, though it was not the one he thought he had being short in stature. He did not let his handicap, being short, hold him back from seeking and he climbed the tree to see Jesus, but that is not the handicap we are talking about. His handicap is the same one we all suffered from
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Rom
Sin, sin that had to be dealt with and when Zaccheus realized who Jesus was he was willing to put faith in him and make it active faith in hi and give up his life and go beyond what the law said. Even though the others people were judging Jesus for going to be with a sinner, it did not stop Jesus and it did not stop Zaccheus.
By our own works we are all too little to get into heaven on our own. Many in that day counted on works and the ways of men, money, property, status things that are an abomination to God
15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
WIthout Jesus we really have nothing at all, even if we think we do.
17 ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
Zaccheus trusted Jesus and became a son of Abraham (v.9). A child of faith
12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
Faith, it was vital and saving then, it is vital and saving now and being a child of faith is about is big as you can get!
IV. Poor man becomes rich!
IV. Poor man becomes rich!
I mentioned (v.9) a minute ago, but always better to look at the scripture itself.
Zaccheus had the riches of the world but wanted more than what the world had to offer to him. He was a seeker who found out he was spiritually poor but met the man who sought him out who would make him rich in faith!
Now this is the only place in the Gospels where Jesus invites himself into someone’s home, but the illustration is strong isn’t it?
Zaccheus salvation did not rest in his promised good works, giving to the poor and paying back x 4 anyone he took advantage of. His salvation rests soley on responding to Jesus call to him, Jesus grace offered to him.
(Slide) Zaccheus faith was proven by doing what (v.9)?
offering to give up half his goods to poor
Pray restitution to those he took advantage of
(Slide) “Saving faith is more than pious words and devout feelings, it creates a living union with Christ that results in a changed life (ref to look at would be Jam2:14-26)” - Bible Exposition Commentary
If you want to know more about the restitution part under the law you can check out Lev6:1-7; Ex22:1-4. Zaccheus did not debate the law he offered to pay back the highest penalty under the Law.
(Slide) Somethings to consider
(Slide) Child of God is born rich (Eph1:3)
(Slide) Rich in God’s mercy and grace (Eph1:7, 2:4)
(Slide) Rich in God’s glory (Phil4:9)
(Slide) Rich in wisdom (Rom11:33)
(Slide) and unsearchable riches (Eph3:8)
Are you rich today? Do you know your riches? Are you living rich today? Know, enjoy and share your riches with others.