The Journey - Redirection

Introduction:

Drove to pick someone up from the airport. Wrong airport.

Transition to the story of Zachaeus.

This story only appears in Luke.

Jericho....now I want you to circle Jerecho 7 times. Jericho is one of the most important cities in history. It has a prominent place on the road between Egypt and Damascus. So Rome set up tax booths here, because there weren’t a whole lot of other roads to travel north and south. Think I-5. So this would have been a prime location for tax collectors. You get into Jericho you are going to be rich. And Zacchaeus was a major part of the taxation scheme in Jericho.

Zacchaeus was not a good man. We need to de-precious moments these Bible stories.

For one Zacchaeus is ethnically Jewish. So as a tax collector for Rome, he is a traitor to his own people and unable to even worship in the Temple. Zacchaeus is also an older man, which means there have been many years down the wrong path. He had become extremely wealthy because it tells us that he was rich.

Zacchaeus means pure, innocent, righteous. In those times, a parent would give a name to a child almost as a prophecy over that child. At this moment, it couldn’t be further from the truth. That’s like one of those mob boss body guards who is huge whose nickname is tiny. Naming a black cat snowball. I had a former youth group kid who was bean pole thin. All of his friends called him Fatty Matty.

Now my hope is that we can all find

However Zachaeus’ life was about to be changed.

Now my hope is that we can all find encouragement in Zachaeus’ story. But perhaps there are a few of you who have had children who have walked away from Jesus. This might be an encouragement to never stop praying for them. Never stop urging them to redirect their life. Because when it happens, it will be no doubt that it is a miracle.

Now Jesus was all about miracles. And those miracles got people talking. Healing the sick, the lame walk, dead people came back to life.

No one ever encountered Jesus and left unchanged.

Think of all the miracles Jesus did when he crossed paths with people.

This story is an illustration to helps hammer home the point that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Jesus chose the name “Son of Man.” As opposed to Son of David; Son of Abraham; Son of Joseph. So the Title “Son of Man” speaks more to purpose than to His identity. So what does it tell us? It tells us that Jesus came for the purpose of calling all mankind to Himself

Who can come to Jesus?

A samaratan

The persistent widow.

The Pharisee and Tax Collector

Children

The Rich Young Ruler rejected.

A blind begger

Zacchaeus

Luke 18:24–27 ESV

24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Luke 18:7

Luke 4:18–19 ESV

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4:18 ESV

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

Luk

Luke 7:22 ESV

22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

Luke 7:22

But if we’re honest, some of the greatest miracles that Jesus did were the lives that were changed when people crossed paths with Him.

We think about Paul who was knocked off his horse on the way to have Christians enslaved. The the about Paul is that he actually thought he was following God. It wasn’t hard to redirect the path of a person chasing after God in the wrong way.

But what about the person who is not chasing God. What happens when that person encounters Jesus? One of 2 things happens, 1. nothing and that person continues along their own journey. or 2. That person’s journey is redirected an their life is never the same.

Luke 19:1–10 ESV

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Big Idea: It’s never too late to be redirected.

1. From curiosity to change. (Luke 19:1-4)

This story is out of the ordinary. You don’t see government officials running anywhere. And you certainly don’t see government officials climbing trees. What in the world was going on in Zacchaeus’ heart. It was being softened by God and God was drawing Zachaeus to himself even before Zachaeus was looking for Jesus. We don’t know how long it was happening, but a change was happening in Zacchaeus’ life to manifested itself as childlike curiosity that caused him to run and climb a tree.

Zacheaus was curious but it was more than that. I’m guessing from the context that he had a dissatisfied heart/life. He had all the money that he could ever want yet he finds himself curious about a 1st century rabbi. We read about rich people who are disstisfied with life and they can be curious if there is more out there.

Curiosity is a powerful force in the world. Some of the greatest advancements have resulted because someone was curious. If something could be done. If the impossible might be possible. Think of the greatest products. All because someone was curious.

Sometimes curiosity can also be a great entrance into the Kingdom of God.

Zacchaeus received Jesus with joy and He changed his life.

Perhaps you have a similar story about curiosity. It may not be like this for everyone. Some have stories of God knocking you off your horse. Others studied the Bible or found Jesus in science. Some may have found Jesus in tragedy.

What drew you to Jesus?

If you’re here this morning and have no idea about Jesus. Are you at least curious? It’s never too late to be redirected. Zachaeus also went from...

2. From rebellion to restitution. (Luke 19:5-8)

Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ name. “What do you mean, you know me?” What must have been going through his mind? Was he about to get rebuked? Ridiculed? Lots of people knew Zacchaeus and from the text, it wasn’t good things that he was known for. Context suggests that Jesus was gentle and caring maybe even jolly when using Zacchaeus’ name.

Illustration: In the 4th grade, my class had the opportunity to visit the White House. I remember that the first Bush was president. So we all get there, and we’re waiting in line to go through security. Secret service are everywhere. Real men in black type stuff. sunglasses and the ear piece. And this big guy (everyone was big because I was so small), looks at me and say, “Hey James, how is your day going so far?” I was flored and a little scared. How in the world did he know my name? But I was so excited. He knows my name. He knows my name. A little while later, I told my best friend Tommy what had happened. And he points to my chest and says, “Dude, you’re wearing a name tag!”

Zacchaeus would have been known to a lot of people, but not in a good way. And no self-respecting Jewish rabbi would use his name nor invite himself over for dinner.

Zacchaeus went from being the richest person in Jericho to being the poorest a matter of hours (10 verses).

Now we all have a different Journey, but we often don’t hear enough about righting relationships with others on our journey with God. More than just reconciliation to God. It was also reconciliation with the other children of God. (He too is a son of Abraham).

If our lives are right with Christ, then to the best of our ability, we need to right past wrongs. When this relationship is right....these relationships ought to be right as well.

Now, I need to talk about vs. 7. It seems out of place in a story of joy. But not everyone was happy with the redemption of Zacchaeus. But this serves as a stark warning to never get in the way of God’s plan to redeem sinners. There may be a person in your life that has wronged you that you can’t wait until they are burning in hell. Never forget that God’s desire is that sinners repent and turn to Him. I’m convinced that God was actively working in Zacchaeus’ life leading to this moment. Yes, even as he was stealing from people and wrecking lives, God was moving him towards Jesus.

Luke 15:10 ESV

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Jesus is not defiled by association with a sinner....so neither will you be.

The most important redirection that happens in this story is....

3. From Sinner to Saint. (Luke 19:9-10)

When Zacchaeus woke up that morning, he was a retched sinner; a hated man. After a few short hours, he was a new man with a new outlook on life. He also seems to have gone from the richest man in Jericho to the poorest.

It is hard to argue with a changed life.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Jesus did the seeking. Zacheaus would have been considered by the Jewish leaders of His day as beyond redemption.

Think of all the miracles Jesus did when he crossed paths with people.

This story is an illustration to helps hammer home the point that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Jesus chose the name “Son of Man.” As opposed to Son of David; Son of Abraham; Son of Joseph. So the Title “Son of Man” speaks more to purpose than to His identity. So what does it tell us? It tells us that Jesus came for the purpose of calling all mankind to Himself

Who can come to Jesus?

A samaratan

The persistent widow.

The Pharisee and Tax Collector

Children

The Rich Young Ruler rejected.

Luke 18:24–27 ESV

24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

A blind begger

Zacchaeus

Conclusion:

Now…imagine what has happened in Zacchaeus’ house. So often we think about the impact on that person. And let’s not forget that Zachaeus’ life was unmistakenly changed. Can you imagine what the many other people were thinking as they watched this perceived evil man.

Now you mights say, “well Jesus moved on....did Zacchaeus do any of this?”

Early records in church history state that later Zacchaeus became a very prominent Christian leader, traveling with Peter and became the first pastor of Ceasarea prior to his death in A.D. 40. It’s never too late!!!!!!!!

Ante-Nicene Fathers 7: Fathers of the Third and Fourth Centuries: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius, Apostolic Teaching and Constitutions, Homily, and Liturgies Who Were They that the Holy Apostles Sent and Ordained?

XLVI. Now concerning those bishops which have been ordained in our lifetime, we let you know that they are these:—James the bishop of Jerusalem, the brother of our Lord; upon whose death the second was Simeon the son of Cleopas; after whom the third was Judas the son of James. Of Cæsarea of Palestine, the first was Zacchæus, who was once a publican; after whom was Cornelius, and the third Theophilus.

Reflection: Have you experienced the life changing power of encountering Jesus?

The truth is many have known Jesus their whole lives and never experienced what Zacchaeus did.

Do you want to?