Seek and Save the Lost
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Main Point
Just like Christ, seek those others are avoiding.
Seek those others are avoiding.
Introduction connection to the series
I love this.
One of the dangers of being in higher Christian education is that you can forget your first love and the mission of the church: to make disciples.
We can get caught up with all the books we haven’t read and debates we’re ignorant of that we can find ourselves after many years and realize that we haven’t made any disciples!
That must not be the case for us at Bethlehem. So I’m so glad to play a little part in this.
Let’s pray
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.
Seeking to see who Jesus was
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.
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 9:51–24:53 3. Zacchaeus: Faith’s Transforming Power (19:1–10)
Luke provides a beautiful literary contrast between this event and the blind man’s healing. In 18:35–43 a blind man cries for help to see, while here a short man must work his way up the tree to see Jesus (Fitzmyer 1985: 1222). Jesus meets the needs of both, although in each case people try to stop them or complain about Jesus’ attention to them. Zacchaeus is an example of someone longing to see Jesus, just as the blind man did, but there is a difference in their stories: where the blind man had to cry out to get Jesus’ attention, here Jesus takes the initiative. Zacchaeus gets more than he bargained for in trying to see Jesus. The story of the blind man pictured faith, while the Zacchaeus story pictures Jesus’ initiative to save the lost (19:10).
Jericho was where an unlikely prostitute found redemption.
Jerico
Zaccheus was a chief tax collector
Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: Luke 9:51–24:53 3. Zacchaeus: Faith’s Transforming Power (19:1–10)
Luke provides a beautiful literary contrast between this event and the blind man’s healing. In 18:35–43 a blind man cries for help to see, while here a short man must work his way up the tree to see Jesus
Zaccheus was a chief tax collector
What were tax collectors like?
Lk 19:11
It would be as if, under an extraordinary turn of events, North Korea took over our country and needed local tax collectors to be able to support their regime. And let’s just say that one dear teacher of ours volunteered to work for them. And he didn’t just take what was “owed” to the regime, he required extra to line his own pockets. And he would use his position of power to threaten and abuse us to get his way. He became so good at this that he was elevated as a chief tax collector.”
11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. 13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’
You don’t need to read a historical background book to know this.
Start off with who Zaccheus was by going to the end
8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.
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.”
To be able to give half his goods to the poor and to restore fourfold to anyone he defrauded indicates he had immense wealth and he was really really good at his job.
Seeking to see who Jesus was
So Zaccheus is a cheat and a thief. Not like Robinhood, but the opposite.
The people hate him and despise him.
He wasn’t good he was just interested
7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
And he probably knows this and so he doubles-down into his treachery. If he’s going to be bad, he’s going to be the worse.
When I first learned about Zaccheus, it was in the beginner’s Bible.
And so he was this chubby man with a smile and a money bag.
I wish there was someone who could be my Lord...
I grew up in a Korean church so I didn’t learn all the children’s Bible songs. But recently I learned a song about Zaccheus.
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.”
The song misses it.
Lk 19:3
Seeking to see who Jesus was
Instead of Zaccheus was a wee little man. It should say, Zaccheus was a terrible man. A terrible man was he.”
Lk
Salvation has come to the
No, he was a man that recked homes.
He was a ruthless detestable traitor
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.
Seeking to see who Jesus was
He wasn’t good he was just interested
lk
I wish there was someone who could be my Lord...
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.”
There was probably an audible gasp and ever person’s jaw dropped to the ground.
You better believe the entire crowd’s jaw jo
No introduction. No conversation. He knew His name!
Jesus knew his heart. Knew Zaccheus better than anyone else, even Zaccheus.
His house!
Wow!?
We know this is a big deal because two verse down.
7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
Wow, who is like our Savior!?
Luke for Everyone The Calling of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1–10)
‘He has gone in to spend time with a sinner’ will soon change to ‘He has gone out to die with the brigands’; and the same reason will underlie both. The son of man has come to seek and save the lost.
Lk 19:
6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
19 We love because he first loved us.
For the first time in a long time, someone receives Zaccheus.
7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
We need to be careful not to judge these people. Zaccheus was no harmless person that they are biased towards without warranted. They’re not just stereotyping him. THey’ve been hurt by him, deeply wronged by their own kin. So there are multiple layers of offense that is understandable.
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.”
7 he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.
Zaccheus is demonstrating
13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
lk 16
Contrasted with the rich ruler,
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
LK 18:
Money measures your treasure.
And Zaccheus is showing that his new treasure is Jesus.
Note, Jesus doesn’t ask all of him like he did of the rich young ruler. He doesn’t have to. HIs point is to get to the heart. And without addressing money, Zaccheus volunteers his money.
Jesus is fulfilling,
27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
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9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
And
4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?
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.”
Jesus responds with this,
Also a son of Abraham could be restoring his lineage since he forsook it.
But Jesus is teaching that its not based off of blood or past conduct, but by faith.
Jesus came for people like this.
On the other hand, it may mean that “a Jew, even though he has become one of the ‘lost sheep of the house of Israel,’ is still a part of Israel; the good Shepherd must seek for such” (Marshall, 698).
Why son of man here?
Throughout the gospels, Jesus is repeatedly showing that those who are most unlikely to have faith have it. And those who should have it, don’t.
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Who are the people in your classes, church, and community that you would most like to avoid?
If you don’t reach them now, you probably won’t when you graduate.
School can be a dangerous place. You have to keep making excuses that eventually you stop seeing!
We can often abuse the principal of connecting with people whooo you have natural commonality with.
I remember a guy who was really interested in joining our church, being discipled, making disciples and one day pastoring demonstrated this falicy. At our church, we have these groups called missional communities. And each one is like a family within the greater body and each one commits to collectively love a people group through word and deed. Most of our groups focus on the forgotten four: the poor, the foreigner, the widow, and the orphan. One of our groups has been serving through running an after school program with primarily poor hispanic youths and their parents. I shared this with the aspiring pastor. And he said he wasn’t comfortable with that. He felt since he grew up in the suburbs he would do better reaching people from his own culture. I told him about another group that is caring for refugees. Again, he expressed it was out of his element and his gifts would be better with a different group.
Thank you Jesus that you didn’t have that attitude towards us.
That you left the comforts and familiarity of Heaven to cross cultures and incarnate yourself among us!
This is not to say that you shouldn’t enjoy friends who you share commonalities with. However, it can’t only be those who you are like.
Personally, I try to make sure I have a few slots and on-going relationships in my life that are not natural for me.
Title
Text
Main Point:
Me: Build Personal Connection
Our Tension: Uncover or Create the Tension as a group
Text: What does God Say?
Show them how to make the banquet themselves
Ground: How do we have power to believe and live this
You: What should you believe and do in light of this?
Why is it important or why should they do this?
What are the hang ups and theological ditches?
What should they do after hearing this point?
Imagine: Corporate Dreaming
Jesus Conclusion: Glory in Christ as the Conclusion
Exhort them by going back to the main point
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Sermon Heart Work
Would they get the main point after hearing this message?
1. Am I worried about what people think of my message or what God thinks? (Teach with fear)
2. Do I genuinely love these people? (Teach with love)
3. Am I accurately presenting this passage? (Teach with accuracy)
4. Am I depending on the Holy Spirit's power or my own cleverness? (Teach with power)
5. Have I applied this message to my own life? (Teach with integrity)
6. Will this message draw attention to me or to God? (Teach with humility)
7. Do the people really need this message? (Teach with urgency)
8. Who is my audience?
9. Have you meditated on this?
10. Does it burn in your heart?
Five people to keep in mind
WearyWanderingLazyLost Vitalized
Color Legend
RED- TEXT
YELLOW- Speak Points
BLUE- Illustrations
GREEN- Questions
Gray - Commentary or Quotation
Bold - Cannot Forget These