Jesus Seeks, Saves, Transforms

Today, in , we are going to meet someone that was an unlikely recipient, according to those around him, of the mercy and salvation of Jesus. It was a total surprise to the people standing around around and to the individual. His name: Zacchaeus.

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I. Jesus Seeks

Luke 19:1–5 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.”

I love this story. Luke is the author of this gospel and compiled the most extensive account of the life of Jesus. Luke starts by stating that Jesus was going through Jericho; then he adds: there was a man named Zacchaeus.

Who is Zacchaeus?

Chief tax collector, Wealthy, high-class.

Wealthy

All of the above made him a political & economic traitor to the Jews.

He not only was a tax collector that collected taxes from Jews for Rome, but told the collectors the amount to collect, even if it was the wrong amount or right.

Everyone knew who Zacchaeus was because of his profession. They knew they were being wronged and there was nothing they could do about it and he was to blame.

2. What was Zacchaeus doing?

Seeking to see Jesus as He passed through to Jerusalem

If a big crowd was going to check out Jesus, Zacchaeus made sure he was one of them. He wasn’t going to miss out.

Curiosity led him up a tree.

3. What was Zacchaeus meet with?

Jesus.

Jesus surprised everyone, including Zacchaeus, with His invitation

According to society, Zacchaeus did not measure up to deserve the invitation from Jesus. He was a traitor, a cheat, a schemer, a liar, etc.

“Why on earth would Jesus want to be spend time with him?”

II. Jesus Saves

Jesus told Zacchaeus that it He must stay at his house. The Christian Standard Version says, “It’s necessary” for Jesus to stay.

It’s true! Jesus must be in our lives. Jesus desired to be in Zacchaeus’ life.

luke 19:5-

Luke 19:6 ESV

6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

Luke 19:5–6 ESV

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.

Luke 19:

At the invitation of Jesus to “come,” Zacchaeus rushed to Jesus and received Him joyfully. Jesus saved Zacchaeus!

Religious leaders & crowd around:

“What just happened? Zacchaeus didn’t deserve Jesus’ attention, much less an invitation to His salvation!”

EXACTLY! Zacchaeus knew he was unworthy of who Jesus was.

That is why Zacchaeus hurried to Jesus at the invitation joyfully.

Why? Because of the encounter of grace and truth. Zacchaeus knew the truth of who Jesus was and as a result understood the truth of his own sinfulness.

So here we have a traitor in the eyes of the Jews, a crook, a schemer to get rich at other’s expense offered salvation from Jesus.

Don’t you know that the words in 19:7 were exactly the testimony of Zacchaeus.

“Get this! Jesus has gone to be guest of a man who is a sinner! Jesus did that for me! Can you believe it!? Ever since that day on that tree, I have never been the same!”

When you encounter Jesus, you are never the same.

III. Jesus Transforms

Luke 19:8-10

Luke 19:8–10 ESV

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.”

True conversion does this to a person!

Before the tree, Zacchaeus was Lord. After the tree, Jesus became Lord.

Zacchaeus immediately lives his life in light of the life-changing encounter with Jesus; in His truth and grace. He starts repenting from specific sin in his life immediately and making things right with the people he wronged.

What I love about this story: We can only assume Zacchaeus kept being a chief tax collector, but know he would leverage Jesus and kingdom of God instead of himself and his selfishness. He would use his profession for good and selflessness, instead of for wickedness and selfishness.

Conclusion

Have you ever been surprised by someone before?

The story of Jesus and Zacchaeus shows us the magnitude of really encountering Jesus in a way that’s life-changing.

ONE thing is true of this story for Zacchaeus. He put himself in position to see Jesus.

For some of you here, you and Zacchaeus are alike. Zacchaeus went and sought out a good spot to see Jesus, because he had heard about Him before. But on the day of the tree, everything changed for him. You see Zacchaeus thought that he was seeking Jesus only to find that Jesus was seeking him.

The theme verse of the gospel of Luke is what Jesus said right after Zacchaeus was transformed by the grace of Jesus,

Luke 19:10 ESV

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Jesus is still seeking and still saving the lost.

You here today:

You are sought after by Jesus.

Jesus is able to save you from your sin.

Jesus is able to change you.

Have you ever been surprised by someone before?

You know Zacchaeus was caught off guard when Jesus stopped for him. Jesus and Zacchaeus shows us that Jesus’ invitation is for all, not just for everyone else.

Just like Jesus zeroed in on Zacchaeus, Jesus is zeroing in on you to:

Save you from your sin

Change you

2) change you

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