White Christmas_pt2: Search and Rescue

**INTRO 1** Story about Waffle House experience @ 2AM

Following a company Christmas party, we met of with Austin and Amy

It was someone’s bright idea to head to the Waffle House

There, as our group filled 2 tables, we waited for our late-night breakfast

A young man walks in and ask to take the empty chair next to me

After offering the seat, an interesting conversation began...

We were just there for food… but God always has His plans.

[INTRO 2] - Story of Jesus in Jericho and visits with Zacchaeus

**INTRO 2** - Story of Jesus in Jericho and His visit with Zacchaeus

Jesus on his final journey to Jerusalem stops in Jericho

given His time was near and this being His final journey, I imagine this stop was intentional and important to Jesus.

Jericho, one of 3 major hubs, many important people would reside in this city.

Priests and other religious experts

As well as chief tax collectors, one of what was a guy called Zaccheaus.

Zacchaeus was short, according to the scripture.

And “He wanted to see who Jesus was”

So, he rushes ahead and climbs a tree

Jesus sees him, calls him down and invites Himself to stay with Zaccheaus

From this experience, Zacchaeus emerges a new person...

Read:

Luke 19:1–10 NIV

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

[NOTE] **2 men, seeking on this day.**

Search and rescue

Luke 19:3–4 NIV

He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

Luke 19:3-

Hated by the crowd

Unfulfilled by wealth

He ran. He sought to see who Jesus was.

Hiding, hoping to remain out of sight for his glance of the one they called Jesus.

What did he know of Jesus?

What had he heard before?

Did he possibly know Levi (Matthew) who now followed Jesus?

Luke 19:5 NIV

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

[PAYOFF] - Thank God He calls us out!

Here, like our story of the Samaritan woman, this is another divine appointment.

Luke 19:

Here, like our story of the Samaritan woman, this is another divine appointment.

And just like with the Samaritan woman, Jesus is saying to Zacchaeus: I see you!

I see you!

I see you, Zacchaeus.

You no longer have to gaze from afar… I see you there in the tree… come down!

[TRANSITION] - Zacchaeus didn’t have the best reputation around town

A hated tax collector, working for Rome...

Luke 19:7 NIV

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

Imagine that!

The p

Jesus, going to stay with such a sinner!

Like another rich man before...

Luke 19:

“A certain ruler asked him, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Jesus: “You know the commandments”

Man: “All these I have kept since I was a boy”

Jesus...

Luke 18:23 NIV

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.

Luke 18:

Lukw 18:23

Luke 18 NIV

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Luke 18:22 NIV

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

...The man went away sad, because he was very wealthy...

Luke 18:25 NIV

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

In chapter 6, Jesus said: “Woe to you who are rich, for you have already recieved your comfort.”

[PAYOFF] - What was different in this case?

[YOU SEE] - Here, something is resonating with Zacchaeus.

It evokes the later response from him (giving everything away)...

Which isn’t simply an apologia for the way the crowd sees him

I believe in this moment, Jesus is communicating to Zacchaeus: I know you!

I know the un-fulfillment within you.

.

I know you and the shame you feel.

I know you and the hatred that haunts you.

I know you!

I know the un-fulfillment within you.

I know you and the shame you feel.

I know you and the hatred that haunts you.

Zacchaeus must have known/sensed that Jesus got him, yet still went to stay with Him

I want to spend time with you!

Luke 19

Luke 19:5 NIV

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

Jesus is speaking to Zacchaeus: I want to spend time with you!

I want to spend time with you!

Luke 19:8–9 NIV

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

What a beautiful response

:

Such transformation!

Remember the rich young ruler?

[PAYOFF] - What was different here?

Take Away

One commentator I follow wrote about Zaccheaus...

Preaching the Word: Luke, Vol. 2—That You May Know the Truth A Declaration to the World

Zacchaeus change? Impossible! Except for one thing—he was sought out by the Son of Man.

Preaching the Word: Luke, Vol. 2—That You May Know the Truth A Declaration to the World

Salvation came to Zacchaeus because he was sought out. It was God who prompted his interior seeking. As Augustine said of God, “You follow close behind the fugitive and recall us to yourself in ways we cannot understand.” He makes us hungry. He causes the search. He compels us to come.

Preaching the Word: Luke, Vol. 2—That You May Know the Truth A Declaration to the World

God orchestrated Zacchaeus’ interior compulsion to seek Jesus, and the exterior crossing of their lives at the fig tree and Jesus’ call were all divinely managed. Zacchaeus was caught because in his seeking he was sought.

Is God seeking you?

Come to Him!

Luke 19:5 NIV

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

luke 19:

The searching is over!

The compulsion... the seeking to find the freedom, the joy, the peace.... its over.

Jesus has designed your search to cross paths with His… and He is here!

Luke 19:3 NIV

He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.

Luke 19:10 NIV

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

Luke 19

[NOTE] **2 men, seeking on this day.**

Share It

Like Jesus, you and I are the light of the world!

He’s compelling others to seek and search for the truth that will set them free.

You and me, we are the one’s who’s paths are designed to cross, externally, those who are seeking, internally.

[PAYOFF] - What moments, what appointments (last week) are before you?

I will recognize the opportunity and let that person know:

He sees you! He knows you! He wants to spend time with you!