When Jesus Comes to Town

Sermon

Transition

Offering

Prayer

Intro to today’s sermon: When Jesus Comes to Town

The past few weeks we have been talking about the Keys to the Kingdom. If you have missed any of those weeks, I invite you to join us in what we have been discussing by listening on our podcast. For me personally, it has been a series that is probably more near and dear to the foundation of my faith and calling than any other.

And today, we will shift gears a little as we are enjoying church in the great outdoors of this park. I won’t keep any of us long because I know you brought some hot chicken for your pastor, and no one (I mean no one) want that to go cold.

QUESTION:

What is your routine when you are expecting company? Do you do anything different? Do you have certain expectations of what you hope to get done around the house or shopping done at the store in preparations?

The passage we will look at today didn’t give notice that guests would even be arriving. So, what then? What do you do when you have unexpected guests show up?

Today, I want to talk about When Jesus Comes to Town. Last week, we looked at the life of John the Baptist and some of what it means to be a forerunner for Jesus, preparing the way to come to us personally, to our home, to our communities and world. There are a few stories that shed some light on what Jesus did and said when He arrived.

Let’s look this morning at a common story, one you even hear as kids in kid’s church: the story of Zaccheus the Tax Collector.

Luke 19:1–10 NIV

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 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.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

INTRO: The common narrative contains some often glossed over elements that I would like for us to look at together.

This story contains: the universal appeal of the gospel (vv. 2–4); the ethical problem of wealth (v. 2); the call of a “sinner” who was in social disfavor (v. 7); the sense of God’s present work (vv. 5, 9); the feeling of urgency (“immediately,” speusas, GK 5067, v. 5), of necessity (“must,” v. 5), and of joy (v. 6); restitution, with goods distributed to the poor (v. 8); and, above all, salvation (vv. 9–10).

Jesus has entered Jericho. A historic town, remember for the miraculous walls that came tumbling down. Centuries later, Jesus is passing through and still walls of people keep one man from seeing what is happening in the streets.

BLIND MAN

MAN WHO CAN’T SEE HIM

vs. 1

We are introduced to a man by the name of Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and very wealthy. This system, under which an officer gained his income by extorting more money from the people than he had contracted to pay the Roman government, had evidently worked well for Zacchaeus. His location in the major customs center of Jericho was ideal.

WHERE ARE YOU AT?

I love how the story about an individual begins by giving us the context of where we are located. It reminds me that no matter our location, our circumstance, our situation…God wants to meet us right where we are at. There may be a crowd, a lot going on, a sense of unworthiness, you name it…but it doesn’t keep Jesus from passing through.

vs.2

Luke seems to be highlighting this story in answer to the dialogue surrounding the Rich Young Ruler from the previous chapter (Luke 18). It was the Rich Young Ruler’s attitude towards his possessions and life that kept him from the Lord. Zacchaeus’ response to Jesus seems to answer the questions asked earlier (18:26): “Who then can be saved?”

HOW ARE YOU DESCRIBED?

Zacchaeus’ name meant pure or innocent, but his reputation meant anything but those things. He was described by his occupation because it was despised. Tax collectors were notoriously known as legal thieves. This system, under which an officer gained his income by extorting more money from the people than he had contracted to pay the Roman government, had evidently worked well for Zacchaeus. His location in the major customs center of Jericho was ideal.

He even had an elevated position among tax collectors; he was chief. Regardless of how others describe you or maybe even how you would describe yourself, the GOOD NEWS is that Jesus is coming to town, and He is no respecter of persons. In fact, if you feel least likely then you are in good odds of having a Divine visit. If you feel less than, not good enough, too rotten, full of shame, guilt, messed up…then I have some GREAT NEWS for you. Jesus is not only coming to town, but you are a prime candidate for a visit. He has come specifically for you. You are the one that has brought Him this way.

vs. 3

DO YOU WANT TO SEE HIM?

Luke includes the detail about Zacchaeus being short to display the eagerness with which he would show in order to see Jesus. Some believe that mentioning his short stature was a point to his social and moral status as well.

He was so eager to see Jesus that few things were going to stop him. His physical stature wasn’t going to stop him. What others thought about him. Not the crowds. Not what he had done in his past. Nothing was going to stop him from seeing and getting to Jesus.

WHAT’S KEEPING YOU FROM SEEING JESUS?

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT TO SEE HIM ANYWAYS?

vs. 4

Luke 19:4 NIV

4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

Zacchaeus ran ahead since Jesus was coming that way. He calculated the path and looked for a place to get a good view of Jesus.

GOD HAS PLANTED WHAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO SEE JESUS!

I love the fact that this Sycamore Tree was in the right spot for Zacchaeus to get a glimpse of Jesus. Throughout Scripture we see the Divine use of donkeys, birds, and even trees. I’m encouraged by the fact that in God’s providence this tree was planted for a purpose. This some 50ft tree, with strong, broad branches were placed in the exact spot for this exact moment so that one sinner could have an encounter with Christ.

You think Jesus doesn’t care about you? You think He isn’t looking for ways to meet you where you are?

Look at the flowers of the field, the birds of the air…none of these labor or toil, yet our Father in Heaven cares for each one of them with intricate detail, care and concern. How much more you and me?

Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus, though commendable, was surpassed by the fact that Jesus wanted to see him.

vs. 5-6

Luke 19:5–6 NIV

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Listen to beginning of verse 5 again. “When Jesus reached the spot.” Zacchaeus wasn’t the only one looking for someone that day. Jesus was on a mission. I think He might have noticed the effort, the desire, the tenacity that Zac showed that day. And when He reached the spot, he looked up.

There are a few times Jesus looks up. He stooped down to draw in the dirt and saw a woman caught in the act of adultery set free. When He looked up. In Mark 7, Jesus encountered a deaf/mute man. Jesus put his fingers in the man’s ears, spit and touched the man’s tongue, and looking up to heaven said, “Be opened!” Later on in Luke 21, Jesus will look up to take notice of a widow giving sacrificially.

But today, Jesus has come to town and is taking notice of a man despised by many but created by God. Jesus looked up at him and said, “Zac, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.” I’m not only coming to town, but I am coming to your home.

In the unexpected life, spiritual hunger and desire has driven him to see Jesus, but the immediacy with which is the Kingdom arrives is enough to catch anyone off guard. “Come down IMMEDIATELY.” It is speedy. It happens quickly. And by necessity. “I MUST stay at your house today.”

You may have only come to see me, but I have come to stay with you. You want a little; I am giving you a lot. You want a glimpse; I am giving you the up close and personal.

Because when you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. Your one step forward will be met by His two leaps in your direction. He is always extravagant and more than enough.

vs. 7

Let people say and think what they will. They are going to anyways. You and I are not going to be able to stop them, especially in 2020. Whether based on your past, present, or what they imagine for your future, their response is about to radically changed by Christ’s response.

vs. 8

Luke 19:8 NIV

8 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.”

I imagine that Jesus and Zac have spent some time talking. Jesus has said something or His very presence has brought not only conviction but repentance. Wealth is not going to be what keeps Zac from Jesus. He wants to follow him and what he has accumulated will not be a deterrent. “I will give half of my possessions to the poor.”

Moreover, Zac wants to make things right. He wants restoration. He will pay back four times the amount he wrongly took. He is willing to more than make right for his wrongdoings.

This is the fruit in keeping with repentance that we looked at last week in the earlier parts of Luke’s Gospel. Zac can’t lean on the fact that he is a descendant of Abraham to justify his lifestyle.

vs. 9

Instead, Jesus recognizes the spiritual work going on in Zac’s heart, one that makes him a spiritual son of Abraham. Salvation has come to Zac. Indeed, this is the very reason Jesus had come: to seek and to save the lost.

Zac was ripe for an encounter with Christ. He was primed for the transforming work of Christ in his life.

PRAY