Worship: The Mission

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. 4 So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.” 6 So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. 7 All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, I’ll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord. And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay back four times as much.” 9 “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Pray

Tax Collector

In Jericho Same place as the last healing in Mark. On His way to Jerusalem for the final week.

More than just being a man who is vertically challenged Zach is a "chief toll collector" and "rich".

Both of these would have been stereotyped by the populace as Dishonest and his credibility would have been Zero. He would have been a mistrusted, hated man.

Chief tax collector In Imperial Rome were native entrepreneurs (sometimes cities) contracted themselves with the Roman Administration. Seen as a traitor for siding with the Roman government in many eyes. These people, like Zach were required to pay the tax allotment in advance and then organize collection in the contracted district in hopes of turning a profit. Evidence indicates that such ventures were risky, open to abuse and often far from profitable. Some however do become rich off of other peoples money.

No one likes taxes

There were other tax collectors that were employees of the Tax collector And they were often ruthless persons unable to find other work.

Not all tax collectors were corrupt. Though some did abuse the system many were quite fair and honest. But no one likes a tax collector and a rich one it was assumed, True or false, to be corrupt. That is to say it would, even without evidence, be assumed that the wealth was taken through nefarious means.

Up a Tree

This tax collector desires to see Jesus but in unable to because he is short and no one is letting him get to the front. So he climbs a tree to see God.

As Jesus passes by He invites himself to dinner.

For Zach this would be a great honor and it would be horrifying :). The house is a wreak

This action of desiring to eat at Zach’s house, brings ridicule on Jesus. How is He going to sit at the house of sinners

Zach tries to vindicate or defend himself. The Greek is arguable had Zach already made restitution or will he start. Is this continuing in his repentance or the start. And part of Repentance is restitution. Try to make it right. Somethings in life you can't make right, others you can, but have to try. If he is in the process or just starting the story doesn't change a whole lot.

The story isn't really about Zach's repentance though we often make it out to be. It is about his healing. Jesus is healing Zacchaeus on a communal level. He is restoring the broken community relationships caused by the stereotyping that is going on.

Listen to what Jesus calls Zach, Son of Abraham. This places him as a child of God, a True and faithful Jew.

Seek and Save

Jesus goes on to say For the son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.

This is an important role of the church. We have to remember that as well.

The Church must become the means for restoring the lost and rejected by seeking them out. Not by remaining Isolated, fearful, or shaming others. We must Seek the lost. The church must be a place of Healing. Where it so often isn't. The Church must be on mission to seek the Lost.

The church must be about making disciple.

The church must be about educating the young and old in Christ.

Sometimes it takes work, Like climbing a tree.

Ever wonder where it ends? All the things we must do? Jesus set an impossible view if we look at it that way. Like a check list. Where does it all come from? Where does Jesus Get his task from. Easy to say God, Because He is Jesus.

He came to give US His church that is the body of believers leadership that we could follow

SO where does it come from? As I have been looking at the life of Jesus for the last year plus. I see that it comes from the worship of God the Father

All about Worship

The Church must be about the worship of God

We witness because we worship God. We heal because we worship God. We educate because we worship. We confess because we worship. We sing because we worship. Worship is not just singing in the choir.

Worship is declaring worth with your life that Jesus is God

Jesus Declared worth To God and because he worshiped the Father. He declared worth to the child of Abraham that God Created and that declaration healed Zach

The ultimate Goal of Our lives must be to Worship God and in doing so we can do great and wondrous things. And see to the mission of the Church

Next Steps

Are we worshiping God?

Are you worshiping God?

Pray

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