Observation without Participation

Observation without Participation

Luke 19:1–10 (CSB)

He entered Jericho and was passing through. There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way. 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.”

So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.”

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.”

“Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

Introduction:

One of the most trending topics today is things you need to know before you become a teacher/singer/athlete and many more. Yes, there is one that says, things you need to know before becoming a Christian. (Christianity ain't easy/ Christ is perfect, but Christians are far from it/ You won't have all the answers/You will never stop growing/ You will still make mistakes/It doesn't fix everything(Your income doesn't improve just because, broken relationships don't always get better, sickness don't always go away.

This says to us.. When it comes to having a relationship with God, everyone should spend some time observing from the bleachers. It’s good to take some time to learn the game, but don't stay there too long. If you study long, you study wrong. soak up the information, learn whats being taught, and get involved.

That’s what the bleachers are; they are like the tree Zacchaeus climbed – a place of observation from a distance without participation. Safe and uncommitted. But the bleachers are also a place of unfulfilled destiny and unrealized purpose. You just can’t fulfill your destiny in life, or in God, by staying in the seat of comfort and complacency.

In one day, Zacchaeus went from being a guy who was watching from the sidelines to being a guy who was absolutely in the game. He was a fan, a spectator in a tree, but when Jesus called, he became a fully devoted follower of Christ.

Child of God, you and I have not been called to live our lives spectating from the bleachers!

Argue why are we still in the tree/bleachers and the context of the story. TAKE YOUR TIME AND LISTEN!

Your Penalties won't Disqualify you.

Zach made many mistakes. The tax collector and working for the enemy and stealing money from his own people.

God knew my faults and didn't divorce my future.

Your past will keep you in the tree.

Came to the spot. Spot v.6

Track season and false starts (illustration)

Jesus is attracted to your shortcoming.

Zacchaeus was on the top of everyone’s unlovable list. Although his name means “pure” “innocent” or “righteous,” he was anything but righteous.

Zacchaeus, a Jew, worked for the enemy Roman government. The Romans kept the Jewish people in bondage by extorting unusually high and unfair taxes from them.

And Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector of that area. He would not only collect for the Romans, but he took a little extra for himself as well. He was a weasel, a thief, and was hated by the whole community. But he was also drawn to Jesus and watched from afar. And suddenly, while walking down the streets of Jericho one day, Jesus called out to Zacchaeus to break bread with Him. In ancient Israel, this act represented the deepest form of personal relationship.

The people with Jesus were all shocked as this teacher and healer, who claimed to be God, reached out in friendship to a hardened sinner. Clearly, this account shows that Jesus loves even the people hiding in the bleachers! He knows them all by name, and He’s got a powerful plan for their lives. Even those that try to keep a safe distance from Jesus are still on His radar.

Remember, God’s love is not earned; it’s free. He loves us when we deserve it and when we don’t, when we are serving Him and when we aren’t.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

God’s love is unconditional, indiscriminate, everlasting, and underserving!

Right Person with a Misplaced Determination/motivation

Zach - money was his deciding factor

Looking for better maybe yours/ let me see Jesus or shall i look for another./ some of us are determined to be spiritual spectators/ determined to keep that seat warm/

You are The right person in the wrong place. The right person just pursuing the wrong thing. The right person with a blind perception.

Zach's name means (define) - Clean - Righteous

This is different for Zach because Zach ran and climbed. He left behind pride and customs/ and culture. For Christ.

When you are hated and rejected by everyone, no matter how happy you may seem on the outside, you can’t possibly be happy on the inside. Zacchaeus knew who he was and what he had done. Presumably he felt ashamed, or undeserving, so he stayed a safe distance away from Jesus and the disciples, observing from the “bleachers” of his tree branch.

Maybe some of you who are currently hiding in the bleachers feel this way too.

I’ve done too many bad things, that I can’t be used by God as part of the team.

I’m too far gone to be used by God as part of the team.

I don’t deserve to be part of the team.

You’ve lost belief in yourself. But despite all that, notice that Jesus called Zacchaeus anyway. With that one, simple invitation, Jesus communicated a powerful and life-changing message:

Zacchaeus, I believe in you enough to come to your home, to have a meal with you, to sit down and talk with you. Even though you deserve the scorn of your city – I believe in you enough to take time out of My busy schedule to spend with you. And I believe in you enough to choose you out of all these other people.

HERE IS SOME MOTIVATION FOR YOU...

Jesus’ message to Zacchaeus was I believe in you!

And the same is true of all of us, especially those of us still sitting in the bleachers. God believes in us, even when we don’t believe in ourselves.

Remember fearful and hiding Gideon? Remember overlooked and despised David? Remember stuttering and humbled Moses?

God looks past our tattered exteriors, low self-esteem, and battered souls. He knows what you are created to be, and will not just give up on you because of your past. God believes in the people in the bleachers and wants them to join the team!

Wrong Position/Posture For Daily Duty

Zach's work when he left the tree. Some things he needed to do.

Luke 19:5–10 CSB

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.” So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. All who saw it began to complain, “He’s gone to stay with a sinful man.” 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.” “Today salvation has come to this house,” Jesus told him, “because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”

You are in the wrong spot to make the critics eat their words. You prove them right if you remain in the bleachers.

Bleachers are the wrong place to make real change.

He needed to come down because that wasn't his spot.

IM GAME!

Luke uses this verb and the noun chara 9x to describe the attitude that accompanies saving faith. Those who have been born again should radiate a special joy and why not, because the Spirit now bears witness with their spirit that they are truly Children of the King and have have inherited eternal like in His Kingdom. That is good news worth shouting about. And notice how quickly Zaccheus obeyed his Master's voice - this rich tax collector humbled himself and became an obedient child who "hurried and (came) down and received Him gladly.'' Our actions speak louder than our words! Zaccheus did not just say he believed in Messiah. He obeyed Messiah in spite of the catcalls from the crowd of self-righteous religious hypocrites!

David Guzik - Zacchaeus is a model to everyone of how to receive Jesus:

Receive Jesus by seeking after Him with real effort.

Receive Jesus by humbling yourself.

Receive Jesus no matter how sinful or hated you are.

Receive Jesus as He invites you by name.

Receive Jesus without delay.

Receive Jesus by coming down to Him.

Receive Jesus Himself.

Receive Jesus into your life, your home.

Receive Jesus joyfully.

Receive Jesus despite what other say.

Receive Jesus with repentance and restitution

Zacchaeus' restitution is a response to grace, not a meritorious work to receive grace.