Zacchaeus- Committed To Transformation Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• Today we begin a new series entitled “Committed”. In this series we will examine various aspects of what it means to be committed to Jesus.

• I see countless Christians who appear to be frustrated with their relationship with Jesus. I have had people share their various levels of frustration. Listening to the frustration breaks my heart.

• Jesus did not envision His followers have a frustrating experience following Him.

• But here is the bottom line concerning one’s walk with Jesus: following Jesus requires a deep level of commitment. Without commitment, there is no walk with Jesus.

• In relationships, the level of commitment will determine the level of the relationship.

• This is the old principle of you get out of something what you put into it.

• Today we will observe an interaction between Jesus, and a man who was despised by his fellow countrymen.

• He was a man who was looking for something different, Zacchaeus needed a transformation!

• SLIDE #2

• Luke 19:1–4 (HCSB) 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.

• As we observe the connection between Jesus and Zacchaeus, we will gain insights concerning one’s commitment to transformation.

• SLIDE #3

SERMON

I. Transformation begins with seeking Jesus. (1-4)

• Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. Remember the old song? His physical stature was small; however, Zacchaeus was no wee little man.

• This man was actually a big man on campus, he was the chief tax collector for the area.

• Zacchaeus, despite his wealth and position was not a popular man, he was hated by his own countrymen.

• Zacchaeus was a reminder to the Jews they were not an autonomous nation. Zacchaeus took, err collected their money and sent it to Rome.

• This system, under which Zacchaeus flourished, 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.

• Here is a man who had power and wealth, he reached the pinnacle of success in his field, yet he knew something was missing.

• All of his success came at a steep price. DO you know someone in that position?

• Are you in that position? You have achieved a level of success only to find yourself lonely and empty?

• Zacchaeus was wealthy but not happy.

• SLIDE #4

• Mark 8:36(HCSB) For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life?

• What price are we willing to pay? Zacchaeus paid a steep price for his wealth.

• Zacchaeus knew something was missing and it was time to fill the hole in his heart.

• Our passage tells us he was trying to see Jesus.

• Why would he seek Jesus? We have to assume he had heard Jesus teach at some point, or he heard about some of the great lessons Jesus taught and something inside of him compelled him to seek out Jesus!

• Here is a grown man who is literally running through the streets and alleys of Jericho to see Jesus.

• Zacchaeus was determined to catch a glimpse of Jesus. It was a courageous thing for Zacchaeus to even be in a crowd, lest some zealot give him the gift of the end of a knife in the crowd.

• In the crowd he would have been vulnerable to physical harm.

• Jesus would have been a little difficult to find in a crowd since He would not have been dressed in some fancy clothing that would make it easy for Him to be noticed.

• Nevertheless, Zacchaeus was seeking Jesus. Something gave him hope that Jesus could transform his miserable life.

• If one is seeking true transformation, it will not be found in a self-help book or a 12 step program. Although those can be tools to help us make some changes. But transformation on comes through Jesus.

• SLIDE #5

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 (HCSB) We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.

• Zacchaeus was drown to Jesus because he needed a transformation. Zacchaeus needed to be a new creation!