Are You still Stuck Up that Tree Luke 19 :1-10
ILL Have you even climb a tree? You Known it is easier to Climb up a tree than climb down.
ZACCHAEUS was a well known man, worked as tax collector, Top job, chief tax collector, an employer, in fact Jericho was a main office, a trading rout so many people got to know ZACCHAEUS.
ZACCHAEUS because of his occupation was an unpopular man, friendless, a family embarrassment, Jews hated him seeing him as a traitor working for Roman.
ZACCHAEUS was an ungodly man, robbed tax payers taking more than was required, may even have used force or blackmail.
ZACCHAEUS like most people in Jericho had heard about Jesus, maybe more than most because of the many traders.
Heard of the many WONDERS of Jesus; calming storm, feeding 1000s, ten lepers....,
Heard the WORDS of Jesus; the Kingdom at hand, how he spoke well of Tax collector in comparison to the Pharisee, Maybe asked is it possible for God to save any one, even me.
ZACCHAEUS didn’t want to just hear, he wanted to see Jesus, but he had a problem, "too small", couldn’t jump and no one would make room for an unpopular man.
Jesus wasn’t carried high for people to admire, came us among as one without sin. A day is coming when all men will see Christ coming in His glory, but for now its those who seek him that will see him.
ZACCHAEUS didn’t want just a glimpse he wanted to have a good look at Jesus, so he forgot his dignity and climbed up a tree like a little boy.
YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT JESUS SUNDAY SCHOOL ETC TAKEN IT NO FARTHER,
TONIGHT TAKE A GOOD LOOK, A SERIOUS LOOK AT JESUS WHAT HE HAS TO SAY AND OFFER TO YOU. "LOVES YOU & SAVE YOU."
ZACCHAEUS sat up the tree waiting for Jesus to pass by, Zacchaeus’ thoughts are unknown, I believe because of Jesus’ reaction that Zacchaeus was longing to MEET with Jesus. "Never notice me in the crowd" he may have said to himself.
HAVE YOU ? LONGED TO BE WITH THE ONE WHO CAN BRING PEACE & JOY.
Jesus said He came to seek and save, as He was walking Jesus was looking for whoever He may save.
Jesus noticed ZACCHAEUS, never pass by a seeking heart, He knew his ZACCHAEUS name, He knew ZACCHAEUS thoughts. HE KNOWS YOUR THOUGHTS, PAINS, WORRIES, SIN
ZACCHAEUS wasn’t up the tree shouting, Jesus took the first step, He stopped & called Him down. A wonderful sound,
ZACCHAEUS who heard, who had looked & longed now being called "I want to spend time with you"
Now do we stay up the tree listening, looking and longing to meet Jesus or do we have a the courage and faith to climb down?
Jesus came down from Heaven, seeking whoever, and allowing Himself to be crucified upon a tree.
JESUS IS STILL CALLING FOR YOU TO COME TO HIM
ZACCHAEUS welcomed Jesus gladly into his house, maybe never had friends calling on him, Jesus loves the unlovable, loves those men reject....
Crowds didn’t like what they were seeing, grumbled.......World does not like the grace of God, which reaches the Chief of Sinners, chief of Tax Collectors and You.
ZACCHAEUS changed after being with Jesus, as an ungodly man cared not for the Word of God said.
Now after, Jesus he wanted to live accordingly, caring for the poor and repaying his debts as A sign of his repentance, and commitment to the Lord.
JUST HEARING, SEEING, IS NOT ENOUGH YOU MUST MEET WITH JESUS, WELCOME JESUS INTO YOU HEART, JESUS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE, MAYBE ZACCHAEUS COULD NOT STOP ROBBING PEOPLE, BUT WHEN JESUS CAME HE CHANGED.
"I CAN’T BECOME A CHRISTIAN UNTIL I STOP, SWEARING, , LOSING MY TEMPER...... JESUS LOVES YOU AS YOU ARE, CALLING YOU, WANTS YOUR LIFE, OPEN THE DOOR TO YOUR HEART.
ZACCHAEUS rejected by men because of his occupation NOW accepted by God became he met with Jesus, "Today salvation has come to your house"
Today you can be accepted by God.
For ZACCHAEUS Jesus was worth climbing a tree for, worth setting opinions, pride aside for, no embarrassment in coming to Christ.
BUT DON@T STAY UP THE TREE.
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