INTRODUCTION
" VIDEO CLIP from FIREPROOF
" SLIDE #1
" We are beginning a new series today entitle, SPRING INTO LIFE.
" In this series, we are going to examine the story of some of the people we find in the New Testament who had encounters with Jesus, and how those encounters changed their lives.
" These people were able to spring into New Life through Jesus.
" It is interesting to note that not everyone who encountered Jesus had a positive life change.
" There were many that Jesus encountered who did not experience new life.
" Today we will look at the story of Zacchaeus. I feel bad for Zacchaeus because the main thing many people who were in church as a youth in the 80's remember that Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he.
" That is so mean!
" We will be in Luke 19:1-10 today, let's begin with verse 1-4.
" SLIDE #2
" Luke 19:1-4 (CSB) - 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.
" SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. A person seeking hope.
" I want to start off by giving you a little background concerning Zacchaeus. The text offers up some warning sign pertaining to Zacchaeus, things what would make would offer a glimpse of some of the obstacles this man would face.
" Today when we think of tax collectors, or the IRS, we probably do not have a warm fuzzy feeling come upon us.
" If we are told we are about to be audited by the IRS, we probably are not feeling too well inside.
" The only person I know that probably has fun with an audit is Roger! :
" None the less, Zacchaeus is a tax collector. He is not a collector of the Temple Taxes, but rather, he is an official representative of the Roman Government.
" To make matters worse, Zacchaeus is a Jew, so he is collecting taxes for the Roman Government FROM the nation of Israel.
" Roman would give a defeated country a great deal of latitude so long as they behaved and paid their taxes.
" And, to make matters worse for Zacchaeus, he was a CHIEF tax collector, which meant he oversaw a bunch of other tax collectors.
" Roman demanded a certain amount of taxes from each territory, and people, anything over that amount, the collectors keep for shipping and handling, or their commission.
" There was a great deal of dishonesty that was associated with this practice.
" Zacchaeus was a man who would have been despised by his own people, even if he was honest because Zacchaeus was collecting taxes for Rome.
" So red flag one, Zacchaeus probably felt alone and rejected.
" Then from the text in verse 1, we are told that Zacchaeus was rich!
" Red flag number 2!
" Being rich is not a crime, but Jesus spoke a lot being rich and how that could inhibit one coming to God because they do not think they had the need.
" God does not condemn wealth in itself, but rather the tendency to rely on that wealth rather than God.
" Imagine living a life where you are despised and forsaken.
" Why in the world would a person take the job of being a tax collector for the Roman government?
" MONEY! Zacchaeus most likely gained a great deal of wealth doing the job, I mean if you have money, you have everything, don't you?
" From our Wednesday night Bible Study, here are a few things money cannot buy:
o Money can buy medicine, but not health.
o Money can buy a house, but not a home.
o Money can buy companionship, but not friends.
o Money can buy food, but not an appetite.
o Money can buy a bed, but not sleep.
o Money can buy the good life, but not eternal life.
" Zacchaeus, a man who had it all, yet had nothing. Do you know people who are in that boat?
" So here is a man without hope, yet he finds out Jesus is in town. Maybe he can find what he is looking for in Jesus?
" Many came to Jesus to see if He would perform a miracle, others came out of curiosity, why did Zacchaeus seek to see Jesus?
" I believe he was looking for hope.
" Verse 3 tells us that Zacchaeus was trying to see who Jesus was.
" This implies getting a visual, but it runs a little deeper.
" The phrase translated WAS TRYING denotes to seek, or an investigation, or an examination,
" The word translated SEE denotes to feel or perceive by sight.
" Zacchaeus was searching for hope!
" So, he knows the route Jesus would have to take, so Zacchaeus runs ahead of Jesus and he climbs a tree, PROBABLY HOPING to reach a low hanging branch. I CAN RELATE! :
" Here comes Jesus.
" SLIDE #4
" Luke 19:5-7 (CSB) - 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."
" SLIDE #5
II. A hope that notices.
" How many things in life do we place our hope, or look to for hope, yet what the thing we are seeking to place our hope pays no attention.
" Do you remember that boy or girl you were hoping would notice you, but never did?
" Maybe you placed you hope in your bank account, only to find that it never knew you.
" Some place their hope in fame and fortune, yet fame and fortune never even give them the time of day.
" Some place their hope in having stuff, yet when they have their stuff, they walk away unfulfilled, empty, and frustrated.
" Zacchaeus may have placed his hope in a number of areas, maybe even his wealth, yet something was missing. There was a hole inside of him. What could fill that empty spot in his heart?
" So, here is Zacchaeus, he must have looked a little ridiculous, a grown man, a wealthy man, a tax collector sitting up in a tree, hoping for something to change, hoping that HOPE would finally take note of him!
" What is Zacchaeus expecting? I think he simply expects to see Jesus and hear Him teach and maybe get a feel for who He is.
" BUT, true hope delivers beyond our expectations!
" As Jesus approaches the tree in which Zacchaeus is perched, He looks at Zacchaeus and says ZACCHAEUS, YOU COME DOWN, FOR I AM COMING TO YOUR HOUSE TODAY. MAKE SURE TO WAG YOUR FINGER :
" Oh, wait. He tells Zacchaeus to hurry down from the tree because Jesus said because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.
" The way this statement from Jesus is phrased in the Greek, it means that Jesus considered it part of His mission to go to the home of Zacchaeus!
" The word NECESSARY implies that it was mission essential that Jesus does this!
" So, Zacchaeus hurries down from the tree and JOYFULLY welcomed Jesus!
" What is of interest and backs up some of my earlier comments concerning how people felt about Zacchaeus, look how the crowd reacts!
" All who saw it began to complain, "He's gone to stay with a sinful man."
" Now we do not know if Zacchaeus heard the grumbling but talk about putting water on the fire!
" You know, the crowd should have rejoiced over the fact that Jesus was going to spend time with this tax collector, but they could not bring themselves to be happy for Zacchaeus.
" Let me ask you, who is your Zacchaeus? Who is it that if Jesus were to go to their house instead of yours that you would grumble?
" Might I suggest our Zacchaeus is anyone with whom we withhold the gospel of Jesus Christ?
" OK, Jesus and most likely the 12 and who knows who else are in the home.
" The timeline makes it sound like all what we read happened outside before they entered the house, but most likely, verses 8-10 happen within the home of Zacchaeus probably as Jesus was teaching while the meal was being prepared.
" Let's turn to verses 8-9
" SLIDE #6
" Luke 19:8-9 (CSB) - 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.
" SLIDE #7
III. A hope that is life-changing.
" BASED ON THE REACTION WE SEE FROM ZACCHAEUS, it would be easy to surmise that Jesus did some teaching, and Zacchaeus was moved and convicted to change.
" He looks at Jesus, probably in utter amazement and makes a couple of proclamations. The basis of those proclamations is why I believe that Jesus was teaching, maybe on the subject of taking care of the poor and not cheating folks.
" "Look, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord.
" The money that Zacchaeus most likely placed his hope, a hope that was never fulfilled, now means nothing to him, he tells Jesus he will give half of what he had to help the less fortunate.
" Then he makes another astounding offer as if giving up half of his possession was not enough.
" And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I'll pay back four times as much."
" The chances are high that Zacchaeus may have cheated a few people, but based on his offer, he probably was not as crooked as others in his profession because if he made the bulk of his wealth by cheating people, he would not have been able to fulfill his vow to Jesus.
" Now here is the good part.
" Remember when we talked about how important the motivation behind what we do is important to God, and that we are not to give to get?
" Jesus responds to Zacchaeus in verse 9.
" "Today salvation has come to this house," Jesus told him, "because he too is a son of Abraham.
" Jesus responds to Zacchaeus' repentance with the offer of salvation!
" The hope Jesus offered motivated Zacchaeus to a new life-changing direction in life!
" The hole in the heart of Zacchaeus was finally filled! The hope he was seeking finally came, Zacchaeus found the right place to place his hope!
" Now let's conclude with a life-changing thought in verse 10!
" SLIDE #8
" Luke 19:10 (CSB) For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."
" SLIDE #9
IV. A hope for all!
" Jesus wants you to no longer be lost!
" He wants to spend eternity with you!
" The message of salvation is not only for Zacchaeus, it is an invitation for all!
CONCLUSION
" Zacchaeus, a man without friends, a man without hope, a man wandering aimlessly in life.
" In Jesus, Zacchaeus finds purpose, fulfillment, and salvation!
" We all have a God-shaped hole within us. What are you trying to fill your God-shaped hole with?
" The only thing that will fill that hole is Jesus Christ and today we offer you the opportunity to make Jesus your lord and savior, to fill that hole in your life.
" It is time to quit trying to fill that empty spot with junk and stuff that will not bring you peace and satisfaction.
" Jesus wants to come to your house today, will you let Him in?
" Are you ready to Spring into Life?
