How Jesus Sought A Sinner
Luke 19:1-10 "And [Jesus] entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, [there was] a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that [way]. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw [it], they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore [him] fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." As we continue our series of, “What Jesus Said and Did,”
it should be informative and inspiring to have a look at just one example of Jesus seeking a sinner. In doing so, we need to remember that this is just one example. The entire ministry of our Lord seems to be focused upon seeking those sinners who are lost. In fact, Jesus states that in verse ten of our passage. Is it not true that our ultimate objective should be the same as our Savior's? Should we not exist in order to glorify God by bringing salvation to homes here in our community? And homes around the world? Soul saving salvation? Life changing salvation? The ministry of Jesus was people oriented. Jesus, cared. Oh yes, He cared. He cared for sinners of all classes, kinds and descriptions. The short and the tall the rich and the poor the pious and the pitiful. Let us consider the day our Saviour went into the home and heart of a poor, miserable, despised and rejected sinner. The day a life was changed forever. A day when the residents and angels of heaven made the heavens ring with sounds of rejoicing. A day that is so beautifully and poetically described in the old hymn, "O Happy Day.." I trust you have had such a day. But if you have not, I pray that you will listen with eternal intensity as we examine how it all came to pass.
Let us look at the STATUS AND STATURE OF A SCORNED SINNER. (Verses 2-3) It is clear that Zacheus lived in the rarified air of the upper strata of the elite. This confirms what we have all suspected all along. Fame and fortune are often the beginning of sorrows. Riches do not satisfy. Money cannot buy real happiness. The stories of many in our contemporary world also confirm this. I recently read a story about what had happened to seven different people who had huge lottery wins. They all said they wished they had never had the experience. We cannot say Jesus didn't warn us. His stories and parables of the condition and fate of rich men were not given to us in order to entertain us. They are to serve as sharp and severe reminders of the folly of trusting in riches. A story I read many years ago illustrates man's vain and perpetual quest for happiness in riches. It seems that when the wreckage of a certain Spanish galleon was examined the skeletons of a number of sailors were also found around the wreckage. Evidence indicated they had filled their pockets with gold doubloons when abandoning ship. Of course, the weight of the gold had contrib- uted to their early demise.
Our Sunday School choruses speak of Zacheus being short in stature and needing a boost in order to even see Jesus. Perhaps we could consider that we are also short and stunted in our moral character. We have sinned and come short of the glory of God. All our righteousness are as filthy rags before God. We must also recognize our need and our inability to come close to Christ of our own ability and accord. Some may sincerely say, "But isn't this an example of a sinner seeking a Saviour?" Certainly. But in order to clarify the possible contradiction of the concept of a Saviour seeking a sinner and a sinner seeking a Saviour, we need but understand a tiny bit of theology. Just two simple verses tell the tale. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44) "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all [men] unto me." (John 12:32)
It then is perfectly clear that when any sinner who is dead in trespasses and sins seeks the Saviour it is of necessity a direct result of the drawing and convicting power of the Word of God as the Holy Spirit of God wields the powerful Sword of the Word. As we consider this real life story of a day in the life of our Saviour, we might be moved to ask ourselves the question: "What does all our religious activity amount to today? Our worshiping, praising, praying, preaching and giving? A big fat zero? Or is there something more? Are we missing out on some vital and important aspect of the Christian life?” We should see ourselves as Paul saw himself, the greatest of sinners. The poet said, "Oh, to see ourselves as others see us!" But even it is even better if we see ourselves as God sees. Poor, lost, undone sinners who desperately need a personal Saviour.
It seems this little man was scorned and despised by his peers. The self-righteous religious pharisees looked down their long pious noses at him. They had their reasons I am sure. As a tax collector for the hated Roman Emperor, he would have been viewed as a despicable traitor to his nation and people. He was not just an ordinary tax collector, but evidently had a wide reputation of extortion and dishonesty. Perhaps this should move us to ask ourselves about our attitude toward lost sinners. Espe- cially those who obviously scorn us and reject the God we love and the Saviour who died for them on the cross. Do we have the right to hate even the most despicable criminals and terrorists? Those who would completely destroy us if they had the power and opportunity to do so? Oppose? Yes. Resist? Yes. Fight against? Yes. But there is no place in the heart of a Christian for hatred of another human being. We are, as God, obligated to hate their deeds.
We are called to lift up the oppressed and down trodden and to oppose and fight against the oppressors. But we are also called to pray for them and seek opportunities to share the good news of the love of God with them. Zacheus was scorned and ridiculed by man but loved by the Saviour. This is our mission. We are to have enough care, concern and compassion to go to the home of the most despicable sinner and tell Him of the love of our Saviour. Jesus shared the good news of forgiveness with those crucifying Him. A thief and a centurion were saved that day. Through Peter and the disciples, Jesus again offered the gospel first to those who had crucified Him. The same Peter who had struck off the ear of one who came to take Jesus and had three times denied Him, stood and preached the love and mercy of God on the day of Pentecost.
Let us consider the SEEKING OF A STRAYING SINNER. The simple statement, "He sought to see Jesus..." says it all. He was looking in the right place at the right time. Jesus was passing by and he knew it. The word had gotten out. Jesus passes by the lost sinners in our community every Lord's Day. The gospel is preached in its purity from this pulpit. Powerfully I hope. Hymns and songs are sung that tell out the good news of salvation. Prayers are offered up for those who need Christ. We need to get out the word that Jesus is among us and meets with us. After all, the simplest definition of soul winning is effectively and scripturally introducing someone to the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you gotten the word out to your relatives and neighbours that Jesus is passing by?
This seeking sinner clearly understood that salvation is in a person rather than a religion. He at least understood what Jesus repeatedly pointed out on this subject. He said, "Search the scripture, for in them you think you have eternal life, but they are they that testify of me." He said, "In vain to they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." He said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life, and no man comes to the Father but by me.." Peter would later say, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." This straying sinner was determined to see Jesus. He would not allow anything or anyone to come between him and his search for a Saviour.
The crowd was in the way, so he climbed a tree. The religious crowd of our day sometimes gets in the way of those who are truly seeking a Saviour. Instead of being a help they are a hindrance with all the false doctrine they spread. The testimony of some who claim a relationship with Christ drive men away rather than draw men to Jesus. We need to realize this can happen to anyone and always be on our guard to ensure our testimony is such that would attract others to our Saviour. A busy pastor is constantly reminded of the world's abhorrence of the hypocrite. As he attempts to share Christ with the lost or to restore a wayward Christian to the fold of active worship and service, he hears again and again the excuse that churches are filled with hypocrites. He is rarely privileged to be told which or what kind of churches contain these great hordes of hypocrites.
Suffice it to say, the existence of just one in some church somewhere at some time is excuse enough! It doesn't seem to matter that the same person may be a hypocrite himself or may be surrounded by a sea of them at work or at play. Or that, as someone has said, if a hypocrite is standing between him and God, he is closer to God than the complainer is. The sad truth is that too often there is a basis for real complaint. I'll never forget an encoun- ter I once had. I stood on a doorstep as I listened to a bitter tirade from a man who said he would never darken a church door or listen to one word about God again. It seems his parents, who attended church regularly when he was a boy and professed to be devout Christians, had lived an ungodly life of drink, gambling and deceit. How tragic! It'll not be much of an excuse on his judgment day, but I shudder to think about what our Savior may say to his parents on their inevitable day of judgment!
Let us look at the STRATEGY OF A SEEKING SAVIOUR. That Jesus was passing that way was no accident. God doesn't have accidents as He works His eternal purpose in our world. The story of the woman at the well and many other stories confirm this as well. But what is the strategy of our seeking Saviour today? Has He changed His basic methodology? Just what is His plan today? Does He still walk among men offering them the gift of everlasting life? In His great commission He made it clear we are to walk in His shoes. We are to give out His message to seeking sinners. We are witnesses. We are fishers of men. We are living love letters. We are ambassadors. As we pass the way of sinners our message is: "Be ye reconciled to God..!"
