SERMON OUTLINE:
• (1). A Man Became A Child.
• (2). A Seeking Man Became Found.
• (3). A Small Man Became Big.
• (4). A Poor Man Became Rich.
• (5). A Host Became A Guest.
SERMON BODY
Ill:
• Little boy had his first day at school,
• Said to his teacher will you teach me something that will impress my parents;
• So, the teacher got him to repeat this phrase all day long; "2x2=4".
• Later-on at home when they were all having tea together.
• Mum and dad asked him; "What did you learn at school today".
• And the little boy replied "2x2=4".
• Mum & dad were well impressed, they thought they had a genius in the family,
• Until a few minutes later the little boy said; "Mum, what's a two?"
• TRANSITION: Like that little boy,
• Many are familiar with the story of Zacchaeus,
• But not everyone understands and knows its meaning!
Note: He was a tax-collector.
• People did not like tax inspectors in Jesus’ day;
• And they do not like them today,
• Nobody likes having to give their hard-earned money to the government.
Ill:
• 2 Taxman jokes.
• #1: People who complain about paying their income tax can be divided into two types:
• Men and women.
• #2: What's the difference between an overzealous tax auditor and a rottweiler?
• A rottweiler will eventually let go!
• TRANSITION: People did not like tax inspectors in Jesus’ day;
• And they do not like them today,
These tax officials were very unpopular with the Jewish people for at least 3 reasons:
(A). THEY WERE DISHONEST.
• Often, they were extortionists,
• Making themselves rich by taking too much money from their fellow Jews.
• The Roman government devised a system;
• To collect taxes as efficiently and as cheaply as possible.
• They did this by auctioning the right to collect taxes in a certain area.
• The man who bought that right was responsible to the Roman government for an agreed sum;
• Anything he could raise over and above that;
• He was allowed to keep as commission.
• Not only did they fleece their own countrymen,
• But they also did their best to swindle the government,
• And they made a flourishing income by taking bribes from rich people;
• Who wished to avoid taxes which they should have paid.
Ill:
• On one occasion when tax-collectors asked John the baptiser, how they should live;
• (Luke chapter 3 verse 12).
• His reply was basic and straight to the point; "be honest!"
• Everyone knew that tax-collectors were corrupt, they were rotten to the bone!
Application:
“One of the greatest miracles that Jesus Christ performs today,
is to take a dishonest person, from a dishonest world,
make that person honest,
then place them back in a dishonest world and keep them honest!”
• Question: How is your honesty Christian?
• Answer: We should be known as people of integrity!
(B). THEY WERE TRIATORS.
• They were also hated because they were working for the Romans,
• Although they worked for them indirectly.
• The Romans contracted out to people like the Herod's.
• He ran the region on behalf of the Romans.
• The Herod’s contracted out to people like Zacchaeus;
• Those who were willing to buy the position from them at great cost.
(C). THEY WERE SINNERS.
• They were disliked because they ignored the Jewish laws.
• This explains why the Pharisees called them 'sinners'
• (verse 16).
• ill: A sinner was someone who chose to live outside of God's laws.
• e.g. If you chose to work on the Sabbath,
• e.g. If you did not follow dietary laws (ate pork).
Ill:
• According to Jewish law a tax-gatherer was excluded from the synagogue;
• They were was included with things and beasts that were unclean,
• They were forbidden to be a witness in any case of law.
• In fact, robbers, murderers and tax-gatherers were all classed together.
• On the social scale, tax collectors were on the bottom.
• (Even prostitutes had a higher social status).
Ill:
• William Booth was a British Methodist preacher;
• Who founded The Salvation Army and became its first General.
• One Sunday evening, William Booth was walking in London with his son, Bramwell,
• Who was then 12 or 13 years old.
• The father surprised his son by taking him to a pub!
• The place was crowded with men and women.
• Some of them were drunk. Some of them were loud.
• And the air was filled with the smell of alcohol and tobacco.
• Bramwell said to his dad, "Can we go now? Why did you even bring me in here?"
• And General Booth said,
"Son, these are our people; these are the ones I want you to love.
These are the people I want you to live for.
These are the people I want you to bring to Christ."
• Years later, Bramwell wrote,
• "That was a lesson I never forgot."
• It’s a lesson still worth learning today.
• And it’s one of the lessons we learn from Jesus here in this story.
• Those that society rejects, the Church should welcome!
NOW WITH THAT AS BACKGROUND, LET’S DIVIDE UP AND LOOK AT THE STORY:
(1). A Man Became A Child (vs 3-4).
“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.”
• Zacchaeus did a childish thing,
• Grown men in New Testament times did not run,
• Especially a wealthy government official,
• And they certainly did not climb trees.
• Zacchaeus did both in verse 3.
• Obviously, their garments were not suited to that,
• Men wore robes not trousers and climbing in a robe is not easy;
• And at various stages of climbing, it might just cost you your dignity.
Quote:
• John Calvin was a French theologian, pastor;
• And reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation.
• “Curiosity and simplicity are a sort of preparation for faith”.
• TRANSITION:
• Curiosity is certainly a characteristic of most children,
• And this day curiosity was the motivation that captured Zacchaeus.
• Jesus said entrance into the kingdom of God requires us to become child-like,
• Not childish but rather child-like!
• Child-like is simplicity;
• Let me illustrate it this way.
Ill:
• Whenever we do a good deed for someone.
• As adults our natural response is often, “Thank you, now how can I repay you?”
• We are not comfortable taking we want to ‘balance the scales’
• But you give a child something;
• They will take without any thought of recompense,
• Sometimes you are lucky to get a ‘thank you’ from them.
• Kids have that lovely simplicity about them;
• They know that you do not earn a gift, you just accept it.
• TRANSITION: Zacchaeus, a grown man acted like a child;
• He did so because he wanted to see Jesus,
• And being short he was unable to see over the crowd,
• And it would have been too dangerous to mingle and push through the crowd.
Ill:
• Sometimes it is those who are closest to Jesus,
• Who prevent others from getting to Jesus.
• I will not ‘stick my neck out’ and give you some examples.
• I’ll leave that thought with you to ponder on later.
Note:
• There is a great line in verse 3:
• “He wanted to see who Jesus was”
Ill:
• One of our members at DRC is a Chinese lady called Amy,
• She turned up one Sunday morning and asked this question,
• “I want to learn about God, can you help me?”
• That is a preachers, an evangelists dream question;
• When someone is spiritually hungry to learn about God.
• And Zacchaeus was much more than curious, I believe he too was seeking God,
• “He wanted to see who Jesus was”
• Which brings us to our next point.
(2). A Seeking Man Became Found (vs 4-5).
“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.”
• Zacchaeus went looking for Jesus,
• But he did not realise that Jesus was looking for him!
Ill:
• Story told of an elderly man, who went out for a walk.
• His wife was at home and when he hadn’t returned home at his normal time,
• She was getting a bit anxious.
• She started looking out the from window;
• To see if she could see him coming down the path.
• Then to her astonishment a police car pulled up,
• And in the back of the car was her husband.
• Well the police officer opened the door and helped him down the pathway,
• As the husband approached the front door, he looked embarrassed and a bit sheepish,
• The officer knocked on the door and said to the man’s wife;
• “Nothing to worry about, he just got confused and for a moment he forgot where he lived,
• But he seems to be back to normal now!”
• When the officers left, she looked at her husband,
• And she knew that was not the real story;
• So, she said to him, “Ok! What’s really going on?”
• He replied; “To be honest, I felt really tired and just fancied a lift home!”
• TRANSITION: I think they say, “Don’t try that at home (or out and about)!”
• A lost man, a seeking man became found!
No-one really knows what was going on in the heart and mind of Zacchaeus
• To me his interest in Jesus is more than curiosity,
• It is much more than meeting the latest celebrity to pass through his town.
• Maybe Zacchaeus had a conscience that had been irritating him.
• Maybe Zacchaeus had been seeking after God,
• Wanting to get his life back on track,
• But unable to as under Jewish law a tax-gatherer was excluded from the synagogue;
• Maybe Zacchaeus had realised that what he wanted in life;
• Was not to be found in silver coins.
• But this day, Zacchaeus who was seeking Jesus,
• Discovered Jesus was seeking him”
Note:
• Only Jesus knew geographically where Zacchaeus was,
• Remember he was hiding up a tree,
• If Jesus had not stopped the crowd would have walked straight passed him.
• Jesus knew geographically where Zacchaeus was,
• And he also knew spiritually where Zacchaeus was.
• As a shepherd seeks after a lost sheep,
• As a parent seeks after a lost child,
• So, Jesus (vs 5) sought out this lost man.
“‘Zacchaeus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’”
• Notice Jesus knew his name,
• Jesus knew his place of hiding,
• And Jesus also knew his spiritual needs.
Ill:
• The God of the Bible is a seeking God,
• Remember way back to the garden of Eden.
• In Genesis chapter 3 Adam tried to hide from God.
• So, God spoke out a question:
• "The Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?""
• Again, don't take that geographically,
• God knew exactly where he was (he knows all things).
• The answer to that question was not geographical,
• “I am in the Garden of Eden” or even “I am hiding in a garden”.
• But spiritual;
• “Adam where are you! We were so close and know you are so far away from me!”
Quote G. Campbell Morgan:
“This is not the call of a policeman arresting the criminal.
It was rather the wail of a father, who had lost his child”
• TRANSITION: As a shepherd seeks after a lost sheep,
• As a parent seeks after a lost child,
• As the creator looked for his lost creation.
• So, Jesus (vs 5) sought out this lost individual called Zacchaeus.
APPLICATION:
• Jesus is seeking friendship with each of us this morning;
• The question is, “Where am you?”
• The answer is, “You are running from God or you are running to God!”
(3). A Small Man Became Big (vs 3&5-6).
“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.”
“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’ 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.”
• Zacchaeus was a man of small stature,
• He grew up being teased and hearing the same old jokes,
• That’s life…
• e.g. I have heard almost every joke about being bold,
• e.g. My friend ‘Big Dave’ has heard every joke about being tall.
• And I am sure Zacchaeus had heard all the jokes about being short.
Yet, in contrast to his physical size,
• Zacchaeus was big in his occupation – he was ‘chief tax collector’
• He was at the top of his profession and other tax collectors;
• If you forgive the pun, they ‘looked up’ to him!
• We are told he was also ‘wealthy’ so he had a big bank balance.
• So, although he was despised, his wealth and his position earnt him so respect.
Note:
• But as far as God was concerned;
• Zacchaeus was both physically and spiritually of small stature:
• Quote: The Bible teaches (Romans chapter 3 verse 23):
• “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
• When we compare ourselves to other people we may feel and look big;
• And we all do it! We all know someone we can look down on.
• But when we come before God, we are all small!
• None of us can ever look God in the eye!
When Jesus stopped under the branches of that tree and looked up:
• Zacchaeus was suddenly under the public gaze, the public spotlight,
• He nowhere to run to and nowhere to hide,
• I think he had never felt so embarrassed or so small!
• The crowd would have looked up at laughed in a mocking, derisive way at him,
• In contrast Jesus would have smiled with pleasure.
• Jesus would have enjoyed Zacchaeus’ act of faith.
Note: The moment Jesus called him by name and requested a meal at his house;
• The crowd stopped laughing, they went into shock!
• Zacchaeus’ heart swelled with pride!
• And this little man had never felt so big!
• And soon Zacchaeus was going to put his faith and trust in Jesus;
• Look what verse 9b calls him; “…this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”
• That expression is Jewish jargon for ‘a child of faith’ (Romans chapter 4 verse 12):
• And you cannot according to the Bible get much bigger than that!
• From scoundrel to son of Abraham!
(4). A Poor Man Became Rich (vs 2&9).
• The crowd thought Zacchaeus was rich, because he had lots of money;
• (Verse 2 says; “he was wealthy.”)
Ill:
• Ade Goodchild, aged 58 has made many the headlines this week.
• He is the winner of the EuroMillions lottery jackpot.
• He joked he will spend his £71 million EuroMillions jackpot;
• “On wine and women and “waste the rest”.
• I hope Ade enjoys his money, but he might just discover what many others have;
• That money CANNOT buy the important things in life,
• Because they are gifts from God.
Quote:
“Money can buy a bed but not sleep;
Money can buy books but not brains;
Money can buy a clock but not time
Money can buy food but not appetite;
Money can buy finery but not beauty;
Money can buy a house but not a home;
Money can buy medicine but not health;
Money can buy position but not respect
Money can buy blood but not life
Money can buy sex but not love
Money can buy insurance but not safety
Money can buy food but not appetite
Money can buy luxuries but not culture;
Money can buy amusements but not happiness;
Money can buy a cross but not a saviour;
Money can buy a passport to everywhere but not to heaven.”
• TRANSITION:
• The crowd thought Zacchaeus was rich, because he had lots of money;
• But as far as God was concerned, he was spiritually poor. Spiritually bankrupt.
• Notice the irony; at the end of the story when he gives his wealth away,
• It is then that he actually becomes rich!
“‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”
Note:
• Zacchaeus was not saved, made right with God because he gave his money away.
• That was the evidence of his faith and not the cause of his faith.
• When we have a true encounter with Jesus Christ;
• He brings change and a desire to change.
• The Bible uses the word, ‘repentance’.
• Which means to ‘turn around’
Ill:
• Zacchaeus is a perfect example of repentance.
• Before he came to faith in Jesus Christ, he was a thief.
• In verse 8 where he says; “if I have cheated anybody out of anything”
• Listen, there was no doubt in anyone s mind that he had cheated people.
• But that was Zacchaeus before he met Jesus.
• Now his attitude is changed because his heart is changed!
• Under Old Testament law.
• When a thief confessed to his crime, he had to restore what he took.
• And add one-fifth to it, and also bring a trespass offering to the Lord.
• (Leviticus chapter 6 verses 1-7).
• If he stole something he could not restore,
• He had to repay double (Exodos chapter 22 verse 1).
• I love the fact that Zacchaeus does not quibble over the terms of the Law,
• He offers to pay the highest price (vs 8):
“Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’”
• The irony in this story is this;
• Zacchaeus became poorer by giving away his money,
• So, he actually became richer in the eyes of God!
Notice:
• Jesus did not tell Zacchaeus to act this way,
• Zacchaeus already knew in his heart what the problem was and what he needed to do.
• And I would guess this morning there are people here just like Zacchaeus,
• You know what is wrong between you and God,
• And you also know what you need to do to put it right.
• In the previous chapter (18) we have the story of the Rich Young Ruler,
• Someone the very opposite of Zacchaeus.
• He actually kept the law and was an upright citizen.
• Dr Luke in his gospel records that when Jesus asked him to (vs 22);
• “Sell everything you have and give to the poor,”
• He could not or rather would not!
• And verse 23 is one of those sad verses of the Bible:
• “When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy”
• We always walk away sad when we refuse to listen to and obey Jesus,
• In contrast Zacchaeus went home full of gladness and joy!
(5). A Host Became A Guest (vs 7&.
• I love verse 7:
• Because the very thing the crowd criticised Jesus for, is the very reason we praise him!
“All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’”
• Read that verse slowly,
• “All-the-people” – everyone including the disciples grumbled and muttered!
• Wow this is amazing grace…that would save a wretch like Zacchaeus,
• That saves a wretch like you and me!
• Note:
• In verse 5 Jesus becomes the host by inviting himself into the home of Zacchaeus
• “‘Zacchaeus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’”
• When Jesus enters that house, he is now the master,
• And Zacchaeus is now the servant,
• Zacchaeus is the follower, the disciple of Jesus and subject to Jesus.
• This is the only time in the four Gospels;
• Where Jesus invited himself into someone else’s home.
• And it illustrates the truth of Revelation chapter 2 verse 20.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
• This day Zacchaeus possessed something that money cannot buy,
• Friendship with Jesus!
• And that means friendship with the God of the Bible.
• Notice the result of sins forgiven.
• Verse 6: the N.I.V. says, ‘gladness’ some translations use the word ‘joy’
• Joy is always the result of being found by God;
• Just read chapter 15 of Luke’s gospel if you want to see that illustrated!
• (A lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son were all found, and all bring great rejoicing!)
And finally…
• When a day begins you never know how it’s going to end.
• For Zacchaeus, the day ended with a changed life.
• He had his sins forgiven, he experienced friendship with Jesus and peace with God.
• The Bible says that for anyone (applies to all here today);
• “Now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation.”
• (2 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 2)
• We are never promised tomorrow, but we are promised today!
• If like Zacchaeus we will come humbly in repentance and faith,
• We too can know sins forgiven, he experienced friendship with Jesus & peace with God.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=M1i4pIrS7tANJJUrqjRQwkV6O2T8045c
