I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who is coming soon. Praise the lord.
Let me begin with a real story, in MP there is a man, whose name is Mukesh. He is living in Alirajpur district. In 1988, he was faced illness disease in his life. But he could not healed by worldly gods. But he had a desire to know the real god, who can heal him. Because he believed that God is in this world, which created this world. He said, “if any gods will heal me, I will serve for him among 13 crore gods. At last he was healed by servant of Jesus. Not only he healed but he was changed. And he had come out his desire to know him and welcoming him in his life. Through Jesus Christ his life was changed and got salvation through Jesus Christ. Now this man is serving God's kingdom in MP.
Today in this earth what kind of desire we are carrying in our life, to see difficulties, problems or Jesus? In this time I just want to speak about salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus wants from our life that we should have desire to see, welcoming him only. Than our life will change and we can get salvation through him. today, God wants to speak to us, he wants to give salvation through him which is needed to all. so better understanding of these let’s open our bible Luke 19:1-10
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 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. 5 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. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! 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.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (NIV)
Author of this gospel is Luke. Luke is the author of two books in the New Testament. Like gospel of Luke and the epistles of the Acts. This gospel was written in between 58-65 A.D. He was a Gentile. This gospel was written for gentile. The main theme in this gospel is that Jesus is the salvation of the whole world. And the gospel of Luke deals with the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Title: Divine Desire
This time, I would like to invite you to take some wonderful qualities that we find here in our story surrounding this tax collector. Let’s look at some of qualities. We see first of all that:
Desire to see Jesus (v.1-4)
One day, Jesus Christ was walking through the city of Jericho. Jericho was the famous city where the first town captured by the Joshua and Israelis, when they came into promise land. And it was also familiar with Jesus Christ. It was near where John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. It was also near the wilderness where Luke tells us that Jesus fasted and prayed for 40 days and his encounter with Satan. When Jesus was passing through Jericho, Many people were with Him. A man named Zacchaeus was there too. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. He was a rich man. In those days, tax collectors often got rich from taking extra taxes from people and keeping the extra money for themselves. Zacchaeus was not very tall. When the crowd was passing by, he wanted to see who Jesus was. But Zacchaeus was short, he could not see over the crowd. So how was he seen Jesus? Now zacchaeus was thinking and decided to today I will see Jesus whatever will be happen in my life. And he made a plan and he saw there is a sycamore fig-tree growing nearby. This tree can grow to be very high. And he climbed on that tree. Now he could see who Jesus was!
The Bible says that he wanted to see Jesus. While the rest of the crowd was trying to see a spectacle (performance), or maybe see a miracle, or hear some teaching, Zacchaeus needed Jesus. This little man was not worried about anything else, not the crowd, not his condition, stands between him. And he took decision and he saw Jesus Christ.
So dear friend today also we have desire to see Jesus but when we are going close to Jesus on that time many types of problems coming in our life and we lose our desire. But when we face those problems in our life then we cannot lose our desire to see Jesus. As Zacchaeus was made decision to see Jesus. And he saw Jesus.
Desire to welcome Jesus (v.5-7)
When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to zacchaeus to come down and today I must stay in your home. This little chief tax collector reacted quite differently. Why zacchaeus was reacted differently when Jesus said I must stay in your home? And why he came down immediately? Because in those time people were heated to the tax collectors and they were not accepting tax-collectors in their homes. That’s why he came down immediately and welcoming to Jesus in his home. He was not only welcomed Jesus into his home, but he also welcomed Jesus into his heart and life. He put aside all the mock, the shame and the opposition. And opened his home and his heart and life for Jesus. Luke tells us that Zacchaeus not only opened his home and his heart. But now his passion to see Jesus was met with his joy in welcoming Jesus. He was very happily welcomed Jesus into his home. People who saw this said to each other, “Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner” (v.7).
Why they were telling like that? Because they were expected that Jesus will go to especial person home. Who is perfect to obey God’s commandments. But Jesus came in this earth for sinners to change their life and bring to them in his kingdom. So my dear friend many times Jesus is knocking door to come in our house. So open our house (heart) that Jesus can enter in our house. And when we open our house (heart) for Jesus, then this desire will lead us to change our life.
Desire to change life (8-10)
Luke begins by sharing with us, the strong desire Zacchaeus overcome to see Jesus. Then he goes on to share with us the openness of his heart and life as he welcomes Jesus. And now we see where Zacchaeus is only allows Jesus to transform his heart. Verse 8 says Zacchaeus stood up and he turned to Jesus, and he addressed Jesus as his Lord: “Look, Lord! 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”. In those time rabbis were only giving back 20% and here zacchaeus was publicly proclaiming that he would give 50% pair with that he given back to 400% whom he cheated. Now Jesus took this little wicked man and in one moment saved him forever! That is what Jesus does for all those who come to Him. In this verse 9-10 Jesus reminds us that He was and is here to save sinners.
Dear friend, no matter how tall or how short we are, no matter how rich or how poor, whether we are up in a tree or out on a branch, if we know we are losing our life without Jesus, then Jesus is looking for us today. Because verse 10 says “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” The story of Zaccheus invites us to ask ourselves if we really want to see Jesus or are we comfortable with keeping Jesus at a distance? Jesus always shows up for those who have their spiritual eyes opened to see him when we see Jesus on the Jericho road of our lives. We are invited to receiving and to choose him and change our lives.
Let’s pray
Thank you gracious heavenly father for your word which you have given us clearly. I pray for those people who are still in darkness and not yet get salvation. please change their heart and mind that they may get salvation through you lord. and glorify your name in Jesus name Amen.
