Out On A Limb
Luke 19: 1 - 10
Intro: A fitness center offered $1,000 to anyone who could demonstrate that they were stronger than the owner who would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass. He would then hand the lemon to the challenger saying that he would pay $1,000 it they could squeeze another drop into the glass. Many tried and failed. One day, a short, skinny guy tried. The owner grabbed a lemon and squeeze away and then handed the lemon to the little man who clenched his fist around the lemon and 6 drops fell into the glass. In amazement the owner asked what the man did for a living. The little man replied, “I work for the IRS.” (Wee Lil May by Spencer Homan, SermonCentral.com)
I Do you know why short people get mad so easily? They have a short fuse. Short people are the only people in the world who are always looking up.
A I’ve heard it said that God only lets things grow until they’re perfect. Some people simply don’t take as long as others.
B For the Christian, Zacchaeus is probably the best know short person. This story is only in Luke who simply introduces him by saying, Vs. 2 – “A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus:”
C We fail to catch the significance of the name, Zacchaeus. The Hebrew root for the name means “pure” or “acquitted one.”
II There are other interesting facts about Zacchaeus in this story.
A Luke tells us that he wasn’t just any tax collector. He was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
B VS. 3 – “He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.” Why?
C (The Greek word for “short” literally means “the body of an undeveloped child.) Was he aware of the reputation of Jesus as a healer?
III VS 4 – “So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree . . .”
A At the time of Jesus grown men NEVER ran and the certainly would not climb a tree. This was something an adult just didn’t do. But Zacchaeus was willing to go out on a limb for Jesus.
B VS. 8 “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.
C There are problems here with the tense of the verbs. They can be translated as present OR future tense. Is it a confession to Jesus or a change of heart? We don’t know for sure.
Concl: One thing we do know by looking at verses 9 & 10. Jesus sees Zacchaeus for who he is, A SON OF ABRAHAM who may have been wrongly condemned by society but is rightly known to God.
Are there people in our society whom we may have unjustly accused, judged or overlooked? This story teaches us that we are all God’s creations and God alone reserves the right to judge.
