When Jesus Drops By
Luke 19:1-10
March 30, 2003
What happens when Jesus drops by?
The lost find direction
The hopeless find hope
The helpless find assistance
The weary find new strength
The thirsty find refreshment
The broken are mended
The hurting are healed
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 being a short man he could not, because of 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 what was lost."
Body
I. Zacchaeus shows his desire
A. Zacchaeus was not an average guy
1. Zacchaeus was a man of position
a.) Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector: This was a position of some importance because he was given charge over managing the Roman tax collectors in the area. Zacchaeus was responsible for the hiring, overseeing and management of money
b.) This was a hated position: Zacchaeus was likely hated much more than the average tax collector because of two key reasons
1.) He reported directly to the Roman government
2.) He set the “additional” taxes collected to create more revenue
2. Zacchaeus was a man of status
a.) Zacchaeus was wealthy: It is unclear whether his money came from family or if it was profit from the position of chief tax collector.
b.) Zacchaeus would have had everything that he could have wanted materially speaking. He had nice clothes, a nice home and good food. He was the picture of ancient day success but there was still something missing
B. Zacchaeus had a deep desire
1. Zacchaeus was faced with a problem
a.) Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus as he passed through town: There was a great deal of fanfare surrounding Jesus and large crowds were following Him to Jerusalem.
b.) Zacchaeus had a problem: The crowds that gathered to watch Jesus were large and blocked the entire length of the road. Zacchaeus was also a short man, meaning that he was too short to see over the crowd
2. Zacchaeus was filled with a passion
a.) Zacchaeus put out some serious effort: He runs ahead of the crowds so he might get to see Jesus. This would have been a difficult task and would have required both a long and fast run
b.) Zacchaeus had a serious passion: He not only gets ahead of the crowd but then climbs a tree to ensure the fact that he’ll get to see Jesus
II. Jesus drops by
A. Jesus sought out Zacchaeus
1. When Jesus drops by
a.) Jesus literally stops the whole precession: Jesus stops in the middle of the road and looks up at this little man in the tree. When Jesus stops so does everyone else in the crowds
b.) Jesus then speaks: Jesus had an E.F. Hutton quality to Him and when He spoke everyone listened to what he had to say. This day was no different; when Jesus spoke He had every person hanging on His every word.
2. Jesus reveals His grace
a.) Jesus invites Himself to Zacchaeus’ home
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.
Jesus went where no one else would go to do what no one else could do. It is amazing the sheer love and mercy of Christ.
b.) Jesus creates a stir
The crowds hear what Jesus is going to do and they begin to get stirred up about it. In fact, they very quickly begin to complain that Jesus was eating at the house of a sinner. Of all the people to eat with in Jericho; Jesus chose Zacchaeus.
B. Jesus made a difference
1. Zacchaeus had to obey
a.) Jesus gave Zacchaeus a choice: Jesus did not force Zacchaeus to allow Him into his house. Zacchaeus could have said no.
b.) Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus gladly: Not only does Zacchaeus open his home to Jesus and the disciples but he does so gladly. When Jesus called Zacchaeus responded with joy and immediate obedience
2. Jesus blessed this man
a.) Jesus blessed Zacchaeus with His presence: It is very clear that there were many people who would have wanted to have Jesus in their home that day. Jesus could have easily chose any of them but He chose Zacchaeus.
b.) Jesus blessed Zacchaeus with His friendship: Jewish customs reveal that eating a meal in another person’s house was a sign of friendship and warm association
III. Zacchaeus is delivered
A. Zacchaeus is transformed
1. Zacchaeus becomes generous – Repentance
a.) Zacchaeus was wealthy: He was a man of great means and lived life “high on the hog” Zacchaeus reminds me of Scrooge and his personal transformation at the end of A Christmas Carol
b.) Zacchaeus gave it away: He gave away half of everything; all of his money, all of his possessions were divided and given away. Zacchaeus is living proof that material possessions can never satisfy the hunger of the heart.
2. Zacchaeus becomes gracious – Restitution
a.) Zacchaeus pledges to pay back: Zacchaeus would have still had a great deal of money left after giving half of it away. Then he pledges to pay back those he cheated along the way. Being a chief tax collector would have given him a long list of people to repay.
b.) Zacchaeus pays extra restitution: The normal amount for restitution, if you were not caught stealing, was twice the amount taken. However, Zacchaeus pledges to give back four times the amount. In the end this would likely bankrupt Zacchaeus but he was spiritually wealthy.
B. The proclamation of Jesus
1. A statement of power
a.) Jesus says that salvation has come
b.) Jesus says that Zacchaeus is restored
2. A statement of purpose
a.) Jesus came to seek
1.) Seeking means to make an all out search. Literally Jesus is saying that His purpose is to look for those who have been lost
2.) Jesus pursues people with a love and a passion for their eternal destiny. Jesus is wants to transform your earthly life to redeem your eternal life
b.) Jesus came to save
1.) Save means to deliver or to rescue. Jesus has come to rescue our lives from the clutches of death and despair of Hell
2.) Jesus is the only one who can rescue the soul. Jesus is the only one who can mend the brokenness of your life. Jesus is the only one that you need
