The Little Man Who Met A Big God

THE LITTLE MAN WHO MET A BIG GOD

Lk. 19:1-10

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: Look Who’s Scary

1. Dennis Agena was browsing in a military surplus store when a young couple came in pushing a little boy in a stroller. Dennis couldn't help noticing the father, who was in full punk regalia: spiked hair, black leather gloves, snake tattoos visible on his arms.

2. Later, Dennis saw that father running through the store frantically calling for his son. Relieved when he found the boy in another aisle, he embraced him and admonished him, "Don't go where mommy and daddy aren't able to see you. A scary man might grab you."

B. TEXT

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.” Lk. 19:1-10

C. THESIS

1. Today we’re looking at a Little Man who met a Big God! Someone said, “It’s not the size of the man in the fight, but the size of the fight in the man!” I would add that it’s the size of the man’s God that will change the outcome.

2. Follow along as we look at a little man named Zacchaeus!

I. HE WAS A LITTLE MAN...

A. LITTLE IN STATURE

1. The Bible tells us here that Zacchaeus was “short.” It’s a well-known fact that Jews are shorter than the average (2-4 cm. shorter, Jewish Encyclo.). So when JEWS say that you’re short, you’re REALLY SHORT! Now, being short doesn’t have to affect a person’s perception of themselves or make them feel inferior, but it frequently does.

2. Psychologists have coined a term to describe the mindset short men often display: “Little Man Syndrome” or “Napoleonic Complex.” To counteract their shortness, such individuals are more aggressive, are loud & talkative, and require additional attention in order to prove themselves. They like big trucks and things that make them stand out “larger than life.”

3. So Zacchaeus allied himself with the Romans and got power over his fellow Jews by being a tax collector for Caesar. He became the chief tax gatherer in that region.

B. LITTLE IN THE ESTEEM OF OTHERS

1. I’m sure that to the people of Jericho, Zacchaeus looked like he was happy, successful, and self-assured.

2. But that was just the façade he put on. In truth, he was despised by his fellow countryman as a traitor, probably despised by the Romans, and internally he was miserable. He was a wounded & unhappy person seeking for acceptance.

C. LITTLE IN HIS TRUST IN GOD

1. Zacchaeus was especially despised by the Pharisees – the most orthodox faith of the Jews. Jesus was rebuked by them for even eating with tax collectors (Mt. 9:11; Mk. 2:16; Lk. 5:30).

2. Undoubtedly the Pharisees refused Zacchaeus entry to the synagogue. His very trade aided the idolatrous Romans and their evil empire. He was considered a man who would do anything for money; a rank sinner. He was hated and despised by “God’s people.”

3. Since all God’s representatives rejected him, I’m sure Zacchaeus felt rejected by God also. But inside his heart there was the unmet cry for acceptance and reconciliation with God. This set the stage for the entrance of Jesus into Jericho and into Zacchaeus’ life.

II. ZACCHAEUS MET A BIG GOD...

Jesus proved to be bigger than Zacchaeus’ conceptions, his faults, and his idols!

A. BIGGER THAN HIS CONCEPTION

1. When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he met a Person who blew apart all his conceptions of God. Instead of a God who was plotting his downfall, he met a God who cared about him.

2. He had heard about the Prophet from Nazareth. He’d heard how Jesus was friendly to tax collectors and other kinds of “sinners.” He’d even heard that Jesus made the tax collector – Levi/ Matthew – one of His 12 apostles, or inner circle of disciples. These facts gave Zacchaeus cause for hope.