Scripture Reading: Luke 19:1-10 Scripture Text: "For the Son of man is come to seek and to
save that which was lost". Luke 19:10 (KJV)
Today we're going to be speaking of a man who
wanted so badly to see Jesus that He climbed a
tree. That's
right, we're speaking of Zacchaeus; but there is
more to the story than what you hear in a Sunday
School
song. we're going to be talking about that today
- right after we hear this song from Karen
Roller and I can
just hear Zacchaeus - Imagine - someone who no
one saw as any good and yet Jesus knew his heart
and came to Jericho JUST FOR HIM. How Amazing!
But that's Our Lord Jesus... He's here this
morning just for
you and for me this morning! Amazing! Just
Amazing! Here's Karen Roller with, "You Amaze
Me".
And Father you do
amaze me this morning - that
you could look at this ol' boy from Missouri
and see
something no one else could see... and you
entered Saint Joseph and "passed through" - for
even me. I give
you glory this morning Father for my life. Thank you that you cared enough to "come
calling" for me. In
Jesus' Name, Amen.
Friend, I love this story and have always loved
this story since I was a little boy because
every kid likes to
know that Jesus loves "little" people. My Sunday
School teacher did a good job bringing home the theme
that he
was a "wee little man and a wee little man was
he". I got the idea and she got the job done
- and
everyone
went home satisfied that Jesus made a point to
put his ministry aside for a night of fellowship
with a Tax Collector and a sinner... saved by
grace!
That's a great story isn't it? But there's so
much more to it and I just want to take a few
moments hear this
morning to speak on "Jesus Entered and Passed
Through"
So much is said about the change that came in
Zacchaeus' life when He allowed Jesus to come
in... but it's
the peripherals "I think" that make the story.
For instance, did you know that the town of
Jericho was known
as a "place of fragrance": a fenced city in the
midst of a vast grove of palm trees?
While it was a city of fragrance and a city of
great renown, chances are Jesus may have taken a
different
route had he not known that Zaccheaus' heart was
ready to come to God.
Zaccheaus was on the wrong
pathway in his life and he had heard about
Jesus and had been inquiring of different ones about
him - when
all of a sudden he hears a crowd. In that crowd
is a man whom he had never seen before, yet he
somehow he
knew he was in the presence of the Lord. So he
scurried around and climbed up in a sycamore tree
- to see
what he could see. Who did He see? Jesus!
Now I said that it was the peripherals that made
the story for me - so let's look at a couple of
those now
shall we?
First, the WORD says Jesus entered into Jericho
and passed through.
Second it says that Zacchaeus was in the
Sycamore tree.
Third - Jesus called him to fellowship. Fourth - Zaccheaus made a complete about
face in his
life...
Jesus Declared Zaccheaus to be "saved".
Now, Lest anyone should worry here this morning
and Gulp really hard thinking those are the
mains of my
sermon and I'm going to be "at it" forever...
let me make it perfectly clear that I am going
to hit the
highpoints here this morning and let the Spirit
of the Lord do the Work.
I already mentioned that the City of Jericho was
a city of fragrance and a fenced city. It was a
city that in
times past had been "given" to the Israelites by
God, due to the lack of devotion to God by
the
inhabitants of the city at the time. It was a Land
where the Moabites and the Edomites did not live
for God. In fact,
we read there in Leviticus 27:28 where it has
always been an ordinance of the Lord. It says
there that, "...every devoted thing is most holy unto the
LORD." The next verse goes on to say that, that
which is
devoted of men or not be devoted unto God at all
but consumed upon our own lusts shall be
utterly destroyed.
What a beautiful place to stop and preach - but
I promised... so let's move on.
The WORD clearly tells us that Zaccheaus was in
a Sycamore tree when Jesus Found him. Did you
know
that the Sycamore tree was one of the trees
there in the middle east - that had the largest trunk?
It was also
known as one of the most durable of all
hardwoods and was well rooted in the ground.
Third, we find where Jesus calls Zaccheus to
come down from the Sycamore tree and come have
fellowship
with him. Where was he calling him to come down from? The
Sycamore tree? Not just any tree. This tree
represented the
strength of Zaccheaus' Life: it represented his
"connection" to the Earth and the "worldly" things
- that he
had been rooted deep into material blessings and
wealth, and it was from all of that Jesus called Him.
Fourth... When Zacchaeus came to Jesus there was
a complete about face in his life. He promised
The Lord that he would not only give half of everything
he owned to the
Poor - but for every man he stole from he
would make
restitution with 4 times the amount that he stole.
It was then that Jesus Declared Zaccheaus to be a son or
descendent of Abraham - meaning what we would
call a
believer and child of God today. Jesus said...
"This day is salvation come to this house, for so much as he
also is a son of Abraham."
Oh friend, let me ask in closing this morning, if Jesus came to
your home today what would he find? Would it be
a home
marked by the fragrance and presence of Christ?
Knowing what you do about your job and your
career and
your retirement plan - should Jesus call you to
come down out of that which is rooted and
grounded in
Earth's foundation and all that it has to give...
and ask you to come and fellowship with Him -
WOULD YOU?
COULD YOU?
Many people cannot find themselves in
church even today because their foundation is in
their
jobs and careers and they want to see Jesus -
but from at a distance... to fellowship with Him
and spend
time away from their "Sycamore tree" is just not
possible, and they know it; and they regret it; yet
they do
nothing about it.
Oh friend, perhaps this message is for your
today for once again we must be aware that God's Word
clearly states
that what is not devoted to God is subject to
ruin and even death. I think we have a perfect
example of that
here in the United States even today as so many
have turned their backs on God yet bow at the
"ATM of The
Higher Dollar".
But let me tell you, it wasn't the fragrance
of the city that drew Jesus to the
city of Jericho, nor was it the powerful
Sycamores or the
fancy cuisine of the street cafés. Jesus came to
Jericho FOR Zacchaeus - that he might be saved!
Jesus has
come your way this morning by way of the raspy
voice of this ol' boy from Missouri telling you...
no, beckoning
you, to "COME DOWN FROM THAT SHAKY FOUNDATION OF
WEALTH AND NEED FOR MATERIAL
BLESSINGS AND COME AND DINE!" Jesus has a
PURPOSE and a PLAN for YOUR LIFE TODAY if you
will but heed His voice and obey.
Let's Pray
...
Father - When You come into our hearts and lives
- the Tempter's power is broken and the cares of
this life
are replaced by those things that are ETERNAL! I
say this morning... Jesus, I COME! Jesus, I COME
TO
THEE! In Your Name I Pray, Amen.
