Setting The Table
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. 3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable due to the crowd, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree in order to see Him, because He was about to pass through that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 And he hurried and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 When the people saw this, they all began to complain, saying, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner!” 8 But Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I am giving to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone, I am giving back four times as much.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1-10
How Do You Get Salvation to Flow Through Your Life?
Climb A Tree
Get Over The Crowd
Bring Jesus Home
Zaccheus was a Chief Tax Collector hated by many.
*Best way to describe him would be a regional leader of thieves
*Definitely gives off “Rich men north of Richmond” vibes.
The greatest barrier we face to salvation is our own pride and dignity.
*Zaccheus left his dignity on the side of the road
*By climbing the tree he accepts ridicule
It’s time to embrace Childlikeness back into our lives.
“As an adolescent, I would have been ashamed to have been found reading fairy tales. Now that I am 50, I read them in public. For when I became a man, I put away childish things, especially the fear of childishness.” -C.S. Lewis
Zaccheus was not willing to let the crowd skew his view of Jesus.
*Zaccheus got over the crowd by getting a new perspective.
*Need a new perspective? Go to the written Gospels.
*Jesus was just as against the “religious elites” as any one else.
Religion Says: I am good enough to reach out to God.
The Gospel Says: He came to seek and save that which is lost.
Jesus didn’t say believe in me - He said I am coming to your home.
*Jesus displays the scandal of grace by doing life with a notorious sinner.
*Grace does the heavy lifting for us.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
What areas of your life do you need to bring Jesus into?
