My notes from a sermon on 3 April 2011
Luke 19 verses 1 – 10
A man in the crowd singled out by the Lord. He couldn’t sit any longer. He had to come down to where Jesus was. Jericho was the last place where you would have thought someone would have found Jesus. Jericho was under the condemnation and curse of God yet it was the very place Jesus entered to find this man. Maybe this is the last day you would have thought you could meet with Jesus. He comes to you today and singles you out. God is maybe going to speak to you specifically today. Jericho was a cursed and condemned city. It was the first city the children of Israel and Joshua conquered when they crossed into the Promised Land. Joshua 6 verse 26. Imagine Jesus entering into such a place that was under the judgment of God. This world is under the judgment, wrath and condemnation of God yet it was the very place that Jesus entered in to seek and to save that which was lost. Here was a city awakened to the presence of Christ. Notice the number of people who turned out to see Christ yet only one person was converted.
A man who was driven by his curiosity – verse 3 “who he was”. It was more than a passing interest. If you and I are ever to get a grip and glimpse of the Lord we are going to need more than a passing interest. This Bible tells me the only way I can find God is when I seek for him with all my heart. That is why we have so many false professions today. They are not getting through to God. “It is one thing to get people to the altar but it is another thing to see them getting through to God” an old evangelist said. It is one thing to be stirred by the claims of God but another thing to be saved by the grace of God. It was more than a passing interest – see the great lengths he had to fulfil his plans. He realised he would have to climb the tree. It was more than just stepping outside his front door. He had to watch and wait for the Lord to come. Herod had more than a passing interest in Christ. When Christ was tried by Pilate and sent over to Herod he was so glad. Herod had heard so much about Jesus and here was his opportunity to see some marvellous thing done by this man. Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was, the type of person he was. I wonder is our curiosity stirred and awakened? Does it take us deeper into the things of God? Nicodemus had the same curiosity. He went into the presence of God by night. He called him “master”. He called him a great teacher. Jesus awakened something in his heart. He had to come to Jesus. Here was a man who prayed, didn’t miss the house of God, a deeply religious man. He had to find out more about him, such was his curiosity. When was the last time as children of God our hearts were stirred and it brought us to the word of God to study it more deeply? Zacchaeus didn’t know this day would end with him making a public spectacle of himself. Maybe the Holy Spirit is gripping your heart today. You have never experienced him for yourself. Never seen what it means for him to take on himself the sin of your heart. Somehow it has never given you a second thought until now. There is now a curiosity drawing you to Christ. It was a love for your soul, for you as a person that you would even be damned in a Christless eternity. Here the Lord gave himself on the cross just for you. This man Zacchaeus was a tax collector, maybe curiosity began to well up when Matthew came to him, when Matthew told him he was giving up his job as a tax collector and the reason was to follow Christ. From that day Zacchaeus was never the same. Maybe that is happening in your life. Right now you cannot reason with it and it is bringing you to Christ today. Think of that city of Jericho – many were awakened to Christ, recognised who Jesus was but there was only one person converted.
Zacchaeus was faced with a crisis. It was not going to be plain sailing, not going to be easy for Zacchaeus. You don’t know what the Lord has for you today, maybe he will put a finger on your life. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus but he couldn’t – why – verse 3 “he could not because of the press”. These people were a hindrance to Zacchaeus. Be wary of the crowd today. The curiosity in the heart to see the Lord as to who he was, what he has done but he was being hindered. The moment you and I began to consider spiritual issues in our lives the devil will throw up all sorts of obstacles. This was going to be the last time Zacchaeus would hear the voice of the Lord. Jesus was just passing through Jericho. He was on his way to Jerusalem. He would never return through this city. That is why a meeting like this is so serious and means so much. Maybe in this meeting for the final time God is going to speak for the last time. Should we live another 50 years and never hear the voice of God again wouldn’t that be an awful thing? Out on the mountain one day the disciples and crowds came to hear Jesus. Then there was a dilemma – as the day wore on the crowd began to be tired and hungry. The disciples wanted Jesus to send the crowd away. Isn’t that the easiest thing to do? It is very easy to send Jesus away because of the crowd around us. The disciples were being tested. Jesus knew what he was going to do. Is that what you are saying today – Lord send it away?” Pilate making his decision about Jesus. He listened to all the evidence against Jesus, couldn’t see what was against this man. His wife tried to persuade him to send him away. What did Pilate do – he threw him to the crowd to decide his fate. There were those who were supporters of the Lord but the old religious leaders began to mingle through the crowd. They started to chant “crucify him”. All the people took up the chant. Pilate’s decision was made up because of the crowd. God’s salvation is real to you. God is speaking to you about his salvation. Today you have come to a spiritual dilemma and you are throwing it to the crowd. They are telling you to forget about it. Verse 4 Zacchaeus has to think about this great challenge. He ran down the street and climbed up a sycamore tree. Verse 5 Jesus came to the tree and he said to him “hurry up Zacchaeus come down I want you to stand in this crowd, I want to go to your house today.”
There is a challenge to Zacchaeus. The challenge was now to the will of Zacchaeus. Remember the woman with the issue of blood who touched Jesus’ garment? Jesus knew she had touched him but she had to step out and admit it. A man in the crowd. The Lord challenges him to step out. Maybe that one person is you today. Not the person next to you but you. You are in the tree like Zacchaeus. God wants you to come down because he has business with you. God is challenging your will today. Nothing can hinder you if God is speaking to you. The Pharisees heard Jesus, they followed him, they were challenged but Jesus said of them “ye will not come.” They dug their heels in. Zacchaeus hadn’t banked on this situation but there is a battle going on for your will today.
Zacchaeus’ great confession – verse 8. He stepped out of the tree. Here is salvation at work. We might be awakened but are we truly concerted? Zacchaeus said “I have amassed a great wealth but I don’t need that now I have found Christ.” Salvation touched his heart, life and soul and he was changed from the inside out. He no longer had the same desires. He had found everything in Christ. Zacchaeus told Jesus that he would sit down with his books and go through them and if he found any wrong doing he would make amends. It was a frank confession.
Zacchaeus got a great confirmation – verse 9. Jesus said “this day is salvation come to this house.” If Zacchaeus had sat in the tree he would never have known the blessing of God on his life but he came down from the tree. God has blessings for you and me we know nothing of yet and he says “come, you are the person in the crowd and I want you to step out today.”
A man who was driven by his curiosity – verse 3 “who he was”. It was more than a passing interest. If you and I are ever to get a grip and glimpse of the Lord we are going to need more than a passing interest. This Bible tells me the only way I can find God is when I seek for him with all my heart. That is why we have so many false professions today. They are not getting through to God. “It is one thing to get people to the altar but it is another thing to see them getting through to God” an old evangelist said. It is one thing to be stirred by the claims of God but another thing to be saved by the grace of God. It was more than a passing interest – see the great lengths he had to fulfil his plans. He realised he would have to climb the tree. It was more than just stepping outside his front door. He had to watch and wait for the Lord to come. Herod had more than a passing interest in Christ. When Christ was tried by Pilate and sent over to Herod he was so glad. Herod had heard so much about Jesus and here was his opportunity to see some marvellous thing done by this man. Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was, the type of person he was. I wonder is our curiosity stirred and awakened? Does it take us deeper into the things of God? Nicodemus had the same curiosity. He went into the presence of God by night. He called him “master”. He called him a great teacher. Jesus awakened something in his heart. He had to come to Jesus. Here was a man who prayed, didn’t miss the house of God, a deeply religious man. He had to find out more about him, such was his curiosity. When was the last time as children of God our hearts were stirred and it brought us to the word of God to study it more deeply? Zacchaeus didn’t know this day would end with him making a public spectacle of himself. Maybe the Holy Spirit is gripping your heart today. You have never experienced him for yourself. Never seen what it means for him to take on himself the sin of your heart. Somehow it has never given you a second thought until now. There is now a curiosity drawing you to Christ. It was a love for your soul, for you as a person that you would even be damned in a Christless eternity. Here the Lord gave himself on the cross just for you. This man Zacchaeus was a tax collector, maybe curiosity began to well up when Matthew came to him, when Matthew told him he was giving up his job as a tax collector and the reason was to follow Christ. From that day Zacchaeus was never the same. Maybe that is happening in your life. Right now you cannot reason with it and it is bringing you to Christ today. Think of that city of Jericho – many were awakened to Christ, recognised who Jesus was but there was only one person converted.
Zacchaeus was faced with a crisis. It was not going to be plain sailing, not going to be easy for Zacchaeus. You don’t know what the Lord has for you today, maybe he will put a finger on your life. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus but he couldn’t – why – verse 3 “he could not because of the press”. These people were a hindrance to Zacchaeus. Be wary of the crowd today. The curiosity in the heart to see the Lord as to who he was, what he has done but he was being hindered. The moment you and I began to consider spiritual issues in our lives the devil will throw up all sorts of obstacles. This was going to be the last time Zacchaeus would hear the voice of the Lord. Jesus was just passing through Jericho. He was on his way to Jerusalem. He would never return through this city. That is why a meeting like this is so serious and means so much. Maybe in this meeting for the final time God is going to speak for the last time. Should we live another 50 years and never hear the voice of God again wouldn’t that be an awful thing? Out on the mountain one day the disciples and crowds came to hear Jesus. Then there was a dilemma – as the day wore on the crowd began to be tired and hungry. The disciples wanted Jesus to send the crowd away. Isn’t that the easiest thing to do? It is very easy to send Jesus away because of the crowd around us. The disciples were being tested. Jesus knew what he was going to do. Is that what you are saying today – Lord send it away?” Pilate making his decision about Jesus. He listened to all the evidence against Jesus, couldn’t see what was against this man. His wife tried to persuade him to send him away. What did Pilate do – he threw him to the crowd to decide his fate. There were those who were supporters of the Lord but the old religious leaders began to mingle through the crowd. They started to chant “crucify him”. All the people took up the chant. Pilate’s decision was made up because of the crowd. God’s salvation is real to you. God is speaking to you about his salvation. Today you have come to a spiritual dilemma and you are throwing it to the crowd. They are telling you to forget about it. Verse 4 Zacchaeus has to think about this great challenge. He ran down the street and climbed up a sycamore tree. Verse 5 Jesus came to the tree and he said to him “hurry up Zacchaeus come down I want you to stand in this crowd, I want to go to your house today.”
There is a challenge to Zacchaeus. The challenge was now to the will of Zacchaeus. Remember the woman with the issue of blood who touched Jesus’ garment? Jesus knew she had touched him but she had to step out and admit it. A man in the crowd. The Lord challenges him to step out. Maybe that one person is you today. Not the person next to you but you. You are in the tree like Zacchaeus. God wants you to come down because he has business with you. God is challenging your will today. Nothing can hinder you if God is speaking to you. The Pharisees heard Jesus, they followed him, they were challenged but Jesus said of them “ye will not come.” They dug their heels in. Zacchaeus hadn’t banked on this situation but there is a battle going on for your will today.
Zacchaeus’ great confession – verse 8. He stepped out of the tree. Here is salvation at work. We might be awakened but are we truly concerted? Zacchaeus said “I have amassed a great wealth but I don’t need that now I have found Christ.” Salvation touched his heart, life and soul and he was changed from the inside out. He no longer had the same desires. He had found everything in Christ. Zacchaeus told Jesus that he would sit down with his books and go through them and if he found any wrong doing he would make amends. It was a frank confession.
Zacchaeus got a great confirmation – verse 9. Jesus said “this day is salvation come to this house.” If Zacchaeus had sat in the tree he would never have known the blessing of God on his life but he came down from the tree. God has blessings for you and me we know nothing of yet and he says “come, you are the person in the crowd and I want you to step out today.”
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