The scene at the sycamore tree

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 26 APRIL 2026 pm - MR CALVIN STRIPP

LUKE 19 VERSES 1 TO 10

You may remember some time ago in the media the story of the Sycamore Gap tree. It was quite shocking at that time. A famous sycamore tree called the Sycamore Gap Tree, situated beside Hadrian's wall in Northumberland. It was also called the Robin Hood Tree. In September 2023 2 gentlemen decided that for some fun they would cut the tree down. It was estimated to be 100 to 150 years old, the most photographed tree in England. It was valued at around £622,000. These 2 men, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers were convicted of criminal damage in May 2025 and both committed to prison. They cut the tree down for some fun. It could not be put back together again. I want to parallel that with a sycamore tree that was climbed. Not cut down but climbed.

The scene at the sycamore tree. Verses 1 to 4. We see firstly the short man up a tree. We must start by saying that this was no coincidence. This was planned by God. We read in the opening verses "and Jesus entered and passed through Jericho." He was on his way to Jerusalem, on his way to the cross. Just like meeting the woman at the well, he made a specific point of being there that day. He made that journey through Jericho. No mistake. No mere coincidence. God had planned this. This man named Zacchaeus was chief among the publicans. An important man. A publican. Not in high regard but in reputation. Quite possibly he was of low regard because of the infamy of his position. Chief of the publicans. He could have sought to manage the other collectors, to bring in to his service more tax collectors for the job. He would have been the chief of those tax collectors. He was very very rich. They often overtaxed the people but the chief tax collector had a different role. The bible specifically says he was rich. Did he overcharge? Quite possibly he did. We find out later in the chapter he confesses to such. A man of high position. He wanted to see Jesus. He was a curious man. Now from Zacchaeus' point of view that morning he woke up, heard from the people that Jesus was coming to his town so decided to find out more about him. Maybe he had heard something of him before now. He wants to find out who he was. An inquisitive man. When he went out that day he realised he could not see Jesus because of the press of people. A multitude of people were out to see Jesus. To see who he was. His name and his work had ran before him. Verse 4. A clever man. He ran before the crowd and climbed up into the sycamore tree to see Jesus for he was to pass that way. It was fortunate he was in that street and in that tree because Christ is coming right past him. Zacchaeus would see who he was, what he would say and do. Zacchaeus thought he had a good vantage point. He was eager, excited. He had made an effort. He didn't go out and say 'look at the press, I will come some other day. Maybe Jesus will come back again another day. This particular day is not going to work for me.' No he didn't say that. he came. There was effort. He climbs this sycamore tree. The easter sycamore or fig tree has the look of a fig tree but the leaves of a mulberry tree. It was leafy. It was a smaller tree compared to our sycamore tree. He was able to get up into that tree. He was of little stature. He gets his vantage point. He is all set. So how do we apply this tonight? Maybe you are here tonight and you are not saved. The Lord knows you. We are here tonight to bring the gospel message to this congregation. If you are here and saved may this message encourage you Christian. Maybe you are here and not saved - something has created a bit of interest, maybe a bit of concern in you. Tonight you have come wanting to hear what this man in the pulpit is going to say. You are eager but let me ask you - are you eager to hear the gospel? The gospel means simply good news. If you have come in, whether you are rich or poor, tall or short, regardless of your lifestyle, your bank balance. I have good news for you tonight - Jesus saves and he saves to the uttermost all those who come to God by him. He was a rich man yet he was empty. He had a full bank balance. I am sure there was some finery on him. Maybe as he climbed up into the tree he was worried about the eastern suit he had on but he was empty. He had a reputation, an infamous reputation. Known by the people as rich but he was empty. He was there because he wanted to know about Jesus. He knew this man was different and so he wanted to see him. He might have been small in stature but bold enough to go up into the tree, to find a vantage point. Though obstacles may be set in front of you regardless of your past sin, your bank balance tonight, Jesus Christ will be offered. Will you trust in him? You see who Jesus is tonight. We see this short man up a short tree peering through the foliage.

A seeking man under the tree - verse 5. He thought he was hidden away in the leaves and Christ walks right under the tree, stops and looks up. He sees him and calls him to come down because today I must abide at your house. What a story. If I could have seen the look on his face. But notice the words in verse 6 "and received him joyfully." Don't miss that tonight. He knew about Jesus. Maybe you have heard about Jesus for many years. Will you receive him joyfully? Or will you reject him? We don't know what a day brings forth, what tomorrow holds. Should you reject Christ one more time this might be the last opportunity you have. He received him joyfully but that is not all. Verse 7 - the crowd saw it and they murmured. They knew him to be renowned in the community as the chief tax collector. They began to murmur. Murmuring that Jesus has come to our city, come amongst us, singled out this tax collector calling him to go to his house. There were many other people - Pharisees, scribes, business men of the time but he has stopped and invited this sinner to come and he will abide in his house today. What a lovely parallel it is. Can you remember when Christ stopped underneath your sycamore tree? You were not expecting it. He looked into your face and said "come down today, I will abide at your house." Not tomorrow, not next week. Can you remember the day when Christ called you. What a wonderful experience that was. Here we see a man being called. Christ wants to abide at his house. Spiritual application - Christ abides with us of course today. We have troubles and trials but the Lord abides with us. What a surprise for Zacchaeus. Jesus stops, looks up and calls him by name. Jesus commands urgency. He was to come immediately. There is urgency tonight. That you come to him when Christ calls. Will you look to Jesus and be saved? There is urgency. We see here the seeking man. The seeking man has found the lost sheep and he calls him now. What a beautiful picture this is. Verse 8 notice the language - "Lord". He is a new man. Now he didn't expect this day to be calling Jesus Lord. This is Zacchaeus' testimony. He is as surprised as this throng are but it was his house Jesus wanted to abide in.  Now we see that he is confessing what he has done in the past. We don't have all the details but in verse 8 whenever the Lord saves us and touches us we are changed. Repentance means to be going in one direction and going in a different direction. He declares that things are going to be different and he is not going to put his hand in any man's pocket. If he has done this he will give fourfold back and he will give half of his goods to the poor. This was a changed man. Let me ask Christian - we know the Lord has saved us and he continues to keep us. As well as the Lord being our Saviour we have the grace. Jesus in his sovereignty has saved us but as well as that grace there is also the government. He is the Lord who rules us. He rules over us. He directs and guides us by his Spirit but is he your Lord tonight? If you are saved tonight are you bending to his government? Is there something the Lord has asked you to do, to say or maybe the Lord has put on your heart. Maybe on that bus journey you take, or in the grocery store you meet someone every week and the Lord has impressed on you to say a wee word for him and you haven't done it yet. He is Lord but he governs over you. May we as Christians bow to him as Lord and Saviour. We cannot deny his grace and his government. If you are not saved you cannot simply be in Christ and accept him and all the benefits of salvation yet deny him as Lord. That it not how it works. You accept him as he is. You will confess your sin to him as you are. You will be under his government. Zacchaeus was under his government. "Lord I give half of my goods to the poor and if I have taken anything from anyone I will give him back fourfold." This man isn't purchasing salvation. He is not purchasing salvation through works. The proof that he is saved, that God has touched his heart, is now working out his salvation. Paul speaks of that - work out your salvation with fear and trembling. He is not coming to the Lord and offering money. Don't you come tonight and say "if I am giving into offering plate that is something when you are saved you don't do that to get saved. Christ saves and keeps you. You want to give to his work and speak about him, get involved in the church, don't do those things to get saved. Our righteousness are as filthy rags. Do we insult God by offering our works. Of course not. Look to Christ tonight. The man who is seeking under the tree, seeking the lost sheep. You look to him not to the church, not to a preacher, not to works. Look to him. Zacchaeus' name means pure. Now he has a testimony to keep, to live up to his name and he will be helped by God. Are we living up to our name? Born again? God gives help. We find here that in this sovereign act God calls him not only from the tree but calls him into his family. He is saved. Christ says in verses 9 and 10 that day, in that moment the lost one was Zacchaeus. What a beautiful picture that is.

The saving man on the tree. You see Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus but Jesus went to a tree that Zacchaeus could be saved. That you could be saved. Christ died on a old rugged tree and he died for sinners. Will you trust him tonight? C H Spurgeon said "Zacchaeus was looking for one thing and found another." We can all relate to that. Stumbling through life. Looking for this happiness in whatever it might have been but are still searching. Just like Zacchaeus he wanted to see Jesus. He had everything else the world could offer him. For us we were looking for one thing and another thing then we found that other thing. He found us just like Zacchaeus. He thought he had worked it all out. Christ was coming to his town. If you just think that this is a coincidence, that you are hearing about Christ think again. He has been gracious to you. You are hearing about saving grace. Jesus died on Calvary, he shed his blood for sinners such as us. You need the Lamb of God as your sacrifice. That is acceptable before God. Christ was the sacrifice on the cross. The saving man on the cross. The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Salvation is come to this house. May that be said of your house. If you are not saved may you be saved. Trust in Jesus. It is Jesus you need. Keep praying on for your loved ones. May it be said of your house that salvation has come. 

The short man up a tree

The seeking man under a tree.

The saving man on the tree.

That day Zacchaeus was gathered into the family of God. What about you? May you come down from whatever tree you are in, whatever you are hiding in and accept him as Saviour.