Luke 19: 1-10 Sermon - Seeking Sinner and Seeking Saviour

Luke 19:1-10 THE MEET BETWEEN SEEKING SINNER AND A SEEKING SAVIOUR

Introduction

            There are people who seem to possess everything this world holds in value and esteem. These people are looked upon by others as being successful. Perhaps you have even been jealous of someone whom you have thought had more than you did. Zacchaeus is one of those people who had it all. 

v. 2, He was a rich man, He was a man of position and power, 

v. 2. I am sure there were many in Jericho and the surrounding area who would have gladly traded places with Zacchaeus. 

Definitely, he was successful by worldly standards.There may be some here this morning who seem to have it all together. You seem happy and successful, but you know deep down inside that something is missing this morning. I want you to know that Jesus has exactly what you need. If you will come to Him, as He passes by, He will take care of that thing that you lack. Join me this morning as we watch a little man meet a big God.

Background

The story begins with the encounter of blind beggar outside the city of Jericho v.18: 35 and then moves towards the entrance of the city v 19:1.  

First thing

When someone knows that he is going to die, he would expect to be in pivotal moments, quietness and wanting to be alone and do not want a social contact. In chapter 18:31-34, Jesus talking about his death for the third time and then they started this journey. When Jesus knew about His pretty awful death from the hands of Romans approved Jews, in a week or so. I would expect Jesus to be in quiet and a lonely man. Instead Jesus is going and healing people. This is where Zacchaeus and Bartimaeus hears about His arrival to the city.

Second thing

When a prominent person arrives to a city, you walk them into the town with you. E.g. If Obama visits India, it is not that a common man gets the privilege of going and welcoming him rather the Elite, aristocrats and the Prime Minister goes to welcome him. This is a very large crowd. Zacchaeus was a powerful man in the city but he did not go to the city gates to welcome Jesus. 

Third thing

When people were with Jesus, they thought Jesus will overthrow the power of Romans and give independence back to Israel. Great excitement was there in the air. The last thing that they want was this blind man to shout out and spoil this Joy. Jesus heals Bartimaeus. Beauty of this story is that He makes time even while He was going to his death row. Today He makes time for you and me.

Fourth thing

Jesus encounters Zacheus outside the city of Jericho. How do we know that ? we know from the sycamore fig tree V.4 . This fig does not have any sugar content in it[1] so no one eats it and even the poor tries to avoid it. Only the birds descend to eat it. They dirty up the whole place. I still remember the Cubbon park, when students were walking all the birds start to shit and our people were running.  So no sycamore tree will be planted closer to town. Why this is important? yes, in a while you know why these details are so important for the narrative.

I.               V. 1-4 A SINNER WHO IS SEARCHING THE WAY!

A Man with good job- yet hated by all- 
Zacchaeus was a tax collector. This means that he worked for Rome. He was permitted to extract taxes from those in Jericho at a rate of his own choosing. For instance, if Rome charged a 5% tax rate, Zacchaeus might charge 10% or more- Verse 8 says that if he cheated anyone. This means that he was a man of considerable wealth.

A man with wrong intentions - additional emphasis of “Chief tax collector.” He is a Jew collecting taxes from fellow Jew and giving money to the Roman Government. Exploiting his own people. This is why they hated him more than anybody else. Moreover, the Romans had images in the money of their gods and images of their system which Jews hated the most which is like Idolatry.

A Man who abused his power . By virtue of his position and of his contract with Rome, Zacchaeus was a man of power in Jericho. People probably walked in fear of this little man.

A man with His Occupation: In ancient period, during the times of Jesus, its not just the moral choices that you take will make you a sinner rather certain professions also does.

Doctor-1) touching the blood, you will become unclean/2) poor go and give money but no change happens to them, so they exploit the patients like most hospitals do… so they were considered as sinners.

Bankers- the widows come and give the money to manage but they steal them.

The chief sinner would be if you work for income tax department. In those days, tax collection was privatized and so Zacheus who was one of the tender who was the collecting taxes in the area of Jericho. The place is a fantastic place because it is the only road between Jordan and Israel. Just put a table and manage all traffic both ways pay taxes.  So you collect taxes and pay a little of Roman and keep the remaining due within yourself.

Keeping this in the back of our minds let’s see the narrative, it says He was curious to know, who Jesus was? Despite this man is wealthy he is bankrupt inside his soul. He is empty. He is hollow and he wants to Jesus. Just as Bartimaeus wanting to see Jesus, here is the second man Zacchaeus want to see Jesus.

 Transformation of life happens when the realization of Jesus is the only hope you have, then you'll want to get to Him. If we read this book with our modern day glasses it doesn’t strike anything. But you should read in their context to see how unusual this text is. 

His Desperate Need - Zaccheaus may not have fully understood all that was happening in his heart and life, but this man has a desperate need to get to Jesus. He may have disguised his actions as pure curiosity, but deep down this man had a deep seated need to come to Jesus Christ.  

His Problem Before this little man could get to Jesus, he had to overcome to great obstacles. he was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.

The People - The Bible tells us that Zacchaeus was a little short man, and he could not see over the crowd. They we re between him and where Jesus was to pass by. If you need Jesus, please so not let the crowd stand in your way!)

He was small- Zacchaeus was small in stature  that was his personal problem that kept him from getting close to the Lord. Sometimes, our addiction, our limitations, our sins will not allow us to see God.
His will power to see Jesus: Nothings stopped him from Seeing Jesus. He took every initiative to see Jesus.  

Important people in the west Asia do not run in Public. 

1. VIP doesn’t run for the meeting, I run for meetings. 

2. The second reason is that because of the robes that they wear long till their toes.

1. He threw his shame of exposing his garments, he threw the thought of getting drenched with the dirt of birds
2. He threw the thought of people will observe me
3.He threw the thought of what of others watch me when I climb the tree.
4. He just need to See Jesus. 
5. He just needs his salvation that made his to climb the tree..


Conc: Some of us are just like Zacchaeus, wanting to meet Jesus but something is stopping us. People, our sins, our guilt, our shame...etc.... All you need is to threw everything and run to him. For sure you will be saved. Irrespective of whatever condition you are in 

Sin, shame, guilt, debt, sickness, pain, isolation , suicide tendency, wanting to quit life's struggles, wanting to run away. JESUS IS ALL YOU NEED. He is coming his way to meet you. Are you taking initiative to see HIM?  THE CHOICE WILL BE YOURS.