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On the way up to Jerusalem (2 things)
- 1st – Seek and save the lost… vs. 1-10 (3 things)
- 1st – There was a VERY rich Jew named Zacchaeus (Jewish name)… vs. 1
- Zacchaeus made all his money being the chief of the tax collectors in Jericho…
- Jews hated tax collectors because they represented Roman authority…
- They collected taxes for the occupying Roman government – not for Israel…
- The way the tax collectors made his money was by ‘over-taxing’ the people…
- So not only did they represent the hated Romans – they cheated and stole as well!
- The suggestion is that Zacchaeus took a LOT of money from the Jewish people…
- Apparently he was so good at his job – he got himself promoted to chief…
- 2nd – Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus… vs. 2-7
- We are not told what his initial motive was – perhaps just curiosity…
- He may have heard all the stories about Jesus – and he wanted to see for himself…
- But Zacchaeus was VERY short and could not see over the large crowds!
- If you have ever been to a parade – you know how hard it can be to see…
- Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd – and climbed up into a Sycamore tree…
- He knew Jesus would pass by – and he could see Him from this vantage point…
- I love the excitement of Zacchaeus – his persistence to get a chance to see Jesus…
- Many people when it comes to Jesus / Word – have a half hearted attitude…
- It seems that church is on the bottom of the list for most people…
- If there is a disco / a party / a boxing match / a sport festival…
- Pretty much any event is more important than attending church…
- They may be willing to go to church – so long as there is NOTHING else to do…
- When Jesus passed by He saw Zacchaeus…
- He commanded Zacchaeus to come down quickly – He was going to stay at house…
- Jesus knew exactly who Zacchaeus was – even though He had never met the man…
- Because Zacchaeus went looking for Jesus – Jesus was looking for Zacchaeus!
- Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”
- God does not want anyone to perish – He wants us all to go to heaven – II Peter 3:9
- God created us with a desire to have a relationship with Him – John 17:3
- There is a hole in every man’s heart – left there by God – which only He can fill…
- Many spend their whole lives in vain trying to fill that hole with worldly things…
- Money – relationships – family – alcohol – drugs – only to be satisfied for a moment…
- But only Jesus satisfies the desire of our heart – we will only be content in Him!
- Yet so many people never ‘find’ Jesus in life – simply because they are not looking…
- God has opened up the way for anyone to have this relationship with Him…
- But God will not force us to accept Him – we have to choose to seek after God…
- Zacchaeus rushed down – and was thrilled to have Jesus come into his home…
- When the Jews saw it – they ALL complained…
- Zacchaeus had likely robbed everyone in the crowd with his high taxes…
- Every one of them had good reason to hate this man – despise him…
- The last thing they wanted was for him to be saved!
- Salvation does not depend on you being a good person – you might be the worst…
- Jesus gift of salvation is available to absolutely anyone who will receive it…
- No sinner is beyond His reach – no sin so great He cannot forgive it…
- I Timothy 1:15 – “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…”
- There is always room in church or one more sinner!
- We are not told what his initial motive was – perhaps just curiosity…
- 3rd – The salvation of Zacchaeus… vs. 8-10
- Zacchaeus stood up (not sure it helped) – to get the attention of the murmuring crowd…
- He told Jesus – he would give half of all his goods to the poor…
- And all those whom he had ‘robbed’ with high taxes – he would repay four fold!
- Zacchaeus was following the command of the law for theft – Exodus 22:1
- Zacchaeus showed in front of the crowd he had repented – he had changed his ways
- Being guilty verses true repentance – II Corinthians 7:9-10…
- When we make a mistake – we might beat ourselves up – condemn ourselves…
- But if we do not turn from our sinful ways to Jesus – it means nothing…
- Godly repentance is being sorry for what we did – understanding we were wrong…
- Then turning from our sin to Jesus – repent and be forgiven – that brings salvation!
- Salvation has come to this house…
- Zacchaeus had shown that he was a ‘son of Abraham’…
- Not because he was a Jew – but because he had shown faith in Jesus…
- Abraham is the Father of all those who believe by faith in God – Romans 4:11…
- There is no other way to get to heaven – repent and believe in Jesus by faith!
- Jesus told the crowd – He came to seek and save the lost…
- The crowd might not have cared about Zacchaeus – but Jesus did!
- Jesus did not come for the righteous – He came to find and save the sinners…
- Jesus is looking for the sinners – like a shepherd looking for His lost sheep…
- He came to rescue us from the sin that had separated us from God!
- Zacchaeus stood up (not sure it helped) – to get the attention of the murmuring crowd…
- 1st – There was a VERY rich Jew named Zacchaeus (Jewish name)… vs. 1
- 2nd – Parable of the Kingdom… vs. 11-27 (3 things)
Let us make sure that we have our citizenship in the Kingdom of God!
Jesus was drawing near Jerusalem – for the final time… vs. 11
Just as the Religious leaders expected the Christ to set up His Kingdom – Luke 17:20…
And the disciples were looking for Jesus to rule and reign – Luke 18:31-34
The crowd also expected Jesus to establish His Kingdom immediately when He arrived
So Jesus told them a parable – to explain what was going to take place…
1st – The Kingdom of God is not here on earth… vs. 12
The certain King traveled to a far country – to establish His Kingdom…
Jesus was the man going to a far country – to set up our home – John 14:2-3
The point being – do not look for the Kingdom of God here!
Jesus went away – to prepare a place for us – when it’s done He will return…
He created the world in 7 days – can you imagine what He can do in 2000 years!
It is easy for us to forget this is no longer our home – we are waiting to go home…
Don’t settle in – don’t get comfortable – we are no going to be here for very long!
Hebrews 11:16 – “…looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, he has prepared a heavenly city for them.”
2nd – What to do while we wait for the Kings return… vs. 13, 15-26
Before the King left – he gave ten servants 10 pounds of silver each…
They were to invest the money – to be used in the service of the King…
The idea is God has given each of us gifts and abilities that He wants us to use…
Areas where we excel and do better than others – art / music / work / talent…
We do not choose these gifts – they are given to us by God – Romans 12:6
Often we use these gifts for selfish reasons – but they were given to use for God!
If your boss gave you a pala and spading so you could go and work in the campo…
But instead you went and used those ‘gifts’ to build a house for yourself – not good
The King returned – having received His Kingdom…
He called together the servants and had them give an account of their funds…
II Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive… according to what he has done…”
When Jesus comes back for His church we will all be accountable for our actions…
What did we do with the gifts and abilities the Lord gave to us…
The faithful servants…
One of the servants had earned 10 more pounds of silver – so he had 20 in all…
Another servant has earned 5 more pounds – so he had 15 in all…
The King said to both – ‘Well done good and faithful servant’…
They had been faithful in the small things…
Often we question the work God has us doing – it seems rather unimportant…
Perhaps God has called us to work in the campo – or raise a family…
And we just cannot see how that is important for the Kingdom of God…
But the small things are incredibly important – it is a time of preparation…
Christianity is not a ‘Jollibee’ religion – God prepares us before He uses us!
I will make you ruler over many cities…
They had been faithful in the small things – they were given much more…
When we are faithful in the little things God gives us greater responsibility!
There was one unfaithful servant…
He took the money he was given and hid it away in a handkerchief…
He had been careful with the money – but he had not obeyed the Kings command
He justified himself – he was fearful of the King – He was a hard man…
He collected where he had not deposited – harvested what He had not planted…
This servant accused the King of being unfair – in truth it was just his excuse…
You wicked and lazy servant…
The Lord judged him with his own words – he knew all about His Lord…
But yet he did nothing with the money that had been given to him…
He did not even put it into a bank (church) so it could earn interest…
Rather than taking responsibly – he only made excuses for his laziness!
Jesus has called us to use our gifts and abilities for Him…
When we choose not to – we can make all the excuses we want to…
Lord we were so busy – we had a store / we had a farm / there was no time…
But in the end they are only excuses – we know what God requires of us…
Take the money from the unfaithful – and give to the one who earned 10…
The listening crowds argued – ‘but he already has so much’…
Jesus replied – ‘Even what the unfaithful thinks he has – will be taken away’…
Meaning those who choose to live for this world – and not for the Lord…
Even those things they think they have – will be taken away from them…
What is it that we think is more important than serving the Lord…
Riches / possessions – we might think we have them but they don’t last…
Only our relationship with Jesus is eternal – everything else is temporary…
We might know that is what the Word says – but it is not enough to know…
James 1:22 – “Remember, [the Word] it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself.”
We do not know when the Lord will come and require an account of our lives…
But we do know what the Word commands us to do in the interim…
Use the talents we have been given to the serve the Lord!
3rd – The citizens of the LAND – hated the King… vs. 14, 27
They sent a message after him – rejecting the rule of the King…
Note that it was the citizens of the Land – not of the Kingdom – who revolted…
We can only be citizens of one of two kingdoms…
We either belong to the Kingdom of God – or the kingdom of this world…
Matthew 12:30 – “He who is not with Me is against Me…”
How do you know where your citizenship lies – ‘who rules over you’…
If like the unfaithful servant – we feel God is unjust – we want to live OUR lives…
If we reject His rule over us – then we are rejecting our citizenship in heaven!
When the nobleman returned – he had them all put to death…
There are only two possibilities on where we will spend our eternity…
Let us be like Zacchaeus – who eagerly desired to see Jesus / repent and change…
Like a faithful servant – who uses the gifts God has given to serve the Lord…
So that we hear the word – ‘well done good and faithful servant’!
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