Sunday Link – A Resolution To Make and Keep | SL20260104

Sunday Link / By

WELCOME and THANKS

OPENING COMMENTS

  • This meeting is one of three LinkUPs that we plan to have for today.
  • I’m not sure how long we’ll continue … but I’m trying to see if there’s a preferred time that convenient for MOST persons

OPENING SONG

OPENING PRAYER

 

OUR TEXT FOR TODAY 

Luke 19:1-10

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.   2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.   3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.   4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.   5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up [a]and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he [c]made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.  7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”  

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”  

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;  10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  

 

SERMON

A Resolution to Make And Keep

 

Introduction

A.  Today is the second Sunday after Christmas .. so we’re still in the Christmas season (which ends January 5).

B.  Today is also the first day of a new year — a time when many people make resolutions to do many of the things they didn’t do last year.

C.  Sadly, many of those resolutions will be broken/abandoned by the end of next month (if not by the end of this month).  I know that, from personal experience … so I don’t make a lot of new year resolutions.

D.  There is, however, one resolution that I do make … and remake … and probably will continue to remake year after year … and that is a resolution to strengthen my relationship with God during this year.  Because, when all is said and done, Jesus Christ is my life.   Notice what the Apostle Paul said …

  • Colossians 3:2-4  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.   4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

E.  So, Christ is MY life … and, if you’re a Christian believer, then Jesus Christ is YOUR life, too … and your success, like my success, in living the Christian life,  is directly related to the quality of our relationship with Christ.

F.  So, in the sermon today, I want to remind us of some things we should keep in mind as we reflect on the need for a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ.

Let’s dive in.

Luke 19:1-10 

Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.   

  • Jesus passed through Jericho  on His way to Jerusalem. … on His way to die (Note Luke 9:51).
  • Jericho was one of the greatest taxation centres in Palestine.  We have already looked at the taxes which the tax-collectors collected and the wealth they rapaciously acquired (Luke 5:27-32).  Zacchaeus was a man who had reached the top of his profession; and he was the most hated man in the district.  (Barclay)  
  • It seems that the reason Jesus passed through Jericho was to meet with this man named Zacchaeus. (Guzik)

 

2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.  

  • Zacchaeus was not only a tax collector, but a chief tax collector – and the Jews hated men like him, more so because of the practice known as tax farming, the collector made his profit on whatever extra he could get away with charging his victims.  A tax collector was highly motivated to make the taxes as high as possible.
  • When the tax collectors came to John the Baptist, asking how they could get right with God, he told them collect no more than what is appointed for you (Luke 3:13).
  • he was rich …  Zacchaeus was rich … but he more than likely was not happy.  Inevitably he was lonely, for he had chosen a way that made him an outcast.   Despised and hated by men, Zacchaeus was reaching after the love of God.

 

3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 

  • Zacchaeus risked ridicule (and possible bodily harm) to see Jesus.
  • He sought to see who Jesus was: Zacchaeus wanted to set his eyes on Jesus; he sought after Him.
  • Because Zacchaeus sought Jesus so intensely, he didn’t mind doing something that many thought was beneath the dignity of a grown, wealthy man – he climbed up a sycamore tree.
  • Zacchaeus did not mind being laughed at … or being hurt … as long as it helped him to see Jesus.

 

4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.   

  • Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus, and would let nothing stop him.  For Zacchaeus to mingle with the crowd at all was a courageous thing to do, for many a man would take the chance to get a nudge, or kick, or push at the little tax-collector.  It was an opportunity not to be missed.   Things were not easy for Zacchaeus but the little man had the courage of desperation. (Barclay ) 

 

5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”  6 So he made haste and came down, and  received Him joyfully.  

  • Jesus invites Himself to Zacchaeus’ house.
  • Because Zacchaeus worked hard and risked embarrassment to see Jesus, Jesus saw him and did not pass him by.  In the best sense, Zacchaeus stood out to Jesus, and Jesus connected with Him.
  • Jesus started by calling Zacchaeus by name.  Jesus knew the importance of a person’s name.  Saying his name made all the difference.
    • Jesus knew the importance of a name. He said that He calls His sheep by name (John 10:3).
  • make haste and come down … If Zaccheus did not lower himself he would never meet Jesus.   Jesus would never have eaten with Zacchaeus if he had stayed in the sycamore tree.
  • today I must stay at your house … Jesus didn’t merely want to preach to Zacchaeus and convert him in a spiritual or religious sense.  Jesus wanted to have real relationship with Zacchaeus, beginning with a meal and time spent together.
  • Jesus invited Himself to spend time with Zacchaeus, the hated outcast. The early church was despised for its acceptance of outcasts (1Corinthians 1:26-31), but the early Christians regarded this as something glorious, not shameful.
  • and received Him …  Jesus would only come into the house of Zacchaeus and into his life if invited, if received.  He received Jesus first, and then started a relationship with Him.
    • “Christ will not force himself into any man’s house, and sit there against the man’s will. That would not be the action of a guest, but of an unwelcome intruder.” (Spurgeon)
  • Perhaps Zacchaeus had a lot of questions; but he didn’t ask them from the sycamore tree. He came down from the tree, met Jesus, and then asked Him whatever he wanted to. (Guzik)
  • and received Him joyfully … Zacchaeus was happy to receive Jesus. Jesus called Zacchaeus to Himself, and it was to Jesus that he came, and happily so … NOT primarily to a creed or a doctrine, not to a theory, and not to a ceremony – BUT  to Jesus.
  • Jesus is joyful to receive sinners, and they are joyful to be saved.  We know that the joy of Jesus is greater, because it is more blessed to give than to receive.

 

7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”  

  • The people (not only the religious leaders) thought Jesus had gone too far by associating with a man as bad as Zacchaeus – so they protested.
  • “Jesus Christ did not teach Zacchaeus — by going to his house — that character was of no consequence; on the contrary, Zacchaeus perceived at once that character was of the greatest consequence.” (Spurgeon)

 

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”  

  • In receiving Jesus and spending just a little time with Him, Zacchaeus knew he had to repent and make restitution.  First he just sought after Jesus; but in seeking Jesus he also came to seek repentance.
  • Zacchaeus cheerfully offered to do as much or even more than the law demanded. The promise to make restitution to anyone he had wronged was remarkable; “Considering the way he had made his money it was unlikely that this would be a short list.” (Morris)
  • Can a life change this quickly?  Yes.  Not every habit in the life of Zacchaeus changed immediately, but the heart changed and there was some evidence of life-change immediately.
  • Zacchaeus took steps to show all the community that he was a changed man.  When Jesus announced that he would stay that day at his house, and when he discovered that he had found a new and wonderful friend, immediately Zacchaeus took a decision.  He decided to give half of his goods to the poor. (Barclay)  
  • In his restitution he went far beyond what was legally necessary.
    • Only if robbery was a deliberate and violent act of destruction was a fourfold restitution necessary (Exodus 22:1).
    • If it had been ordinary robbery and the original goods were not restorable, double the value had to be repaid. ( Exodus 22:4; Exodus 22:7).
    • If voluntary confession was made and voluntary restitution offered, the value of the original goods had to be paid, plus one-fifth ( Leviticus 6:5; Numbers 5:7).
  • Zacchaeus was determined to do far more than the law demanded.  He showed by his deeds that he was a changed man.
    • Dr. Boreham has a terrible story.  There was a meeting in progress at which several women were giving their testimony.  One woman kept grimly silent.  She was asked to testify but refused.  She was asked why and she answered, “Four of these women who have just given their testimony owe me money, and I and my family are half-starved because we cannot buy food.”
      • A testimony is utterly worthless unless it is backed by deeds which guarantee its sincerity.  It is not a mere change of words which Jesus Christ demands, but a change of life.

 

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;  

  • Today salvation has come to this house …  Jesus knew that the repentant Zacchaeus was saved, rescued from the bondage, power, guilt, and penalty of his sin.  The word was no longer sinner but salvation, and Jesus told everyone.
  • Jesus knew Zacchaeus by name and knew that his repentance was genuine … much like that of the thief on the cross beside Jesus.
    • In Luke 18:24-27, Jesus said that it was impossible with man for the rich to enter into heaven; but it is possible with God.  This is a fulfillment of that promise.  Zacchaeus became a joyful giver, thus showing God’s impossible work in him, but the young ruler went away sorry, holding on to his riches. (Guzik)
  • he also is a son of Abraham …  Since Zacchaeus was so hated by his fellow Jews, they probably often said that he wasn’t a “real” Jew.  Jesus wanted everyone to know that Zacchaeus really was a son of Abraham, both by genetics and by faith  – because he really, joyfully received Jesus.
    • Galatians 3:5-7   Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? — 6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”  7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.   
  • After meeting Jesus, such a sacrifice was done joyfully.  Love for Jesus can motivate us for greater things  more than legalism, guilt, or manipulation can ever do.

 

 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  

  • The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost:
    • Jesus explained why He sought and extended friendship to a notorious sinner like Zacchaeus.
    • Jesus had come precisely to save  people like Zacchaeus.
  • Zacchaeus really believed on Jesus.  A true son of Abraham was not only descended from Abraham genetically, but also had the faith in God Abraham had.
    • Galatians 3:7  …  Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 
  • Even though Zacchaeus sought Jesus, it turns out that he was the one who was lost, and Jesus sought him (has come to seek).  Zacchaeus was lost to his parents; lost to the religious, lost to his community, lost to whatever friends he might have had – yet in a sense, not lost to God. “As the story of his conversion unfolds, his seeking Jesus (Luke 19:3) turned out to be the result of Jesus’ first seeking him (Luke 19:10).” (Pate)

So … WHAT SHOULD WE TAKE AWAY?

1.  The story of Zacchaeus reminds us that God has sought us for relationship.

  • The entire account with Zacchaeus gives us a remarkable who, what, where, when, why, and how of receiving Jesus.
    • Who Jesus wants to receive Him … those lost.
    • What Jesus wants with those who receive Him … relationship.
    • Where Jesus wants us to go … down to Him.
    • When Jesus wants you to receive Him … immediately, quickly.
    • Why Jesus wants you to receive Him … to be with Him, to connect with Him in life.
    • How Jesus wants you to receive Him … joyfully. (Guzik)

2.  Zacchaeus is a model to everyone of how to receive Jesus:

      • · Receive Jesus by seeking after Him with real effort.
      • · Receive Jesus by humbling yourself.
      • · Receive Jesus no matter how sinful or hated you are.
      • · Receive Jesus as He invites you by name.
      • · Receive Jesus without delay.
      • · Receive Jesus by coming down to Him.
      • · Receive Jesus Himself.  (relationship, not religion, rites, rituals, etc.)
      • · Receive Jesus into your life, your home.
      • · Receive Jesus joyfully.
      • · Receive Jesus despite what other say.
      • · Receive Jesus with repentance and restitution. (Guzik)

3.  A verse to remember as we close …

  • Revelation 3:20    Behold, I stand at the door and knock.   If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine  with  him, and he with Me.
  • Be like Zacchaeus … don’t delay … come down … come down quickly … and receive Him  joyfully.

SONG OF RESPONSE

 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Why do you think Zacchaeus felt the need to meet Jesus?
  2. Why do we?
  3. Why did Jesus bother about Zacchaeus?
  4. How long do you think it was since anyone had gone to dinner with Zacchaeus?
  5. Did Zacchaeus have to straighten up his life before Jesus would enter his home?
  6. What does Jesus bring when he comes into someone’s life?
  7. What difference did Jesus’ visit make to Zacchaeus?

CLOSING SONG

CLOSING PRAYER

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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