|
Sermon
of 02-02-02
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MEET JESUS?
Zacchaeus discovered that meeting Jesus changed his life
Today's sermon is partly taken from the Desire of Ages, chapter 61, pages 552-556
Luke 19:1-10; "And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Today is Children Sabbath. My sermon is written mainly for our young people. So - young people - please give your bulletin to your parents along with a pen, pencil or crayon and tell them to behave themselves today as you listen to the sermon. If you young people have some parents that refuse to behave themselves, our mother's room has been transformed and changed into a parent's room just for you to take them to. But if the parents will behave themselves then we will allow you to listen to the sermon also.
Please return with me to the gospel of Luke 19:1-10. I would like to talk to you today about the testimony of a tax collector. Many of you probably recall singing this song in church many years ago as a child about Zacchaeus. The words went something like this; "Zacchaeus was a wee little man, And a wee little man was he. He climbed up into a sycamore tree, For the Lord he wanted to see. But as the Savior passed his way, He looked up in the tree, And he said, 'Zacchaeus, you come down, For I'm going to your house today.' "
You know, I've always wondered what motivated Zacchaeus to climb up that Sycamore tree that day? It's out of the ordinary to see a well-dressed, well-educated, and wealthy man, to ever climb a tree. I wonder what made him throw all the embarrassment, shame, and ridicule out the window? What made him do something as uncharacteristic as climbing up a tree where everyone could see him?
In order to try to answer that question I would like to tell you a story. A parable. A made up story to help us understand why Zacchaeus might have climbed that tree. I would like to invite you to come on a journey with me. Let's travel to the land of Palestine. Journey to the city called Jericho. For you see, this is where Zacchaeus lived.
The Bible tells us that Zacchaeus was a tax collector. He was in charge of collecting taxes for the Roman government from the Jewish people. Now you also need to know that Zacchaeus was a Jewish person himself! And Jews were not suppose to collect taxes. This was a huge no - no. So why did Zacchaeus do it? I'm sure it was for the money. What is real sad is that he would often collect more taxes than what was due. He would ask for extra tax money and keep it for himself. This is how Zacchaeus had become so rich.
So, let's pretend our parable started with Zacchaeus getting up early one morning and pulled out his scheduling book. He wanted to check the names and addresses of the people he planned to see that day. He notices a name of a man that taxes are due. So he travels down the street and it isn't long before he arrives at a house that was in much need of paint and repairs. The grass needed cutting and the hedges needed trimming. But those things didn't matter to Zacchaeus. The only thing that mattered was the word UNPAID stamped by the person's name that lived there.
After he knocked on the door, the door opened. And out walked a blind man. The blind man asked, "Who's there?" And the reply came: "It's Zacchaeus. I'm here to collect the taxes you owe the Roman government." So, in a trembling voice the blind man began to explain why he could not pay his taxes.
He said, "I have no family and I don't receive any pension. There's no society to help the blind. I want to pay you, but I'm not able. But, Mr. Zacchaeus, if you'll give me thirty days, I don't know how, but I'll find the money."
Zacchaeus said, "That's not usually my style, but you have thirty days. But when I get back, if you don't show me the money, you'll be blind and homeless." As he turned and walked away he said; "When I come back it will cost you 25% more this is my fee for waiting."
So down the road Zacchaeus went and it wasn't long before he came to the second house on his list. The house of a woman named Mary Magdalene. Again he knocked on the door and a woman opened the door. This woman's face was covered with a lot of make-up. She wore a lot of jewelry. Her dress was very short. She looked as if devils were controlling her (see Luke 8:2). Zacchaeus knew what kind of work this woman did. And he figured she had a lot of money, so he asked her for the taxes that were due.
She said: "Mr. Zacchaeus, I would like to pay you but I just spent all my money on a very expensive perfume box. But if you will give me thirty days, I don't know how, but I should have your money."
As Zacchaeus walked away he said: "Ok, but it will cost you an extra 25% more when I return." So again, Zacchaeus starts walking down the road.
The next house was also a home of a woman. After he knocked, the woman answered. He could tell that she had been sick. The woman's skin looked yellow as if there was no blood in her veins. Her hair was matted and needed combing badly. He could also tell that she had been crying. She said, "I know who you are and why you have come. But, Mr. Zacchaeus, I don't have anyway of paying my taxes. You see, for twelve years I've had a blood disease. I've not been able to work and no man will marry me. I don't know how, but give me thirty days and I will have your money."
Zacchaeus said: "Ok, you've got thirty days. But when I get back, I want the taxes due plus 25% for my time."
As he walked away he thought, "Maybe I'll have better luck at the next house." Zacchaeus walked and as he rounded the bend in the road he came to the last house he was going to see that day. When he arrived he noticed a wreath hanging on the door. This meant that someone had died. But he knocked anyway.
A grieving woman, dressed in black answered the door. She said, "I know who you are and why you've come. But Mr. Zacchaeus, my only son died yesterday and I'm on my way to his funeral. I had to use the tax money to bury my only son."
Zacchaeus said, "Listen lady, I've already given some of your neighbors thirty days to come up with their money. So I'll be back in thirty days to collect then, but it will cost you another 25% for my time."
Well the thirty days passed quickly. As Zacchaeus left his house, he once more opened his scheduling book and noticed that this was the day he was to return to those four homes. The houses that represented the most nonproductive day in his career as a tax collector. So he squared his shoulders and started walking. He thought to himself, "There will be no sad stories today. They will either pay their taxes or surrender their property or be thrown in prison."
At the first house as we walked up he quickly noticed a change. The grass had been mowed. The house had been painted and flowers had been planted. He knocked on the door and a man with real beautiful blue eyes answered. Zacchaeus said, "I'm sorry sir, but I'm looking for the man of the house." The man said, "I am the man of the house." Zacchaeus answered, "No, I was here thirty days ago, and the man I spoke with was blind" (see Mark 8:22). The Man said: "I'm that man. I was blind. But Mr. Zacchaeus, do you have a moment? Sit down and let me tell you about how I received my sight."
So Zacchaeus sat down as the man started with his story. "One day someone told me that a man named Jesus was coming to town. So I felt my way downtown. I knew it might be my only chance to meet him. When Jesus was passing by and I heard all of the commotion I asked, 'What's happening?" They said: 'Jesus is passing by.' So I yelled, 'Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!"'
The people tried to hush me and said I was being a nuisance and embarrassing the town. But I said again: 'Jesus! Son of David, have mercy on me!' They tried once more to push me in the background but I knew this was probably my only chance. So I yelled once more: 'Jesus' Son of David, have mercy on me!' Oh Mr. Zacchaeus, the amazing grace I received! I once was lost, but now I'm found. I was blind but now I see. I can work now so here is the taxes I owe."
As Zacchaeus walked away he thought to himself: "Wow, that was some story. Someday I would like to meet this man named Jesus!"
When he came to the second house, he again knocked on the door. And this beautiful young lady answered. She wasn't wearing any makeup or jewelry. Her dress almost touched the floor. Her face had a natural beauty that made it sparkle. And Zacchaeus said: "Mary is that you? You're so beautiful without all your makeup on. What happened?"
She said: "Mr. Zacchaeus, you will not believe the story I'm about to tell. But I'm met this man named Jesus. He cast seven Devils out of me. And I used that expensive perfume and anointed his head with it. I also washed his feet with my tears and wipe them dry with my hair (see Luke 7:38 and 8:2). I no longer do the same kind of work as I did before. But I do have your tax money."
As Zacchaeus walked away he could not believe what he had just seen. He thought to himself; "If Jesus could help her - then I'm sure he could help me." So on to the next house he went.
Again he knocked and another beautiful woman answered. She was so happy to see Zacchaeus. She had color in her cheeks and had a new hairstyle. Her skin was no longer yellow. She said; "Mr. Zacchaeus, it's so good to see you again."
Zacchaeus said, "I'm sorry, but do I know you? I'm looking for the woman of the house." At this she said, "I am the woman of the house." Zacchaeus asked; "Wait a minute. Do you know your blind neighbor down the street?" She said; "Yes, I know him. But he's not blind any more." Zacchaeus replied, "Yea - I know. And he was able to pay his taxes today."
"Mr. Zacchaeus" she said. "When I told you to come back thirty days ago, that was nothing more than trying to buy a little time. I was confident that in thirty days I would be dead. In fact, I had been praying to die. I thought that only death could deliver me from that unbearable disease. But a friend told me that Jesus was coming to town. So I elbowed my way through the crowd to see Him. When I got close enough, I stretched out my arm and was just barely able to touch the hem of his garment. And the moment I touched his garment, the blood disease that had been flowing for twelve years through my body immediately dried up! But Mr. Zacchaeus, not only was my body healed, my soul was made whole also" (see Luke 8: 44).
She said, "Zacchaeus, I haven't had to pay those doctors a dime since I saw you last. So here's your money. No need to count it. It's all there. I've met a man named in Jesus and he has changed my life."
Zacchaeus thought to himself: "How can I meet this man named Jesus? I'm so small. Every time and everywhere Jesus is there is a crowd. I would not be able to see above their heads."
As he came to the last house he again thought to himself: "I wonder what surprise this house will have me?" When he knocked on the door, the cutest little 12 year-old boy opened the door. Zacchaeus said, "I'm sorry. I must be at the wrong house. The house I'm looking for has no little boy."
The boy said, "Are you Mr. Zacchaeus? Mama's been looking for you all day. She said that you'd be back in thirty days. And mama said you're never late collecting the taxes." Zacchaeus said, "Wait a minute. The house I'm looking for, the little boy is dead."
The boy answered, "Mr. Zacchaeus, I'm that boy. Thirty days ago I got real sick and died. My mother had saved the money to pay the taxes but she had to use that money on my funeral. But while they were walking to the graveyard with my casket a man named Jesus was walking of the road. Now Mr. Zac, there something you need to know. Death and life cannot occupy the same space. Jesus transformed my funeral into a resurrection. When Jesus laid his hand on me I came back to life. And because there was no funeral the undertaker gave my mother back her money. So Mr. Zac, here's the money for the taxes."
As Zacchaeus left the house he closed his little book. On his way home he passed a friend. "Hey, Zac, have you heard the news? Jesus is in town. You'd better hurry if you won't to see him, He'll be leaving soon."
As his little feet began to pitter-patter along the dusty road, his life began to flash before his eyes. He thought: "With all my money, with all of the things I have, I still feel empty. I wonder if maybe Jesus can do something about this emptiness that fills my soul?" So he ran downtown. When he got there, sure enough he couldn't see over the crowd. So decided to climb a tree.
Young people, if you been wondering what motivated Zacchaeus to climb up that tree, I believe the answer is, he felt lost without Jesus. And that is true with us today. For you see, we too are lost without Jesus.
You know my story was made up. But then again, something happened in Zacchaeus life that changed him. Could it have been that Zacchaeus saw all the things Jesus had done in the lives of other people that changed him? And he wanted Jesus to work a miracle in his life too. I don't know - maybe. But I'm sure he wanted to be freed from the guilt he felt by taking from others what wasn't his. And Jesus worked a miracle in Zacchaeus' life that day. And Jesus is still working miracles in lives today.
When Jesus came by and looked up in that tree and saw Zacchaeus He said, "Zacchaeus, come down, for I'm going to your house today." Zacchaeus slid down that tree and walked to his house with Jesus beside him. And at that moment he decided that for the rest of his life that he was going to walk with Jesus.
Young people, what a difference Jesus can make when he goes home with you. Won't you invite Jesus home today with you like Zacchaeus did back then.
|
