Zacchaeus :

An incomplete man meets a complete Savior

   “For the Son of Man came to look for and to save from the  punishment of sin those who are lost.”   Luke 19:10 (NLV)

* Zaccheaus was a man of great means, curious, and an opportunist

Read:  Luke 19:1-10

I.   v 2-4    The Searching Sinner

*  Zacchaeus, being a Jew, worked for the Roman IRS- he was the “chief” tax collector, thus he got a “cut” of all the revenues collected

*  Tax collectors were often linked with murderers, adulterers, robbers, and other “sinners” by the Pharisees

*  Luke 5:30   therefore Jesus was interested in Zaccheaus

*  He knew though, something was missing in his life

*  Luke 18:35-43  this sparked his interest in Jesus’ ministry

OBSERVE:  First ,  not only was he a sinner- he was short too !

Second,  his problem was more spiritual  

Isaiah 59:2  “... our iniquities have separated us from God”

Third,  though wealthy- he had to shimmy up a tree to see Jesus

What about you, are you willing to “break away” from the crowed ?

II.  v5  The Seeking Savior

John 6:37   Jesus recognized that Zacchaeus was looking for Him

John 10:1-5  Jesus knows who are His sheep and recognizes them

OBSERVE:  two fold command by Jesus- 

First,   get out of the tree right now     II Cor. 6:2  “...now is the day”

Second,  I must stay at your house today    Rev.3:20  fellowship

III.   v6-10  Spectacular Salvation

v6.  He came down immediately and embraced Jesus his Savior

joyfully and with great excitement

Luke 15:7,10  great joy over confessed & forgiven sin (Luke 18:42 ,43)

V8.  Repentance and restitution are a part of encountering Jesus

v10.  Jesus is still in a search and save mission.  He is still seeking out people who make an effort the see Him.     John 6:40

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