When Salvation Comes To Your Home

Introduction

Well, after all of Daniel’s editorializing, I’m out of time. Ready for the invitation. But I do like that song as an invitation to those lessons. This morning I want to talk to you about Zacchaeus and his story. Recorded in Luke the 19th chapter. And let me go ahead and deal with this right away. The slides that I have the A in the letter Zacchaeus. The newer versions have all eliminated the A. And I don’t know why that is, because Bartamaeus, the story that precedes the Zacchaeus story, is also spelled A E U S, and they’ve left the A. So I don’t know. But just telling you that’s the way it is. Now we’re going to do something a little different this morning. We’re going to get the kids involved in the lesson this morning.

We’re going to sing the story of Zacchaeus. You know the song Zacchaeus kids? And yes, teenagers, you’re going to sing as well. And all of the adults, we’re going to sing the song. There are many versions of the song Zacchaeus, many tunes, but at least the words will be the same if we sing the ones on the screen. I’m going to start this a little low because it gets high. Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in the sycamore tree for the Lord. He wanted to see. And as the Savior passed that way, he looked up in the tree. And he said, Zacchaeus, you come down from there. For I’m going to your house today. For I’m going to your house today.

Thank you very much. Great song. Great story. One of the many great stories in Jesus’ ministry. Luke 19 and verse 1. And he entered and was passing through Jericho, and behold, there was a man called by the name of Zacchaeus. And he was a chief tax gatherer. And he was rich. And he was trying to see who Jesus was. And he was unable because of the crowd. For he was small in stature. And he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree in order to see him. For he was about to pass through that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down. For today I must stay at your house. And he hurried and came down and received him gladly.

And when they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much. And Jesus said to him, Today, salvation has come to this house. Because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. So many interesting things about the story of Zacchaeus. The last statement tells us a lot about Luke’s purpose in his gospel narrative. He’s all about the lost. And it’s the Lord’s purpose and should be our purpose to seek and to save the lost.

Luke is emphasizing over and over again in his narrative the interaction of Jesus with undesirables, such as tax collectors. Even the selection of Matthew as one of his apostles in Luke chapter 5. And of course, he eats with Matthew, and there’s grumbling that Jesus would eat in the house of a tax gatherer. And then he says in Luke 5, it is not those who are healthy that need a physician, but those who are sick. He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

No not in Israel. In Luke 23. As Jesus is dying upon the cross. It is Luke’s narrative that draws attention to the thief on the cross who says, Remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus says, Today you shall be with me in paradise. And it is Luke’s account that is always emphasizing Jesus’ interaction with women and the women, who are some of the first to notice the resurrection of Jesus in Luke 24 and verse 10. He tells three consecutive parables in Luke 15 of lost things. The lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son. So for him to tell this story about this tax gatherer and the things that were associated in his interaction with Jesus, and for the conclusion to be that the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost, fits the author’s purpose.

And it’s interesting that this story is preceded, if you will ignore the chapter division, please, at chapter 19. And go back to chapter 18, you’ll see there Jesus tells the story of the Pharisee and the publican. And the publican who smote his breast and would not lift his eyes even up into heaven says, God be merciful to me, the sinner. That story really immediately precedes the story of Zacchaeus. And then in contrast to this rich Zacchaeus is the rich young ruler, who walks away from the Lord. And Jesus’ statement in verse 24, how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. But notice in the story of Zacchaeus, he says, Salvation has come to your house. And then there’s the story of Bartimaeus that I mentioned, the blind man whose sight is given to him.

1. The Eagerness, Enthusiasm, and Desire of Zacchaeus

And this whole story about Zacchaeus involves seeing Jesus. Having an unobstructed view of the Lord. And of course, the story of Zacchaeus is attended with the usual grumbling. Jesus is going to the tax gatherers. I’m going to do something else a little bit different today. Besides singing the song that we generally say is a kid’s song. This lesson has one major point. Oh, I’m going to make a few points later. Don’t worry. But this lesson really has one major point. And if I can convey this to you, and if you can get it, and if you can put it into practice in your lives, this will be a success. One major point is all.

That are too busy, too tired, and they just don’t care. What Zacchaeus demonstrates in the story, I wish we could bottle up and sell. But I just hope that every one of us in this audience this morning can be like Zacchaeus in our character, in our thinking, in our perspective. If we could just develop the enthusiasm and the eagerness and the desire that he displays in this story, people are not enthused about the Lord in these times. They are unmoved by him. And one of the reasons why is that they are the king and not him. Enthusiasm. What does that word mean? I mentioned to you that I was going to talk about the origin of a word in our English language that has quite a different origin than its present use.

This word enthusiasm. In Johnson’s English dictionary, which preceded Webster’s, and was the first comprehensive English dictionary of the English language, enthusiasm carried the idea of one who believed he came under divine inspiration or inflatus. Somebody who was being moved by God in a special way was an enthusiast. It somehow now lost that original connotation and just speaks to the excitement and exuberance that people have, and it’s a rich word. And so I just want to ask you this morning. Remember how many points are there to the sermon? One major point, this is it. When you contemplate an assembling today, would you describe what was going on in your thoughts as the attitude of Zacchaeus?

Enthusiastic, eager, desirous of this. It is true that zeal can be misplaced and misguided. Paul speaks of those who have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge, who are unsaved in Romans 10, some of his fellow countrymen. But zeal is still an essential quality. And in so many places, worship on the first day of the week has been turned into a drudgery.

An obligation. A have to, a checklist item, rather than a want to. And Zacchaeus challenges us to look at it differently. Corporate worship in particular should energize our being and delight our souls. Because we are coming collectively together in the presence of this person. God incarnate, as we have sung. Can it be? And if we would bring this quality with us when we assemble, if this was truly the thought of our heart and the attitude of our minds, our prayers would not be wrote or ritual. But they would be meaningful to us. Not routine but special. Zacchaeus, why did you climb that sycamore tree? Because he was vertically challenged. He was diminutive. The text says he was small in stature and he couldn’t see over the crowd.

And look, he couldn’t say, hey, let me through, let me through. He was the tax collector in town. And he was rich. And so in his eagerness, he climbed the sycamore tree so that his vision would not be obscured. There are so many things that obscure our vision of the Lord. And if this is not the quality that we possess in regard to service of him, then something is obscuring our vision. What is it? You need to get to the heart of that. I can’t fix this for you. I can’t be persuasive enough. I can’t preach eloquently enough. I can’t act upon you in such a way that you’re going to bring this quality with you when you assemble with the Lord’s people. And let me suggest that if you have to manufacture it to assemble with the Lord’s people, then that’s part of the problem in the first place.

This is a quality we need to possess. Why Zacchaeus did you go up that tree? Because he was intrigued by the things that he had heard about Jesus and he wanted to know more about him. He just wanted to lay eyes on him. He wanted to watch him walk through the town. He just wanted to see him. He realized greatness was near to him. Not only do we need to have eagerness when it comes to Jesus, but we need to have eagerness and desire when it comes to realizing that these are his things. This is God’s word that is true and reliable. It’s the highest wisdom for living. It is God’s message of salvation. This issues from our Lord. And we need to have eagerness about it as well.

Appreciating it for what it is. Effective, meaningful worship, and the proper participation among God’s people, even beyond assembling, flows from the proper mind. One point. The eagerness, enthusiasm, and desire of Zacchaeus. Facebook. Can’t go many sermons without talking about Facebook. It’s a phenomenon of this generation. It just had its tenth birthday. Imagine that. Something that began in a dorm room. There are more readers of Facebook daily right now than readers of the Bible. That’s how far we’ve come. And yet that’s just network. That’s just relationships. This is relationship with deity. Sing them over again to me. The wonderful words of life. I enjoy Facebook. What a communication tool, a potential source of encouragement and even spiritual thought. But the Bible brings us in connection with our creator.

And in connection with his people. And that ought to generate some excitement in us. I ask not today for your guilt, but for your seeking.

2. Jesus Noticed

Zacchaeus, this life that is marked by spiritual eagerness. Did you notice in the story that Jesus noticed? Don’t overlook that. Here Jesus, of all the people that have lined the streets of all the attraction and attention that Jesus is getting, he sees this tax collector up in the tree. And addresses him by name.

He is displaying inspired knowledge here. And Zacchaeus knows it. When he says Zacchaeus and addresses him by name, what do we take from that? Was Zacchaeus deserving of that? Of any of this that unfolds as a result of his eagerness to climb up in the sycamore tree. He’s not deserving of anything because he’s done that. But notice what God does. He notices him. And undeservingly.

Among the six billion people in our world, or however many it is, that’s a lot. It’s a huge number. I think most of them live in Houston. And the fact that he cares about a hoosure. Or even worse, Aggies. The fact that he notices you. If anyone loves God, he is known by him. And it doesn’t matter how pretty you are or aren’t. It doesn’t matter how talented you are or aren’t. It doesn’t matter how wealthy you are or aren’t. He has chosen the things that are not to nullify the things that are. I’ve always loved that in 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Not many wise, not many noble. But he has chosen the things that are not to nullify the things that are. He cares about our nots like us.

And it is by his doing that we’re in Christ, Paul goes on to say. And he’s going to go on to say it’s not about me, the speaker, and excellency of speech and wisdom. I didn’t come to you with that. It is about the words of God, and I’m his servant, he will go on to say. Jesus notices. That’s a great part of the story. Whither can I go from your presence? You’re there. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me when the psalmist considers what God knows that he is intimately acquainted with all of his ways. And the fact that God has concern and care for him, that blew his mind. That’s what he’s saying in modern vernacular. This blows my mind. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.

And we take that for granted. We’ve been hearing about this all of our lives because we can have access at the throne of God. Our prayers can be heard. And so here we are the first day of the week offering our prayers to God and our worship. We take it for granted. The likes of us coming into the presence of God, a bunch of nobodies who don’t deserve it because of our sin. There’s certainly more talented people than us. Better looking people, wealthier people. But God cares about his people. The Lord knows those that are his, and let everyone who names the name of Christ abstain from wickedness. This is the firm foundation of God. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 19. Be amazed and marveled that God cares about you.

He notices.

3. How Salvation Came to the House of Zacchaeus

So many times when we hurt. And when we’re discouraged, we think, nobody cares. Which is usually not true. Nobody cares. Poor little me. God notices. Doesn’t mean he’s going to fix your problems on the spot. We have to wait on the Lord. It may take some time before our situation is resolved. And then again, it may never be resolved on this side of eternity. But it doesn’t mean God doesn’t notice. And he doesn’t care. The second thing that I want you to notice briefly about this text is about salvation. How in the world did salvation come to the house of Zacchaeus? Remember how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom? He was rich. It’s not that he earned or merited it, but I’ll tell you what he did.

He believed. He believed to the extent that he could part with his possessions. If I’ve defrauded anyone, I will make amends fourfold, Zacchaeus says. Half of my possessions I will give to the poor. You won’t do that unless you believe. And what did Jesus say in response?

You too are son of Abraham. Well, you talk about making a crowd mad. A tax collector? A son of Abraham. You know what we are is God’s people. We’re sons of Abraham. We’re a spiritual descendants. That’s what Paul, the point he makes in Galatians chapter 3. It’s not about circumcision or uncircumcision, he would say in the latter part of Galatians 6. But you are the spiritual Israel of God. You are Abraham’s offspring. Galatians 3 28 and 29. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re male or female or Jew or Greek or bond to free. By faith we become his children, for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3, 26 through 29. I’ll tell you who we are as God’s people.

And it ought to cause this kind of eagerness and enthusiasm for the Lord. We are descendants of Abraham. Because we believe.

4. He Hurried Down and Received Him Gladly

Now, what’s the main point again?

If you know Jesus, appreciate who he is and what he’s done and what he’s offering to you. You will respond enthusiastically in obedience, in faith to the salvation of your soul. I want to tell you, if we could get this quality, it would fix a host of problems. We will more naturally do the right things. If we first get this. Did you notice when Jesus said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry down? I’m going to come to your house. Do you see what the very next verse says? And he hurried down and received him gladly. Notice he did exactly what the Lord said for him to do. He didn’t say, you know, what? But the view’s pretty good up here. I sort of like now up in the tree.

You know how kids would climb up in trees when we’re little? I can’t do it anymore. I’d kill myself. But you climb up in a tree, you look around, it’s pretty neat up here. What advantage for. I sort of like it up here in the tree. I think I’m going to stay for a while. I’m comfortable here in the tree. There wasn’t any quibbling about what Jesus asked him to do. Hurry, come down. I’m going to go to your house. And so he hurried and came down and received him gladly. You see, it would just solve a lot of our problems. If we would have this kind of excitement enthusiasm for the Lord. And we need to do it while there’s time and opportunity. Seeking the Lord means today.

Anyone have a broken down car? Isn’t that fun? Especially trying to get your car fixed around Houston. And you have to have transportation. You’ve got to find some replacement right away. Life has to go on. So if your car, if your car breaks down, oh I hope nobody cars break down this afternoon. If your car breaks down this afternoon, don’t blame me. But if it does, you’re going to get it fixed. You’re going to get in the shop as soon as you can Monday morning. You’ve got to have that car fixed. Got to be repaired. Gotta have it. If you’re sick, deathly ill, I know, guys, you don’t want to go. But your wife is going to harp at you until you do. You gotta go to the doctor.

You might need an antibiotic. You’re sick. You’ve got to get well. Why is it in the most important thing? The health of our souls. We don’t get a fix. People put it off. And risk eternity in the process. Enthusiasm. Eagerness and desire. Forget the cost. Focus on the value. Here’s the things that should produce our delight in God’s things. He’s offered me a richer and better life. He’s offering me a peace that surpasses all comprehension. I am embracing the highest wisdom for living that exists. God is pleased. Jesus is honored. The spirit is exalted. In fact, all of those things are interchangeable. Souls are influenced, positively affected, taught, and encouraged. And that’s just the beginning of what a faithful response to Jesus produces in our lives.

Conclusion

How excited are you about it? When Jesus says, Come, follow me. Are you quibbling about the cost? I like it up here in the tree. I’m comfortable here. Are you responding submissively and obediently because you know that great things have been offered to you? Salvation has come to your house. You are a son of Abraham. Has salvation come to your house? And will you let it come and respond to his invitation while we stand and sing?