Sermon

Some people are very interested in the Royal Family at the moment. Whether it be the King’s illness or the former Duke of York’s personal problems, people all have a view on things.  I must confess that for me, not so much. 

In 2024 over 3 million visited Buckingham Palace or viewed ceremonial parades. There is clearly sky-high interest in the UK royal family. But not for me. When I was at School, a Royal visit to Dumfries meant watching on the route with a flag in our hands to wave.  Now, no way am I standing for hours with the crowds just to catch a passing glimpse of royalty.

So, I wonder what was going through Zacchaeus' mind the day Jesus was scheduled to pass by him. He certainly was not religious, but Jesus clearly draws a crowd. His curiosity got the best of him. When Jesus came to Jericho, he was determined to get a look. He ran ahead and climbed a tree and saw Jesus. He even met Jesus. His life was changed forever.

“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 

So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 

In just a few verses we find out quite a bit about Zacchaeus. His name tells us he was a Hebrew. He was a chief tax collector. Tax collectors were despised. The Hebrew tax collectors were considered traitors because as a Jew they collected taxes on a commission basis for the Roman Government. They were disliked and they did not follow the Jewish law. So even though Zacchaeus was a Jew and a physical descendant of Abraham he was very much an outcast among his own people.

He was from Jericho. He owned his own house there. Jericho was a prosperous city so no wonder he was wealthy collecting taxes on commission there. He has even been using his influential position for corruption by overcharging in taxes for personal gain.

Then there is the fact about Zacchaeus that every Sunday school child can enthusiastically tell you. He was short. He was a “wee little man”. When we read between the lines, we get a picture of a painfully lonely man. We assume that he was hard hearted and alienated from his own people.

So, as we picture this lonely bitter man, small in stature, we assume he uses his powerful position to compensate with wealth, position and power and being harsh and demanding on others. Probably there was no one Zacchaeus could call a friend. Then came this man Jesus into town.

What drew Zacchaeus to see Jesus? Maybe it was the enormous crowds that flocked to him. Maybe he heard this man was a miracle worker. Just prior to this Jesus gave sight to a blind man and news like that travels fast. Maybe it was because Jesus, like Zacchaeus, drew criticism from the Pharisees.

Maybe Zacchaeus was there because one of his fellow tax collectors, Matthew, left his tax collecting to follow Jesus. Matthew threw a big dinner party and invited Jesus along with tax collectors and sinners. Many of Zacchaeus closest associates had gone to this party and been profoundly impacted. Matthew who threw the party, as we know, eventually wrote the gospel of Matthew.

“And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” 

Whatever the reason was that made Zacchaeus want to see Jesus he was determined to see him. He went to great lengths. He ran ahead of the crowd that blocked his view, and because he was short he climbed a sycamore tree so he could catch a glimpse of Jesus as he passed by.

It may be curious that Zacchaeus would desire to see Jesus, but what happened next was astounding. Jesus desires to see Zacchaeus.

“And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 

Jesus called Zacchaeus to come hurry down from the tree. He did come down and met Jesus joyfully. Jesus is going to stay at the home of Zacchaeus. No doubt Jesus knew Zacchaeus was a sinner. Of course, Zacchaeus is a sinner, all are sinners.

Now, Jesus’ definition of sin is different than that of the religious leaders. They think sinner applies to the really bad people who are considered traitors and cheats like Zacchaeus. The Bible says all have sinned. Every person is responsible for their own sin.

Maybe you are the kind of sinner that people think are the “bad” kind of sinner. If someone drowns it does not matter if it is in ten feet of water or 200 feet of water. In that same way the bad sinner and all sinners are equally kept from God. Adam and Eve just ate from the tree they were instructed not to eat and the punishment was to be cut off from God, because God is Holy and must condemn sin.

All fall short of God’s standards. Our sin separates us from God. All the religions know about this and have some system to try to do good to outweigh their sin. This is futile, because we can never reach up to God. He must come down to us. He came to us in the form of Jesus Christ, who Zacchaeus just met.

Sin alienates us from God. The good news is that Jesus can change all that. Zacchaeus came down at Jesus call. Salvation came to Zacchaeus. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Zacchaeus was lost. So are we all until we respond by faith to Jesus. You need to invite Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour. That his death on the cross counts for your sins. That is why spiritual matters are of the highest priority.

Christ came to die on the cross for men like Zacchaeus. He came to die on the cross for you. He went to the cross for you! This day salvation came to Zacchaeus. He experienced eternal life. When the time came for Zacchaeus to die he was secure he would go to heaven. That assurance can be yours.

If you accept Jesus Christ and turn from an earthly life of sin to faith in Christ then Jesus will forgive your sins. Jesus made the difference in sinners like Matthew and Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus gave half his possessions to the poor. He restored what he took and more to those he cheated. He had abundant life. He had joy.

Zacchaeus was no longer a bitter and lonely man. He was now a happy man with love in his heart. The outward evidence indicated what happened in his life. Don’t miss it. Come to Christ today.  AMEN.