Latest / Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons / Mercy for the Unmerciful

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Mercy for the Unmerciful · Stornoway Free Church of Scotland - Sermons

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Well, we turn back with me then to the reading we had.
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We'll read from Luke chapter 19.
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! Luke chapter 19.
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And we'll read the verses 3 to 5.
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We'll take that as a text.
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And Zacchaeus was seeking to see who Jesus was.
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But on account of the crowd he could not,
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because he was small of stature.
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So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him,
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for he was about to pass that way.
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And when Jesus came to the place,
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he looked up and said to him,
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Zacchaeus, hurry and come down,
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for I must stay at your house today.
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I've entitled this sermon,
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Mercy for the Unmerciful,
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for a particular reason,
1:03
and I'll explain that to you very shortly.
1:06
There's little doubt that the story of Zacchaeus,
1:11
which happened as Jesus was passing through Jericho,
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on his way to Jerusalem,
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that this was an appropriate illustration,
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and a clear contrast,
1:22
of what Luke had recorded a few verses previously.
1:26
And that was the account of the rich ruler.
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And although we didn't read it,
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I'm sure most of you will be aware that
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that rich ruler,
1:39
when Jesus met with him,
1:42
Jesus asked him to give up all that he had,
1:46
and to follow him.
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And the rich ruler was unwilling to do that,
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because he clearly considered his personal wealth,
1:55
to be the most important aspect of his life.
2:01
And in verse 1 here,
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in chapter 19,
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amidst all the activities,
2:09
of Jesus' ministry,
2:12
of teaching and healing,
2:14
he is now on this final stage,
2:17
of his journey towards Jerusalem,
2:19
towards the cross at Calvary.
2:25
And Jesus' healing of Bartimaeus,
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which we read,
2:29
the blind man,
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that had taken place as in near Jericho,
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as it's mentioned to us there.
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And we're now told here,
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that Jesus has entered Jericho,
2:40
and is passing through.
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Now Jericho was a major city,
2:46
very different to the Jericho,
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of the Old Testament.
2:50
And it was a hub for goods passing back and forth,
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and it was a major toll,
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collection point,
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for taxes,
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on the goods,
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that were passing east and west,
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both ways.
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And in verse 2,
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then,
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we're taken straight to this character,
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Zacchaeus.
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We're told about him,
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and,
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with what we're told initially,
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he appears to be,
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a man who,
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had it all.
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He was a rich man,
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and,
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he was a man of position,
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he was a man of power.
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And we're told,
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that he was a chief tax collector.
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Now,
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this is the only time,
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that this title is mentioned,
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in the New Testament.
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And it emphasizes,
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the hugely,
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elevated position,
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of Zacchaeus,
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in that society.
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Because,
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he may have been,
3:53
small in stature,
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but he was a prominent person,
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in the community.
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However,
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and there is a big but here,
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or a big however,
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these tax collectors,
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they were despised,
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they were hated,
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by the people.
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And for good reason.
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And,
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the people would not have considered Zacchaeus,
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to be righteous,
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or honourable,
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in any way,
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shape or form.
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Now,
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these tax collectors,
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they were employees,
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of the Roman government.
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Now,
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the Roman government,
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were suppressing,
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the Jewish people.
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They were,
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they were ruling,
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over these areas.
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The Jewish people,
4:39
were suppressed under them.
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And,
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these tax collectors,
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employed by them,
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they were,
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notorious,
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for overcharging,
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the people.
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If Rome,
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for example,
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levied,
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a 5% tax,
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on the people,
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the tax collectors,
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could charge,
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an extra 10%,
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an extra 15%,
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or really,
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whatever they wished.
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And,
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as a result,
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the tax collectors,
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they were guilty of,
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gross,
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extortion of the people.
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They were viewed,
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as the worst of sinners,
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at that time.
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Now,
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the Roman,
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government,
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didn't really care about that,
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so long as they got,
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the 5%,
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that they,
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had put in place,
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as taxes.
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Now,
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irrespective of that,
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Zacchaeus,
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was a man of power,
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because of his position,
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and his contract,
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with Rome.
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People,
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probably walked in fear,
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of this little man.
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Excuse me.
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Now,
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in worldly terms,
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Zacchaeus,
5:58
was very wealthy.
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But,
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in spiritual terms,
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he was a bankrupt sinner,
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without God,
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and without hope,
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at that point.
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So,
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what I'd like to do,
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is,
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just consider this passage,
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under three headings.
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Briefly,
6:15
we'll consider,
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the obstacles,
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that were in,
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Zacchaeus' way,
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his meeting,
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with Jesus,
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and then,
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the outcome,
6:24
of that meeting.
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So,
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let's look at the obstacles,
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first of all.
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verse three,
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we're told,
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that this man,
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Zacchaeus,
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he had a desire.
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And,
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it appears,
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that,
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Zacchaeus' power,
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and position,
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couldn't,
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really satisfy him,
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deep down.
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It seems,
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that something,
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in his life,
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was missing.
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And,
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then he hears,
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that Jesus of Nazareth,
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is passing by,
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that way,
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and he decided,
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that he wants to see him.
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He's inquisitive.
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Which,
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makes me pause,
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and ask the question,
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is there anybody here,
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who is inquisitive,
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of Jesus?
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Because,
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just as it was,
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with Zacchaeus,
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that day,
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where Jesus,
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passed by,
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physically.
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So,
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Jesus is passing by,
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here,
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today,
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right now,
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in this congregation,
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because,
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his word has been read,
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and his word has been considered.
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He's passing by,
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in his word here.
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And,
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I just wonder,
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is there anyone here,
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who is inquisitive,
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to see Jesus?
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So,
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Zacchaeus was,
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he was,
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he had this desire,
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but there was a problem.
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Because,
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before this man,
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could get to Jesus,
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he had to overcome,
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great obstacles.
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Because,
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he is physically,
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a small man,
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in stature.
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He's not able,
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to see the road,
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for the crowds,
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that have gathered,
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to see Jesus,
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passing by.
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Very similar,
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in a way,
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to,
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Bartimaeus,
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in the previous passage.
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So,
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we have this,
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with Zacchaeus as well.
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And,
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isn't it amazing,
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how this crowd,
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comes up so often.
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And,
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it's this crowd,
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that keeps people,
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from coming,
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to Jesus.
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Jesus.
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The crowd,
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still keeps people,
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from seeing Jesus,
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today.
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Because,
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there are people,
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who allow,
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for example,
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perhaps,
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their circle of friends,
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or,
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some family members,
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or,
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some work colleagues,
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to keep them,
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from going to Jesus.
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Jesus.
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That still happens,
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today.
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And,
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I know that,
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from my own,
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personal experience,
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because,
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with,
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with my circle,
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of friends,
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I had at that point,
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before I came to faith,
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and,
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my work colleagues,
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I had a fear,
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that I was going to lose them.
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I had a fear,
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I was going to lose my job.
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I know,
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what it's like,
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for the crowds,
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and I'm quite sure,
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there are others,
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in here today,
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who know,
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what it's like,
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for the crowds,
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or a group of people,
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who are in the way,
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and,
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keeping them back,
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from seeing Jesus.
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And,
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I hope there's nobody,
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like that today.
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If there is,
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all I can say is,
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you know,
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Jesus is more valuable,
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and,
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what Jesus offers,
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is more valuable,
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than,
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anything,
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you can ever have,
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in this world.
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And,
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if you know,
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today,
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in here,
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that you need Jesus,
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in your life,
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please,
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please,
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please,
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don't let,
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anything,
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or anyone,
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stand in your way,
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of going to Jesus.
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So,
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we might ask then,
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what was it,
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that made this,
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this man,
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this powerful man,
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humble himself,
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like a little child,
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to climb a tree,
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so that he might see,
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above the clouds.
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What was it,
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that God was so interested,
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in this man,
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Jesus?
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I believe,
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it was his desperate need,
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his desperate condition.
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And,
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perhaps,
10:36
even at that point,
10:38
Zacchaeus,
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may not have fully understood,
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all that was happening,
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in his heart,
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and in his life.
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That's very possible.
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But,
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he still,
10:49
he's been given,
10:51
this real desire,
10:52
to see,
10:54
Jesus.
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And so,
10:57
in verse 4 here,
10:59
we see,
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that he makes,
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a decision,
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and he's persistent,
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because,
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he climbed a tree.
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He climbed a tree,
11:10
to get a glimpse,
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of the Lord,
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as Jesus passed by,
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that day.
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Whether that tree,
11:16
was overhanging the road,
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or to the side of the road,
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we don't know.
11:19
But he,
11:20
he climbed a tree,
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to be able to see,
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Jesus passing by.
11:24
This man,
11:25
Zacchaeus,
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he didn't allow,
11:27
anything,
11:27
not the cloud,
11:29
not his condition,
11:30
to stand,
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between him,
11:33
and Jesus.
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And,
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this Jesus,
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he is the only one,
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who can make,
11:41
the difference,
11:43
where,
11:44
you spend eternity.
11:47
He is,
11:47
the only one,
11:48
who can save your soul.
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So,
11:52
Zacchaeus,
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he overcame,
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these obstacles,
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in the way.
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And that,
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leads secondly,
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to the meeting.
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And we're told,
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that as Jesus,
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passed the path,
12:03
the place,
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where Zacchaeus,
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was up that tree.
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Jesus stopped,
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and began to speak to him,
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and he called out,
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to the man,
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in a way,
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that resulted,
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in an eternal,
12:15
change,
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in him.
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It was life changing,
12:18
for him.
12:19
From that moment on,
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when Jesus,
12:21
called out to him,
12:22
Zacchaeus' life,
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flipped upside down.
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Totally different,
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to the way,
12:28
that he was before.
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And there are,
12:31
particular reasons,
12:32
for that.
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And the first one is,
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it was a personal call,
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because Jesus,
12:39
called,
12:40
Zacchaeus,
12:41
by his name.
12:42
He said,
12:43
Zacchaeus.
12:44
And,
12:46
it may well be,
12:48
that Zacchaeus,
12:48
would up that tree,
12:51
and,
12:51
he would just watch,
12:52
Jesus go by,
12:53
and then,
12:54
climb down again,
12:55
and go home.
12:56
That may well be the case.
12:57
But,
12:59
one thing's for sure,
13:01
he would never,
13:02
have expected,
13:03
Jesus,
13:04
to stop,
13:05
and to talk to him.
13:09
Why did Jesus stop?
13:13
He stopped,
13:14
because,
13:15
he saw,
13:15
that Zacchaeus,
13:16
was,
13:17
a needy,
13:18
sinner.
13:23
And,
13:23
when I ask then,
13:24
well,
13:24
how did,
13:25
Jesus speak,
13:26
to this man,
13:27
who was so despised?
13:30
Well,
13:30
he spoke to him,
13:31
with love.
13:33
And,
13:33
he spoke to him,
13:34
with compassion.
13:36
He spoke a word,
13:37
to him.
13:39
And,
13:39
it's just like,
13:40
he's doing,
13:41
with you here today,
13:42
with this word.
13:44
He's speaking to you.
13:46
You may not,
13:48
you may not,
13:49
take that in properly,
13:50
today,
13:51
but he's speaking to you.
13:53
And,
13:53
there will be,
13:54
a decision for you,
13:55
somewhere along the line.
13:56
Because,
13:58
when Jesus calls,
13:59
a person to come to him,
14:01
he doesn't issue,
14:02
a blanket call.
14:04
When Jesus calls,
14:06
it's personal,
14:07
it's one to one.
14:10
So,
14:11
that was the first reason.
14:12
The second reason was,
14:13
it was a plain call.
14:15
It was very clear.
14:16
Jesus,
14:16
made it very plain,
14:18
make haste,
14:19
and come down.
14:20
Jesus,
14:22
told the case,
14:23
exactly,
14:24
what he was to do.
14:25
And,
14:26
there's no debate,
14:27
about what was said.
14:29
There's no need,
14:29
for second guessing.
14:31
Jesus,
14:31
is very clear.
14:34
And,
14:34
Jesus,
14:36
leaves no doubt,
14:38
about,
14:38
what he expects,
14:39
you and me,
14:39
to do either.
14:41
You may not know,
14:42
how to pray,
14:43
when you go,
14:44
before the Lord.
14:44
But,
14:45
you certainly know,
14:47
what your need is.
14:50
Because,
14:51
you hear it,
14:52
week after week.
14:53
And,
14:53
I'm quite sure,
14:54
you read it,
14:55
day after day.
14:57
If you haven't come,
14:58
to faith in Jesus,
15:00
you need Jesus,
15:02
in your life.
15:04
And,
15:04
you know that Jesus,
15:06
is your only hope.
15:08
And,
15:08
you know that,
15:08
following him,
15:09
is the only way,
15:10
for salvation.
15:11
Because,
15:12
Jesus tells us,
15:13
in John's gospel,
15:14
I am the way,
15:15
and I am the truth,
15:17
and I am the life.
15:18
And,
15:18
nobody comes to the Father,
15:20
except,
15:22
through me.
15:24
This obedience,
15:26
is critical.
15:28
So,
15:28
secondly,
15:28
it was a plain call.
15:30
Thirdly then,
15:31
it was a call of promise.
15:35
You see,
15:36
Jesus promised,
15:37
much more,
15:38
than a casual meeting,
15:39
under a tree.
15:42
Jesus said here,
15:43
he says,
15:44
I must stay,
15:45
at your house today,
15:46
Zacchaeus.
15:48
And,
15:49
what he's effectively,
15:50
saying to him,
15:51
is,
15:51
that,
15:52
it may well be,
15:53
that,
15:54
none of your neighbours,
15:56
will,
15:56
go to your home,
15:57
with you.
15:58
It may well be,
15:59
that no one in this town,
16:01
will have anything,
16:02
to do with you,
16:03
Zacchaeus.
16:04
But,
16:04
I,
16:05
the Lord of glory,
16:06
am coming,
16:07
to your house,
16:09
today.
16:09
what a promise,
16:12
that is.
16:14
What a beautiful promise.
16:17
And,
16:17
it applies,
16:18
to every one,
16:19
of God's people,
16:20
because,
16:21
when we're saved,
16:23
our relationship,
16:25
it isn't confined,
16:27
to the church building,
16:29
because,
16:30
Jesus comes home,
16:31
with us,
16:31
doesn't he?
16:33
In fact,
16:33
he comes,
16:34
everywhere with us,
16:35
from that moment,
16:36
onwards.
16:36
He comes,
16:40
and he never leaves us,
16:42
his Holy Spirit,
16:44
comes,
16:45
to dwell within,
16:46
each one of his people.
16:48
And,
16:48
when he comes in,
16:50
he changes everything,
16:52
just as it was,
16:53
for,
16:54
I say,
16:54
Zacchaeus' life,
16:55
that day,
16:56
where,
16:56
it was turned upside down,
16:58
so it is,
16:59
for every believer.
17:01
He makes,
17:02
everything different,
17:04
he makes,
17:04
everything better,
17:05
and he makes,
17:07
everything new,
17:09
because,
17:11
they are born again.
17:17
So then,
17:19
fourthly,
17:19
we see here,
17:21
it was also,
17:22
an urgent call.
17:25
Make haste,
17:27
he tells Zacchaeus,
17:29
make haste,
17:30
and come down,
17:31
hurry up,
17:32
come down.
17:33
And that call of the gospel,
17:36
is still as urgent today,
17:38
as it was then,
17:39
and it always will be.
17:42
Because,
17:43
the Lord may come,
17:45
or death may come,
17:48
and all I plead with you is,
17:49
please don't play around with salvation.
17:52
Come to Jesus,
17:54
now.
17:55
Now is the time.
17:56
Not tomorrow.
17:58
Not next week.
17:59
Not another time,
18:00
when you might find it,
18:02
more convenient,
18:03
as I say.
18:04
But please,
18:05
come now.
18:07
Because this is,
18:09
an urgent call.
18:10
And fifthly,
18:11
it was an unmistakable call.
18:14
Because Zacchaeus knew,
18:16
that the Lord was looking for something more,
18:18
than just,
18:19
a place to visit,
18:20
for that day.
18:21
Jesus was,
18:24
and is,
18:24
interested,
18:25
in one thing.
18:27
He is after our heart.
18:30
He wants all of us.
18:32
And he wants everyone,
18:33
to be saved,
18:34
by his grace,
18:35
and power.
18:37
And that's,
18:38
re-iterated for us,
18:40
so beautifully,
18:40
in John 3,
18:41
16.
18:42
For God,
18:43
so loved the world,
18:45
that he gave his only son,
18:46
that whoever,
18:48
will believe in him,
18:49
should not perish,
18:50
but have,
18:52
everlasting life.
18:55
So we see here then,
18:56
that Jesus truly is,
18:59
the seeking,
19:00
saviour.
19:01
As we have it,
19:02
in verse 5.
19:04
Jesus came,
19:05
to Zacchaeus.
19:06
And this is how,
19:07
it always comes about.
19:09
Jesus comes,
19:10
to us,
19:11
and offers salvation,
19:12
through himself.
19:13
Just like we have,
19:15
here today,
19:16
this offer of the gospel,
19:17
before you,
19:18
once again.
19:20
When Jesus,
19:21
stopped,
19:22
under that tree,
19:23
that day,
19:25
he knew everything,
19:26
there was to know,
19:27
about Zacchaeus.
19:29
And yet,
19:29
he still loved him.
19:31
And he had compassion,
19:33
on him.
19:35
And,
19:35
you may not realise,
19:37
this today.
19:40
But,
19:40
Jesus knows,
19:41
everything there is,
19:42
to know,
19:43
about every one,
19:44
of us as well.
19:45
Isn't that amazing?
19:46
And yet,
19:48
he still loves you.
19:51
Despite the faults,
19:52
despite the flaws,
19:54
despite,
19:55
whatever may have been,
19:56
in your life,
19:56
he still loves you.
19:58
And he will save you,
19:59
by his grace as well,
20:01
if you will obey.
20:03
Just as we sang,
20:04
in Psalm 139,
20:06
he even knows,
20:07
the thought,
20:08
in our minds,
20:09
before we think them.
20:11
How awesome is that?
20:12
I doubt finite minds,
20:13
cannot grasp that,
20:14
can we?
20:15
But we are assured of that,
20:17
from his word.
20:18
And so,
20:19
Jesus calls Zacchaeus.
20:21
Jesus,
20:22
on the way to Jerusalem,
20:23
where he is to die,
20:24
on the cross,
20:25
for the sins,
20:26
of his people.
20:27
But he still has his time,
20:29
to reach out,
20:31
and to stop,
20:32
by this man,
20:33
Zacchaeus.
20:34
Who was Zacchaeus,
20:36
that Jesus should care for him?
20:38
He was a sinner.
20:40
He was a sinner.
20:41
Yet the Lord loved him,
20:44
just like he loves you and me,
20:46
because every soul,
20:48
is precious to him.
20:51
You see,
20:52
when Zacchaeus,
20:53
climbed up into that tree,
20:55
that day,
20:56
he was a lost sinner.
20:59
But by the time,
21:00
he got back to the ground,
21:02
I believe he was a child of God.
21:04
I believe that God,
21:06
had worked in him,
21:06
by the time he came down.
21:08
Because God didn't send his son,
21:11
into the world,
21:11
to condemn the world.
21:14
But that the world,
21:15
through him,
21:16
might be saved.
21:18
So there we have,
21:20
all of these reasons,
21:22
with Zacchaeus,
21:24
and,
21:25
the call to Zacchaeus.
21:28
The outcome,
21:29
of all of this,
21:30
is just as marvellous.
21:35
Zacchaeus is a new man,
21:36
and,
21:36
notice what happened,
21:38
in his life here.
21:38
It's really important.
21:41
He received Christ.
21:43
He was saved by grace,
21:45
and grace is what happens.
21:47
Jesus gives us his grace.
21:49
That's what happens,
21:50
immediately,
21:51
when we're brought to faith.
21:52
And it's by that grace,
21:54
that we are given faith,
21:56
to believe,
21:57
in him.
22:01
Zacchaeus received Christ,
22:03
he was saved by grace.
22:04
Firstly,
22:05
then,
22:06
so important,
22:07
he obeyed the call.
22:09
He obeyed the call,
22:10
of Jesus.
22:12
Zacchaeus did exactly,
22:13
what Jesus told him to do.
22:15
He made haste,
22:16
and he came down.
22:20
And,
22:20
perhaps this verse,
22:21
is summarized,
22:23
very well,
22:25
in,
22:25
in Revelation,
22:27
chapter 3,
22:27
and verse 20,
22:28
where,
22:30
we're told there,
22:31
behold,
22:33
I stand at the door,
22:34
and knock,
22:35
and if anyone hears,
22:37
my voice,
22:37
and opens the door,
22:39
I will come in to him,
22:41
and eat with him,
22:42
and he,
22:43
with me.
22:46
Zacchaeus,
22:47
the door to Zacchaeus' heart,
22:49
was opened,
22:51
and he received Jesus,
22:52
by grace,
22:53
and he came down.
22:54
He obeyed with an open heart,
22:57
he freely gave himself,
22:58
to Jesus.
23:01
And,
23:02
you can never be saved,
23:04
until,
23:05
you open the door,
23:06
of your heart,
23:07
and allow Jesus,
23:09
into,
23:10
your life.
23:14
Zacchaeus received Jesus,
23:15
into his heart,
23:16
joyfully,
23:17
we're told.
23:19
It was joyfully,
23:20
she received Jesus,
23:22
and what joy,
23:23
there must have been,
23:24
that day.
23:26
He had heard the claims,
23:28
he had heard the call,
23:30
and now Zacchaeus,
23:31
has made that commitment.
23:33
It's almost as if,
23:34
he has gone,
23:35
this extra mile,
23:36
if you like,
23:37
and he's made,
23:38
that commitment,
23:39
to Jesus.
23:40
He's obeyed,
23:41
Jesus' voice.
23:42
He's,
23:43
he's moved,
23:44
towards Jesus,
23:46
and,
23:46
he's made,
23:47
that commitment.
23:48
And that's key.
23:50
That's a decisive factor.
23:52
And,
23:52
Jesus so,
23:53
wants you,
23:55
to respond,
23:56
in exactly,
23:57
the same way,
23:58
today as well,
23:59
to be saved.
24:01
You also,
24:02
need to come down,
24:03
from the place,
24:04
wherever you are,
24:06
wherever you are,
24:08
you need to come down,
24:09
from the place,
24:10
where you are,
24:11
and you need to commit,
24:14
to Jesus.
24:16
And that place,
24:17
could be anywhere.
24:19
That place,
24:19
could be,
24:20
even the material things,
24:22
you have in this world.
24:23
Would you worship,
24:24
in this world?
24:25
Would you look at,
24:26
in this world?
24:27
And it's almost like,
24:28
you're putting yourself up,
24:30
to,
24:30
to,
24:31
to,
24:32
just hold on,
24:33
to these things.
24:34
You need to come down.
24:34
And it's got to be downwards,
24:38
to come to Jesus.
24:41
Because,
24:41
the ultimate downwards,
24:43
of coming to Jesus,
24:44
is bowing the knee,
24:45
before him.
24:46
We have to come down,
24:48
from where we are,
24:49
to Jesus,
24:50
to answer the call,
24:52
and to commit to him.
24:53
The Bible's,
24:56
crystal clear.
24:57
It's only by faith,
24:58
in Jesus,
25:00
that you can enter,
25:01
into a saving,
25:02
relationship,
25:03
with the Father.
25:04
So he obeyed the call.
25:06
Secondly,
25:07
he demonstrated,
25:08
a change.
25:09
And it doesn't take long,
25:10
for the new Zacchaeus,
25:11
to appear.
25:12
And he makes,
25:13
a really bold promise,
25:14
doesn't he?
25:15
So different,
25:16
to the rich ruler.
25:19
He makes,
25:20
a bold promise,
25:21
to give away,
25:22
half his fortune,
25:23
and not just that,
25:25
but to restore,
25:27
fourfold,
25:28
to anyone,
25:29
he has taken,
25:30
anything from,
25:31
under false pretenses.
25:33
There's the new man,
25:34
for you.
25:35
There's the new creation.
25:36
And that new creation,
25:38
is in,
25:39
Christ Jesus.
25:42
What a contrast,
25:44
to the way he was before.
25:47
And I just wonder,
25:48
I wonder,
25:50
where Zacchaeus's ears,
25:52
actually shocked,
25:53
to hear,
25:54
what he was saying,
25:56
right there and then.
25:58
Because what he is doing,
26:00
is,
26:01
he is publicly,
26:02
renouncing,
26:03
his old life of sin.
26:05
That's gone.
26:06
That's by and by.
26:08
And now,
26:09
he is embracing,
26:10
this new life of faith,
26:12
in Jesus Christ.
26:13
Christ.
26:15
And so wonderful,
26:16
so lovely,
26:17
to have that,
26:19
and to see that,
26:20
and to,
26:21
to experience that.
26:23
Zacchaeus displayed,
26:24
the kind of change,
26:26
that Jesus makes,
26:27
in the lives of everyone.
26:28
He saves.
26:29
You see,
26:30
when Jesus comes,
26:31
into a person's life,
26:32
they will never be,
26:33
the same again.
26:34
They cannot be,
26:35
the same again.
26:36
It's impossible,
26:37
for them to be,
26:37
the same again.
26:38
And,
26:41
when we see,
26:43
verses seven and eight here,
26:44
because of this change,
26:46
Zacchaeus' life,
26:48
was just turned on its head,
26:49
in a marvelous way.
26:51
And there are two,
26:51
absolute proofs of salvation,
26:53
that are needed,
26:54
both in Zacchaeus' life,
26:56
and in ours as well.
26:58
There was confession.
27:02
He confessed,
27:03
he was a sinner,
27:04
he confessed,
27:04
he had done wrong,
27:06
and there was repentance.
27:07
He turned,
27:09
from his old ways,
27:11
and,
27:12
he promised,
27:13
to restore fourfold,
27:14
anyone he had done wrong.
27:15
So there was confession,
27:18
of that he was a sinner,
27:20
and there was repentance,
27:21
and that repentance,
27:23
is a turning,
27:24
towards Jesus.
27:27
And until you come,
27:28
to the place,
27:29
where you are willing,
27:30
to call out to God,
27:32
confess your sins,
27:33
and turn your life,
27:34
around toward Jesus,
27:35
you will never be saved.
27:36
That's what's required.
27:37
confession,
27:39
and repentance,
27:40
and the grace of God,
27:41
in your life.
27:43
So he obeyed the call,
27:45
and he demonstrated,
27:47
that change.
27:48
Thirdly,
27:49
he received confirmation,
27:50
and we have that,
27:51
in verses 9 and 10 here.
27:54
He knew he was different,
27:56
but it was confirmed,
27:57
by Jesus' words.
27:59
And it's always confirmed,
28:00
by the word of Jesus.
28:02
Our salvation,
28:05
is always confirmed,
28:06
by the word.
28:07
Nothing else matters,
28:09
except the word,
28:10
confirming,
28:11
our salvation.
28:14
And Jesus,
28:15
told Zacchaeus,
28:15
he was a saved man,
28:17
he was a new man,
28:18
in the Lord,
28:18
and Jesus went home,
28:19
with him.
28:21
And,
28:21
you know,
28:23
it's marvelous,
28:24
he declares him to be,
28:25
a son of Abraham.
28:29
That is,
28:30
that is,
28:31
a,
28:32
a,
28:32
a holy title.
28:34
Just as the woman,
28:35
with issue of blood,
28:37
when she was healed,
28:38
and by,
28:39
because of her faith,
28:40
Jesus,
28:41
said to her,
28:42
you are a daughter,
28:43
of Abraham.
28:46
So it is,
28:47
with,
28:48
every one of God's people,
28:50
they are either sons,
28:51
or daughters,
28:52
of Abraham,
28:53
because Abraham is,
28:55
the father of the faith.
28:57
We are children of God,
28:59
and sons,
29:00
or daughters,
29:01
of Abraham,
29:02
in that line.
29:05
Now Jesus,
29:06
closes his remarks,
29:10
with a clear mission statement,
29:12
and he says,
29:13
for the son of man,
29:14
has come to seek,
29:15
and to save the lost.
29:18
And he said that,
29:19
to everyone who was there,
29:20
and he's saying it,
29:21
to every one of us,
29:21
here today.
29:23
And here you see,
29:24
the love of God,
29:25
in Christ Jesus,
29:27
displayed in a truly,
29:29
marvelous way.
29:31
You don't have to,
29:32
climb a tree,
29:33
to,
29:33
to,
29:34
to meet Jesus.
29:36
What you have,
29:36
to do,
29:37
is respond to his call,
29:39
and to go to him,
29:40
right now.
29:44
Zacchaeus,
29:44
wasn't saved,
29:46
because,
29:47
because he promised,
29:49
to do good works.
29:50
He was saved,
29:51
because,
29:52
he responded,
29:53
by faith,
29:54
in Jesus.
29:56
And Jesus,
29:57
will save you,
29:59
regardless,
30:00
who you are,
30:01
of who you are,
30:02
and regardless,
30:03
of what you have been,
30:04
or what you have done.
30:06
when a day begins,
30:09
you know,
30:10
you just never know,
30:11
how it's going to end.
30:13
For Zacchaeus,
30:14
that day ended,
30:16
in joyful fellowship,
30:17
with Jesus,
30:18
because,
30:19
he was now,
30:20
a new man,
30:21
with a new life,
30:23
and a new direction.
30:26
Zacchaeus,
30:27
looked for Jesus,
30:27
and,
30:29
he got closer to him,
30:31
than he could have,
30:32
ever hoped for.
30:34
And the Bible,
30:35
says very clearly,
30:37
that if you seek him,
30:39
you seek Jesus,
30:41
truly seek him,
30:42
then you will find him.
30:44
For the son of man,
30:46
has come,
30:46
to seek,
30:48
and to save,
30:49
the lost.
30:51
May he bless,
30:52
these thoughts to us,
30:53
may he bless,
30:54
his word to us.
30:55
Well,
30:57
let's close,
30:58
with a further singing,
31:01
and we'll close,
31:01
with singing,
31:02
in Psalm 130,
31:04
and sing Psalms,
31:06
that's on page,
31:07
173,
31:09
of the Blue Psalm books.
31:11
Page,
31:12
173,
31:13
of the Blue Psalm books.
31:14
Psalm 130,
31:25
we'll sing,
31:26
the whole of this psalm,
31:27
Lord,
31:27
from the depths,
31:29
I call to you,
31:30
Lord,
31:31
hear me from on high,
31:33
and give attention,
31:34
to my voice,
31:35
when I,
31:36
for mercy,
31:37
cry.
31:38
Sing the whole of the psalm,
31:39
to God's praise.
31:39
Amen.
31:44
Lord,
31:47
from the depths,
31:51
I call to you,
31:56
Lord,
31:57
hear me,
31:59
from on high,
32:04
and give attention,
32:09
to my voice,
32:14
when I,
32:17
for mercy,
32:19
cry.
32:23
Lord,
32:24
in your presence,
32:28
you can stand,
32:33
if you are sins record,
32:41
but yet forgiveness is with you,
32:52
that we may fear you,
32:58
Lord.
33:00
I wait my soul
33:06
wait for the Lord,
33:11
my hope is in his word,
33:19
more than the watchman waits for dawn,
33:30
my soul waits for the Lord.
33:39
O Israel,
33:43
put your hope in God,
33:49
for mercy is with them,
33:57
and full redemption
34:03
from their sins,
34:08
his people yield,
34:13
redeem.
34:14
Can I just say,
34:19
please,
34:19
the hall next door is open for tea and coffee,
34:23
please come through,
34:24
you're very welcome to come in,
34:26
and share a time with us there just now,
34:28
and after the benediction,
34:30
I'll go to the door to my left side here.
34:32
So now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
34:37
the love of God the Father,
34:39
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
34:41
rest upon,
34:42
and abide with each one of you now,
34:44
and always.
34:46
Amen.
34:46
Amen.
34:46
Amen.
35:02
Amen.
35:03
Thank you.
35:33
Thank you.