Luke 19:1-10 A LITTLE MAN MEETS A BIG GOD
Intro: There are people who seem to possess everything this world holds
in value and esteem. These people are looked upon by others as being
successful. Perhaps you have even been jealous of someone who you
thought had more than you did. Zacchaeus is one of those people who
had it all. He was a rich man, v. 2, and he was a man of position and
power, v. 2. I am sure there were many in Jericho and the surrounding
area who would have gladly traded places with Zacchaeus. Yet, there was
more to Zacchaeus than met the eye. Sure he was successful by the
world's standards, but you should never judge a book by its cover. It was
what Zaccheaus lacked that made the difference in his life. But, when this
little man met a great big God, he got his need met completely.
There may be some here this evening who seem to have it all together.
You seem happy and successful, but you know deep down inside that
something is missing this evening. I want you to know that Jesus has
exactly what you need. If you will come to Him, as He passes by, He will
take care of that thing that you lack. Join me this evening as we watch a
little man meet a big God.
I. V. 1-4 THE SEEKING SINNER
A. v. 2 His Prominence
1. A Man Of Position - Ill. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. This
means that he worked for Rome. He was permitted to extract
taxes from those in Jericho at a rate of his own choosing. For
instance, if Rome charged a 5% tax rate, Zacchaeus might
charge 10% or more. This means that he was a man of
considerable wealth.
2. A Man Of Power - Ill. By virtue of his position and of his contract
with Rome, Zacchaeus was a man of power in Jericho. People
probably walked in fear of this little man.
(Ill. There are some who fit this description. Oh, they don't have
this world power or this world's wealth, but they do feel that they
have a measure of freedom and control in their own life. And,
they are right! But, the lost person needs to remember this
evening that without Jesus Christ, they are nothing, John 15:5.
It maters not what we have or think of ourselves, we all need
Jesus to be sure we have something when this life has ended!
(Il. Mark 8:36-37))
B. V. 3a His Preoccupation (Ill. Even though this man was wealthy and
successful by the world's standard, he knew something was missing!
Ill. Most folks do! They try to drown it in alcohol, lose it in fog of
drugs, bury it in the shallow grave of bravado and tough talk, but
when it gets quiet and no one is around but you and God, the truth
sounds as loud in your soul as a the blast of a thousand trumpets and
you know you need something that you do not have. Those who
really care about their souls do something about ti and come to
Jesus, the rest tend to try and keep it buried deep within. Thank God,
Zacchaeus had reached a place where something had to give and it
was him!)
1. His Desire - The Bible says that he sought to see Jesus. This
man had a desire to see the Lord. You may go through many
years in your life and never want anything to do with the Lord, but
when there is birthed in your soul the realization that Jesus is the
only hope you have, then you'll want to get to Him also. (Ill. I
remember the day when nothing could satisfy my soul but Jesus!
I had to get to Him and what a difference He made!)
2. His Desperate Need - Zaccheaus may not have fully understood
all that was happening in his heart and life, but this man has a
desperate need to get to Jesus. He may have disguised his
actions as pure curiosity, but deep down this man had a deep
seated need to come to Jesus Christ. (Ill. Lost friend, you may
not fully understand it tonight, you may not even realize it right
now, but your greatest need is to get to Jesus Christ for salvation.
No one or nothing else can save your soul - Acts 4:12. How
desperate is the need? Extremely! Jesus is the only One who
can save your soul and make an difference in where you spend
eternity!)
C. V. 3b His Problem Before this little man could get to Jesus, he had
to overcome to great obstacles.
1. The Crowd - The Bible tells us that Zacchaeus was a little short
man, and he could not see over the crowd. They were between
him and where Jesus was to pass by. (Ill. The crowd still keeps
some people from seeing Jesus! There are those who allow their
friends to keep them from seeing Jesus! Jesus is more valuable
than any friend you will ever have in this world! There are others
who allow some backslidden, hypocrites in the church keep from
coming to Jesus. May I say that no loose living, cold hearted,
wicked church member is worth going to Hell over! If you need
Jesus, please so not let the crowd stand in your way!)
2. His Condition - Zacchaeus had a personal problem that kept him
from getting close to the Lord. As has been stated, this man was
short and could see for the crowd. (Ill. Dear friends, every lost
person in this building needs to realize that there is more than a
few people who are keeping you away from the Lord. There is
also the matter of your personal condition. You see, your sins are
standing between you and the Lord tonight, Isa. 59:2. Before you
will ever be able to be right with God, then your sin problem must
be dealt with.)
D. V. 4 His Persistence - Ill. Zacchaeus climbed a tree to get a glimpse
of the Lord as he passed by that day. This little man allowed nothing,
not the crowd, not his condition, stand between him and his seeing
the Lord Jesus Christ. (Il. What about you? Do you care enough
about the condition of your soul to pay whatever price is necessary to
be right with Him? Are you willing to make any sacrifice? Are you
willing to turn from that little pet sin? Lay down that pride? Walk
away from those friends? I tell you from experience that Jesus Christ
is worth any price, He is worth any sacrifice, He is worth whatever has
to be done to be made right with Him!)
I. The Seeking Sinner
II. V. 5 THE SEEKING SAVIOR
(Ill. There was more than one person seeking something that day. Just as
Zacchaeus was seeking to see Jesus, Jesus was seeking souls to save by
grace. That is always a combination that is sure to prove effective.)
A. Jesus Came To Him - (Ill. Matt. 20:28( This is how it always comes
about. Jesus comes to the dead sinner and offers life through
Himself, John 6:44; 65.) Ill. There is no other way for the soul to be
saved! According to the Bible, we are all dead in sin until Jesus
saves us, Eph. 2:1-4. If He didn't show us our need, we would never
be able to recognize it ourselves. In other words, we would never be
able, nor would we have a desire to come to Jesus, unless He came
to us first!
B. Jesus Considered Him - Ill. When Jesus stopped under that tree
that day, He knew everything there was to know about Zacchaeus,
yet He still loved him and still had compassion on him. What a
picture of grace! Jesus knows everything there is to know about you,
but He still loves you and would save you by His grace if you would
only come to Him and receive Him. (Ill. Jer. 31:1; Jer. 17:9-10; 1 Sam
16:7 - God sees the true state of our hearts!)
C. Jesus Called Him - Ill. Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem where He
is to die for the sin of the world, but still He has the time to stop and
reach out to this one little, wicked man. What grace! - Eph. 2:8-9!
Who was Zacchaeus that Jesus should care for him? He was a
sinner, yet the Lord loved him just like He loves you and me!
1. It Was An Urgent Call - (Ill. Make haste) Still urgent today! The
Lord may come, death may come. Salvation is nothing to be
played around with. You need to be sure that you have been
washed in the blood of the Lamb! Are you saved? (Ill. You might
not have forever - Pro. 27:1; James 4:14.)
2. It Was An Unmistakable Call - I am sure Zacchaeus knew that
the Lord was looking for something more than just a place to visit
for the day. Jesus was and is interested in one thing - He is after
your heart. He wants to save you by His grace and His power!
I. The Seeking Sinner
II. The Seeking Savior
III. V. 6-10 THE SPECTACULAR SALVATION
(Did Zacchaeus get saved? Yes! How do we know? Notice what
happened to him:
A. V. 6 Zacchaeus Received The Savior - His salvation is revealed in
three very significant things that he did.
1. Obedience - He obeyed the Lord's call. (Ill. This must be done
before salvation can come to anyone's life.)
2. Open Heart - Zacchaeus freely gave himself to Jesus. Ill. This
must be done before salvation will ever become a reality. Jesus
stands at our heart's door and knocks, Rev. 3:20, but w will never
be saved until we open the door and allow Him to come into our
life.
3. Obvious Joy - Zacchaeus was overjoyed at the opportunity to be
with Jesus. Joy is always a byproduct of genuine salvation. He
will give you a joy that cannot be described or duplicated by
anything else in this world. His is an everlasting joy. When you
joy is placed in and based on things, your joy will pass away,
because those things will also pass away. However, when Jesus
is the source of your joy, it will abide forever, because He will too.
B. V. 7-8 Zacchaeus Repented Of His Sins - These are 2 absolute
proofs of salvation, both in Zacchaeus' life and in your's as well.
1. There Was Confession - 1 John 1:9 (Until you come to the
place where you are willing to call out to God and confess your
sins, you will never be saved. But when you do, business will
pick up!)
2. There Was A Change - 2 Cor. 5:17 (Ill. When Jesus comes is,
He always brings a changed life. If your life doesn't change,
then you haven't met Jesus!
C. V. 9-10 Zacchaeus Was Redeemed With A Great Salvation
1. V. 9 The Mercy Of Christ - Jesus took this little wicked man and
in one instant saved him forever! That is what Jesus does for
all those who come to Him by faith! Eternal salvation becomes
yours and mine through Him.
2. V. 10 The Mission Of Christ - In this verse, Jesus reminds us
that He was here then to save sinners and that this is His
mission yet today, John 3:17; Luke 9:56. (Ill. Jesus is still
saving souls today!)
Conc: Some of you are like Zacchaeus, you need to meet the Master. If
you will come to Him tonight, He will save you regardless of who you are,
where you have been or what you have done. I beg you, let nothing stand
between you and Jesus Christ this evening. If you need Him, for any
reason, won't you come right now?
