Zaccheus

November 1, 1998 (pm) - Communion Service

Luke 19:1-10 (read)

INTRO: How would you preach this passage? What would you do if YOU were suddenly called on to bring this evening message? It happened to at least one young person:

The great London Baptist Preacher Charles Spurgeon had a school for preachers. Each day he would enter the chapel and call on one of the students to preach extemporaneously on a text or topic he would name. Mr. Jones lived in fear of the day his name would be called, and sure enough his morning came. Spurgeon walked in and facing the students announced "Mr. Jones your text is Luke 19:1 10. Preach us a sermon on Zaccheus."

Somehow Jones got up and made it to the pulpit where he held on for dear life, knuckles white and knees wobbling. With a squeak as his voice was breaking he began.

With that he quickly returned to his pew to await the judgement of the great preacher.

Spurgeon stepped forward to begin his lecture. He looked at the young Mr Jones and said quietly, "Young man, I think you'll do....."

This is a story of grace, and of humility, and of genuine change in the Presence of Jesus:

Zaccheus was small/ little / DIFFERENT. We make something of his short stature, but Zacchaeus had pretty much overcome that handicap in his own personal life. He was a success in many ways. But spiritually he knew a need. His desire to see Jesus and his inability on his own becomes a symbol of the inability every one of us has to see Jesus, to find God, without some kind of help. We call that help 'revelation.' It comes by the grace of God, through the Holy Spirit, by the Bible, by the truth, from the living Word.

Zaccheus was up a tree TO HIDE? TO SEE? Zacchaeus used the tree to see Jesus. But he might well have had the idea of being unobserved— a spectator, but not a participant. 'I'll just climb this tree and see and not be seen.' But Jesus made his tree a "corner" where he couldn't get away!

THE SEARCH FOR THE REAL JESUS

Luke 19:3 "And he (Zaccheus) was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable because of the crowd..." LOOKING FOR JESUS CAN BE A LONELY THING. There were people between Zaccheus and Jesus:

  1. Bad people who hated him: Some possibly had reasons to hate a tax collector. Others simply put Zaccheus into a category, which is easier than dealing case by case. "All ________ are _____!" or, "_____" was bad once, so he/she is " bad forever!!"
  2. "Nice" people who "understood" him: how easy it can be to think we "understand" when we don't have any idea of the pain another is facing. We "explain things" very glibly at times; we make light of other peoples' struggles. It is no help to say, "Your situation is not all that bad!" Zaccheus may have had plenty of people to tell him what they thought he ought to do but he wanted to see for himself who Jesus was! "People" are supposed to be "witnesses," and God uses the Church to help bring people to the knowledge of Jesus. But can it be that we Christians have tried to be so nice and helpful that we have actually obscured Jesus from people who would see Him?

ONE MAN MADE A DETERMINATION TO FIND OUT WHO JESUS WAS/IS

The crowd, the many people, were confusing to Zaccheus. If everyone is busy describing Jesus to us, how can we ever come to find Him for ourselves? If we are always listening to this expert, or reading that latest book, do we take time to simply get alone and wait on God Himself? –

The student of Spurgeon was 'up a tree.' He was in a corner. We all get into places where we haven't planned to be, with results we could not foresee. It is amazing, then, when Jesus comes to exactly the branch on which we're sitting, peering through the leaves and "casually" looks up into our eyes and says, "I see you!" It could be disconcerting. Actually it is the most comforting thing in all the world!

JESUS CAME WHERE THE MAN SEEKING HIM WAS.

We don't "find Jesus;" The very hunger for God comes from Him. He finds us! THE SURPRISE: JESUS FOUND THE SEARCHER

Luke 19:5 "And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, 'Zaccheus...'"

[ON THIS 'ALL SAINTS DAY'] IT IS IMPORTANT TO SEE THAT GOD REVEALS HIMSELF TO US ONE ON ONE!

God is a Rewarder of them that diligently SEEK Him; but in the end we see that God Himself is the Seeker; Hebrews 11:6; and (2 Chronicles 16:9) "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him."

(WE NEED TO SEE JESUS FOR OURSELVES!)

The revelation of Jesus Christ to His Church, and then the Church's witness of that revelation to the whole world, is what the entire New Testament is all about. Jesus is "the AUTHOR and the PERFECTER of our faith." (Hebrews 12:2)

  1. WE NEED A MIRACLE! Like Zaccheus, we will find it difficult to know just who this Jesus is, apart from a miracle. People will be happy to tell us who Jesus is, and that is all well and good to a point.
  2. THE MIRACLE IS FAITH ITSELF! Jesus still comes where we are, by His Spirit! He stops under our tree, and says, "Come down!" This is reality! It has happened to every born again Christian. Some more spectacularly than others, perhaps (like Saul of Tarsus.) But I remember, don't you?!)

ZACCHEUS CAME DOWN.

He made an end of isolation. Jesus invited himself over for dinner! ................., and we to need to come down accepting God's love at the invitation of his son who ate with sinners.

GOD DOES NOT SAVE US INTO ISOLATION!

The fellowship of the Gospel: Zaccheus was not "enlightened" [touched by saving grace] and then put out on his own resources to make his own way. Jesus said, "I'M COMING TO YOUR HOUSE I'M COMING HOME WITH YOU!"

That morning Zaccheus set out to see who Jesus was and before the day was over Jesus was looking at him over the coffee cups!

I know it isn't quite that pat or simple but it still is true (Hebrews 11:6) that IF WE WON'T TAKE SECOND-HAND REPORTS ABOUT WHO JESUS IS, WE CAN FIND THAT HE WANTS TO BE OUR DAILY COMPANION.

Into Communion:

THE HOLY COMMUNION

Wherever you are on your Spiritual Journey -     If you believe God is seeking fellowship with you— and if you want to turn to Him, I invite you to come in faith to the Table of the Lord. Draw near with faith and take this Sacrament to your comfort, and make your humble confession to Almighty God in humility before Him.

The Apostles Creed Inside back cover of Hymnal

The Law Read and Confession Made - The Lord Jesus Christ has said to us: "Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This if the first and great commandment. The second is like unto it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

Brothers and sisters, let us search our hearts. In silence let us ask God to draw us near to Himself so that we can come to his table with confidence.

(Reading No. 750) A prayer in unison, from scripture:

Unison: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me. Lead me in the way everlasting. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Pastor: Hear what our Lord has said: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and i will give you rest. And he has also said, "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Prayer: Thank you. O God, for your forgiving us when we come humbly to you. We do not presume to come to this table, O God, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your great mercy and grace. Grant us to eat the Bread of heaven, and drink the blood shed for the remission of sins, that we may live in Christ, and Christ may live in us forever. Amen

(In Place of Gloria Patri ) sing "Father, I Adore You, Lay my life before You How I love you!" , "Jesus, I adore you . . ." and "Spirit, I adore you . . ."

The Informal Invitation ("This is not my table . . . " Do not come irreverently. Do not come because someone else expects it. But if the Host invites you, and you want to walk with Him, then you are welcome at His table... )

The Words of Institution

On the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to You he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said, "Take eat: THIS IS MY BODY, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.     

After supper he took the cup and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you; THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink this, do it in remembrance of me: Amen

We praise you for the mystery of our salvation! We truly believe Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!

Bless these emblems, O God, and make them to us the Body and Blood of your Son, spiritual food, and spiritual drink of new and unending life in Jesus Christ.

And now, together, we pray, as Jesus taught us:

Our Father which art in heaven . . .

Now, humbly come and receive the Gifts of God for the People of God

#754 God of the Ages