You're listening to Mountain View Church Audio, Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City, Whitehorse UConn. Here's this week's message.
Oh, your grace so free, washes over me. You have made me new, now life begins with you. It's your endless love, pouring down on us. You have made us new, now life begins with you. From my chains, I'm a prisoner, no more his friend. And in my life, peace so free, washes over me.
You have made me new, now life begins with you. It's your endless love pouring down on us. You have made us new, now life begins with you. Our Savior displayed on a criminal's cross. Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost. But then Jesus arrived with our freedom. He'd hid back when death was arrested. And my life began so free.
While she's older You have made me new Now life begins with you Future endless love Falling down on us You have made us new Now life begins with you Join the song of all Yes, we're free, free forever Amen, forever with Join the song of all the redeemed Yes, we're free, free forever Amen When death rested in my life Rested in my life began felt like you've done so much wrong that you'll never be able to make it right? Maybe there's a part of your story you hope that no one ever brings up because you're terrified of the repercussions. Maybe you've distanced yourself so far from God that you feel like he can't or that he won't ever reach you.
I'm Jeremy, the lead pastor of Mountain View Church. If you're new to our community, we'd love to connect with you at mountainview.church slash connect or through social at Mountain View White Horse. Today's message is titled, Jesus Calling. We'll learn about a man who thought he was too far gone, lost in his sinful life. That is, until Jesus called him out by name. Hi, my name's Adrienne, and today I'm reading from the book of Luke, chapter 19, verses 1 through 10.
He 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 is also a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. What he didn't know was that Jesus had come to see him. To him, this may have seemed like some sort of chance encounter, but that's not how Jesus operates. This was actually a divine appointment built on his later declaration that, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Jesus doesn't just notice the lost. He seeks them out. And when he finds them, he calls them by name and transforms them by his grace. When we encounter Jesus, we are called by name and transformed by his grace. This is such an important component of Christianity that it's personal. It's not a religious set of rules or systems designed by a prophet or spiritual leader. Being a Christ follower is having a relationship with a man who is fully human and yet fully divine, who died on the cross for our sin but was resurrected to conquer sin and death. And the best part is that he lives within us. Upon our repentance and belief in him,
we have a relationship with him. If I can use a metaphor, Jesus doesn't stand far off with a megaphone beckoning you to follow him. He walks into your life, no matter how messy it is, and he speaks a calling to leave your old life and experience a new and abundant life with him, which also results in an eternal life, an everlasting life with him in his kingdom. If we come back to Zacchaeus, I don't think he was searching for a religious leader to fix it. And let's face it, he was a rich man who could have bought anything he wanted in this world.
He had heard about Jesus, likely his miracles, his revolutionary teaching. Perhaps this man, Jesus, was offering something that was different than he could find in this world, something that the world couldn't offer. So, as the crowds followed Jesus, he had to climb a tree just to get a glimpse of him. Much to his surprise, Jesus saw something inside of Zacchaeus, and he called out to him in the tree. We live in a world where people are either running from grace or assume they don't need it. Some feel disqualified by their past, and others feel justified by their own status.
When I think of where Zacchaeus was, I think he was experiencing a mix of both circumstances because the text tells us that he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was seeking to see who Jesus was, but he was small in stature. He may have lived with some insecurities, I can only imagine, from his physical size, but also the corrupt way he had lived his life and secured his wealth. He likely didn't have any friends, turning his back on his own people to get rich through the occupying Roman government, siding with the Romans instead of his own countrymen. That's shady. And yet, as Zacchaeus strains to see Jesus, there seems to be a softening of his heart.
As I think about him in that tree, maybe he's eager. He's searching. And obviously, from the end of the account, willing to be changed. He's willing. He's willing to become something different. He's willing to be transformed. His story tells us that no one is too far gone for Jesus to reach. And no one is too good to need his grace. Jesus' calling of Zacchaeus reminds us that he doesn't wait for us to come crawling to him.
Although, sometimes that might be the case. There's a reality in Zacchaeus' story that he takes the initiative. Jesus calls us to him. This account also shows us that Jesus doesn't see our position, even if we have great wealth and status. He sees our true potential in God's kingdom, which is never centered on earthly status. That's God's grace brought to us through Jesus, which turns sinners into saints.
Related to our modern era, we live a culture of obsession, specifically with performance. We're constantly striving to earn our place and justify our worth. It's kind of knit into the fabric of our society. But the gospel of Jesus Christ flips that. He walks into our world and says, I'm calling you. Today, I'm staying at your house. Not because of your status, not because of your wealth, not because of your performance, but because I love you.
His grace initiates what our hearts are truly longing for, what we really want. Of course, there is a response of acceptance. That is our responsibility. But his calling is the beginning that starts or initiates that eventual transformation. Now let's come back to Zacchaeus. This is core to his encounter with Jesus. His transformation proves that repentance is visible and verifiable. As one scholar writes, Zacchaeus provides us a marvelous picture of repentance. Here God demonstrates the possible salvation in a rich man's life. God can call people from all their idols, a lifetime of sin, and the habit of abusing privilege, position, and others, and turn such persons to himself, making them new. No one is too far gone for grace. You have not gone too far from the grace of Jesus.
If Zacchaeus can be reached and redeemed, then so can you. Even those of you who might think that you're completely unreachable because of what you've done, because of your past, you're closer to Jesus than you ever thought or imagined. You just need to answer his call. Notice that Zacchaeus didn't just say he was sorry to the people he had cheated and oppressed. His actions showed his true remorse. The text tells us that 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.
News would have traveled about a tax collector, especially a chief tax collector, giving away that much cash. This was a public display of repentance for his previous life and all the things he had done and all the ways he had cheated people. But it's also evidence in his life internally of the supernatural transformation that had taken place after his experience with Jesus. For historical context, it should be noted that Zacchaeus' actions exceeded what was required by Jews at that time under the Mosaic Law. From the book of Leviticus, he was supposed to restore it in full and add a fifth to it on the day he realizes his guilt. From the book of Numbers, his restitution for his wrong should have been adding a fifth to it and giving it to those he had wronged. Zacchaeus had returned four times the amount, far exceeding the legal or moral requirement.
This tells us that he wasn't responding under legalistic persuasion or a decision to follow a set of rules because he felt bad. He wasn't doing the minimum. He wasn't even doing just a little bit above the minimum. This was evidence that he was radically changed, that his heart was changed, and it showed in the massive way he gave back to the people he had cheated. He really wanted to make things right.
Theologian John Martin expands on this part of the story. Zacchaeus stood up and voluntarily announced that he would give half of what he owned to the poor and repay fourfold all he had wronged. He publicly wanted the people to know that his time with Jesus had changed his life. Interestingly, he parted with much of his wealth, similar to what Jesus had asked the rich ruler to do in Luke 18, 22. As Martin highlights, in the previous chapter of Luke's gospel, Jesus had called a man to let go of all of his wealth, but he chose to cling to it. Now, in the very next chapter, we see a man who was very rich, willing to let go of it all to follow Jesus. The grace of Jesus clearly took root in Zacchaeus' heart, and the fruit of his transformation would have been obvious to everyone who knew him. He was lost, but now he was found, which is exactly what Jesus states at the end of this account. He says, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
which, by the way, is a fulfillment of the prophecy Ezekiel wrote 600 years prior. We read, Jesus, the Son of God, steps into our world as the good shepherd. He seeks out a man everyone else had written off and calls him by name. And this brings Zacchaeus a complete reversal of his former identity. Jesus said to him, today salvation has come to this house since he also is a son of Abraham. This is a powerful statement, by the way, because the crowd would have seen Zacchaeus as a traitor to Israel, as someone who left Israel to side with Rome.
Let's face it, he had spent his life collaborating with the Roman Empire to line his pockets with their hard-earned money. But after the encounter with Jesus, his new identity is revealed. He's not just a physical descendant of Abraham, not restored to that, but now he's a true son of faith. And just like Abraham, who believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness, from Genesis 15, 6. A corrupt man has become an honest one. A greedy man has become a generous one. A social pariah has become a redeemed son. This is the gospel. Zacchaeus' story is a picture of the gospel that's available to all of our lives, to everyone, to you and to me. And it's worth noting that Luke places this account just before Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem and eventually his journey to the cross. This is actually the last personal encounter that Luke writes about and unpacks about Jesus before his death and resurrection. Clearly.
As Luke wrote his gospel account, as he took in all those witnesses and eyewitness testimonies, as he painted the picture of his gospel trying to give us all a picture of what Jesus' ministry was like, Luke wanted to emphasize the gospel in motion. That the one who came to seek and save the lost doesn't just teach it, but he lives it. He's in the middle of us, in the messy middle of our lives and human depravity, willing to take our consequences of sin and to bring about salvation. This is our good shepherd stepping into the role promised by the prophet Ezekiel. This is the Messiah seeking the lost, binding up the broken and calling home all those who are wandering. The good shepherd is still seeking and saving the lost today, this very day. And so if you feel far from God, know this, Jesus is calling you by name. He's not waiting for you to clean up your act or clean up your life. He's coming into your house today, as messy as it might be. The question you need to answer is, will you receive him? Will you receive him with joy, just like Zacchaeus did? Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.
I give them eternal life and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My father who has given them to me is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of my father's hand. I and the father are one. This is an invitation to answer the calling of Jesus. You don't have to fix everything first. Start with faith. Start by saying yes to Jesus. If he can transform a corrupt chief tax collector into a generous faith-filled follower, then he can transform you as well.
Just say yes. Yes, Jesus. And then let him in. And watch the transformation of his grace in your life. So if you're holding on to guilt, it's time to release it to Jesus. If you feel too far gone, it's time to respond to his call. If you've written off someone, it's time to repent and pray for them. Ask yourself, where in my life have I shut Jesus out? What parts of my story still feel off limits to his grace? What tree am I hiding in, hoping to catch a glimpse, but avoiding his gaze?
It's time to come down, hear his call and respond. Would you pray with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for calling me by name. Thank you for seeking me even though I was lost. Today, I choose to answer your call. I am opening the door of my heart to you. I believe that you died on the cross for my sin and were raised from the dead on the third day. And today, I am inviting you into my life to be Lord and King. Change me, restore me and lead me into this new life with you.
In your name I pray. Amen. Thanks for joining us today. I'm so glad that you were here to watch or listen wherever you are. If you made a decision to follow Jesus, we'd love to walk with you. You can connect with us at mountainview.church slash connect or by sending us a direct message on social at mountainviewwhitehorse. If you found this content helpful, please like, follow, share, or subscribe to our YouTube channel or to whatever platform you're viewing, and then you'll receive upcoming messages into your feed and other updates on community life here at Mountain View. For any parents out there, be sure to check out this week's Base Camp children's lesson and activities at mountainview.church slash base camp.
For your teens, our youth group meets every Sunday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. You can visit mountainview.church slash youth for more info. Now, stick around for a few more important updates. Hi, our names are Luke and Noah, and we are really excited to share something with you. This summer, we have the opportunity to attend Fusion Alaska, a Christian youth conference where students from all over the world together to worship and grow in their faith. We believe this experience will be life-changing and help us grow as young leaders at Mountain View Church and in our everyday walk with Christ.
To help cover the cost, including travel, lodging, and registration, we are looking for sponsors. If you consider supporting us financially or through prayer, we would be so grateful. You can give through this link. Thank you so much for your continued support of the Senior Youth Ministry. God bless.
Hi Mountain View, my name is Haley and I'm announcing the Young Adults event for June. It's happening next Sunday, June 8th, after church. We're going to have a little tailgate lunch and then do a trail walk at the Hidden Lakes Trail. So the plan is to meet at 1230, so after the second service, at the Hidden Lakes Trailhead. You can find that on Google Maps or AllTrails. I don't think Apple has the right location, so check out Google Maps or AllTrails. And we'll hang out in the parking lot for a little bit, eat some lunch, and then we'll go on a walk together. If you want to carpool or need a ride from the church, let me know. And yeah, have a great week. See you then.
See you June 7th at Mountain View Church. Bye! Now it's time for this week's discussion and prayer focus. Gather with a few people who you've been watching with or maybe the people you've been listening to in the car or meditate yourself. Take some notes, write some comments in the feed, however you want to take part in this discussion and this reflection. So today's discussion question is, what step of faith do you hear Jesus calling you to take today? What step of faith do you hear Jesus calling you to take today? After you've shared something in the comments or with the people who you're watching with or listening with, spend some time in prayer. And our prayer focus for today is to pray for courage, to respond to Jesus' call.
and allow his grace to transform your life. Pray for courage to respond to Jesus' call and allow his grace to transform your life. Please make a plan to come back next week as we explore Jesus' justice from Luke chapter four. Jesus came to bring freedom, healing, and hope. And he calls us to live out that form of justice in our lives today. So invite a friend to watch or listen with you, and we'll see you there.
If you prayed to receive Jesus today or would like to connect with our church community, visit mountainview.church and click the connect link. If this podcast and radio ministry has been a blessing to you, please consider partnering with us or making a tax-deductible donation at mountainview.church. Thanks for listening to Mountain View Church Audio. Join us next week for more Christ-centered teaching from the Wilderness City of Whitehorse Supon.