Luke 19:1-10 - The Story of a Little Big Sinner

Todaywe are looking at one of the most exciting stories in the New Testament. I liketo call it the story of a little big sinner. That's the story of Zacchaeus, aman who comes seeking Jesus as Jesus is seeking him. What a wonderful story.This is probably one of the favorite stories of little children in Sundayschool growing up, with the great song, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man,and a wee little man was he. And one day, Jesus passed his way.” InLuke 19:1, Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now remember, Jericho wasthe Las Vegas of Christ's day. It was the place where gambling, prostitutes,and where the mafia had their headquarters, so to speak. It was a bad place,and Jesus entered and passed through. Jesus is ready to pass through yourplace, no matter who you are or where you are. Jesus is seeking sinners, aswe’ll see in the first 10 verses of this chapter. Behold,there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, and he was rich.Zacchaeus was Jewish, and his name means "righteous one," but he wasanything but righteous. He was not only a tax collector but the chief taxcollector, maybe even Matthew’s boss at one time. Perhaps after Matthew becamea follower of Christ, he was burdened for Zacchaeus and prayed for him. NowZacchaeus has a prepared heart. He was rich, from collecting taxes for theRoman government while cheating people and taking more than he was supposed to.But his wealth did not bring him satisfaction or peace. Hesought to see who Jesus was but could not because of the crowd, for he was ofshort stature. He was a little guy, not very tall. Because of the crowd, hecouldn’t get to Jesus. That’s true today—many people are kept from Jesusbecause of the crowd leading them the wrong way, telling them the lies of theworld. My friend don’t let the crowd keep you from Jesus. Don’t follow amultitude to do evil. Zacchaeus couldn’t see over the crowd or well enough tosee who Jesus was and what He was doing. He was curious, so he ran ahead andclimbed into a sycamore tree to see Him, knowing Jesus would pass that way. Ilike to say that Zacchaeus put himself “in the way of Grace”.  Jesuswould like to pass your way if you’re looking for Him. Zacchaeus, a man,becomes like a child. In the days of Christ, and even today, rich men don’trun—they walk with dignity and pride. But this man humbles himself. Not onlywas he small in stature, but he humbled his heart and became small in his ownsight. Remember in Luke 18, Jesus said, “Unless you become like a child, youcan’t enter the kingdom of God,” WhenJesus came to the place, He looked up, saw him, and said, “Zacchaeus, makehaste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste,came down, and received Him joyfully. This chapter illustrates Ephesians 2:8-9as well as anywhere in the Bible: “For by grace are you saved through faith,and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any manshould boast.” Theone thing that keeps people from coming to Jesus is pride. A seeking sinnerwill always find a seeking Savior. I don’t fully understand how Jesus seeks uswhile something happens to humble our hearts, and we begin to seek Him. But Iknow that it is the work of God’s marvelous grace, which only takes place whenwe humble ourselves. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James4:6). Only by grace can you be saved and begin to have a heart that seeksJesus.Here’sa rich man who has need of nothing, but he’s lonely inside, has no friends, andpeople don’t like him. He’s a sinner, but Jesus loves sinners. What a greatstory. Today, I don’t know who you are, where you’re at, or what’s going on inyour life, but Jesus, by His grace, is ready to pass your way.  Areyou looking for Him? If you’re looking, you will find Him, and He’ll find you.