Jesus Searched For Zacchaeus, He Was Lost Without God

BIBLE STUDY #785- CHURCH IN THE HOUSES TUESDAY SEPT 24 – 30, 2013

Topic: “Jesus Searched For Zacchaeus, He Was Lost Without God” Luke 19:1-10 Jericho was a very important and rich city. It was in the valley of Jordan and controlled the access to Jerusalem and the path towards the east of Jordan. That city had many palm trees and Balsamic woods, famous all over the world, that perfumed the air several kilometers all around; also its rose gardens were famous. Jericho was called “City of the Palm Trees.” The palms from Jericho were famous for its fruits and its balsam, its trees perfume; the romans commercialized the palm tree and made it very famous. All this converted Jericho in one of the main commercial centers and for that reason the collection of taxes was seen very often in that region of Palestine. We have already studied about the tax collectors with Matthew. Zacchaeus did the same in Jericho where he collected taxes from his Jewish compatriots. Zacchaeus had reached the top of his profession for which he would become the most hated man of the district. So Zacchaeus was rich. Jesus, our Master, said that it was difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 19:23, 24). So the Lord lets us know that there were very little probabilities for a rich man to be able to arrive at Heaven; if someone knew this well it was Jesus, who knew the adverse effect that riches produce in a man. The rich have a lot of money and that is there confidence, their rest, their pride that makes them feel greater than others. So that tax collector man called Zacchaeus was not a person to be saved because of everything that possessed him in his wicked heart. Although Zacchaeus was very rich, he was not happy. He could not do less than feel lonesome, because he had a profession that made him ungrateful, indifferent and distant from his people, he was ungrateful to all; that is the feeling of rich men. But, Zacchaeus heard of Jesus, that he received the publicans and the sinners, as in Matthew’s case, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. And Zacchaeus wanted to know if Jesus also had something for him, well he was despised and hated by men. ZACCHAEUS SEARCHED FOR GOD’S LOVE. This is what God wants from man; that those who could no longer tolerate what is within them, surrender to their pride and selfishness and then they would be willing to hand everything to Jesus so that He may become the center of their lives. Zacchaeus decision was clear, he wanted to see Jesus; that is the matter, he had to see Jesus. He had so much desire to see the Lord that he did not allow his small height or anyone take away his determination or impede it. In his case, being a despised publican tax collector, to get mixed into the great crowd required courage, many wanted to destroy him because of his duty. And even like this, with all the effort Zacchaeus made, he still couldn’t see Jesus because as we know he was of a short height, so he had a great idea. He ran out and got ahead of the retinue, he climbed a robust and leafy tree whose branches gave shade to the road. There on top of that tree he prepared to see what was going on without being seen or bothered. Luke 19:5 “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” It was the first time that Jesus invited Himself to enter Zacchaeus’ house, well it was necessary for others to see that he had come to seek the sinner for repentance and to transform him into a new man. The change Jesus performed in Zacchaeus occurred immediately and was noticeable to all. Jesus didn’t need anything from Zacchaeus, it was Zacchaeus who needed Jesus for his transformation. Zacchaeus made a commitment with the community of Jericho by announcing a change in his heart and in his life. It wasn’t little by little that the change would occur, it came to immediately transform him by the most pure: Jesus. When Jesus told Zacchaeus that he would visit him at his house that day, that man who was alone and embittered discovered that he had found “a new friend” who was marvelous. Then, he made the greatest decision in his life; he decided to give the poor half of everything he had. There was a change, he truly acknowledged Jesus, he didn’t have to be convinced; he was convinced while having the Lord in front of him. Now he was moved out of love, before he was moved by covetousness. He would return quadrupled everything he earned fraudulently! How marvelous when we see that God transforms the hearts! Tell me, when have you restored to others the wickedness you have done and ask for forgiveness when you sinned or are sinning, just as Zacchaeus the publican did?

Exodus 22:4, 7 “If the stolen animal is found alive in his possession, whether ox or donkey or sheep, he must pay back double.” What Zacchaeus returned was more than what the law demanded. In his deeds Zacchaeus showed them that he was now a changed man, that all would know of the change that occurs when Jesus arrives. With new and good deeds the change is seen; do not fear to do so, do it so everyone may know. The Son of Man has come to seek and to save what had been lost. (Vs. 10) That is, we had lost God, we walked with the great burden of our offenses and sins and He changed our lives. When one is not in contact with God one is lost and therefore one sins; God is distant. But we are found by Jesus and He makes us return to occupy the proper place of son or daughter, obedient in the house and family of His Father God. Thank you, for your perfect and great love, hallelujah! Amen.