Have you ever experienced that or have you ever been lost?
On other occasions I’m sure that some of us as parents have been worried sick about our lost kids and we’ve found them to be totally oblivious to our concerns. We’ve
been emotional wrecks, we may have lost them, but they never considered themselves lost – they’re playing with other kids or just enjoying themselves.
Likewise all of us, at one point in our lives, have gotten spiritually lost. Our spiritual Condition, that we are lost and in need of a Saviour-equalizes all of us. That’s why
Jesus came-to seek and save us. In our spiritual journey, we must learn to humble ourselves and admit that we are lost and that we need to be found by Jesus.
Christianity is not only about loving God and loving one another, but also loving the lost. The Great Commission is found in all 4 gospels and the book of Acts – for us
to make disciples of all lost people.
I want us to reflect today upon an encounter in Jesus’ ministry – the meeting of the tax collector who was up the tree, who then had lunch with Jesus. After lunch…
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will
pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to
seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:8-10
Through this story Luke records for us not only the theme of his gospel but also the heart of Jesus’ mission.
“the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10
Reaching lost people, whether or not they are aware of their own condition is at the heart of the mission of the church. In fact it’s the primary reason we’re left on earth
after receiving Christ. We’ll be able to worship and serve and do so much more in heaven, but bringing lost people to Jesus can only be done on earth. During his ministry
it was Jesus’ passion to reach out to lost people but even after he rose from the dead, if we’re left in any doubt what the mission was about Jesus spelled it out to his disciples.
“Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ That’s the message.”
Matthew 28:7 (The Message)
Undoubtedly having seen first hand the resurrected Jesus the disciples didn’t want to lose him again. But have you ever noticed what he told them?
It’s not going to be in the temple in the holy city of Jerusalem where they’re going to encounter the risen Jesus, but in one of the spiritually darkest regions in the land.
Are you worn out spiritually? Are you seeking fresh encounters with Jesus? Do you want a fresh touch of the Spirit? He’s more likely to be found where lost people are,
the dark places, than in a cosy Bible study. Have you ever thought about that? It’s when you and I join him in reaching lost people that we’ll know him more intimately
and He’ll fill us with his Spirit, because, after all, the primary reason for the pouring out of the Spirit was to empower us in his very mission.
Zacchaeus was a man who was confused with his identity. People labelled him with different names, but Jesus saw him in a different way. And if you and I are going to
reach out to lost people we have to start seeing them through Jesus’ eyes.
How do we see lost people? Zacchaeus’ Identities
1 Rich Tax Collector
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus . . . Luke 19:1, 2
Zacchaeus actually means “righteous one.” But the people laughed because his profession and economic status was the exact opposite.
. . . he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. Luke 19:2
He was known by his job. He was a rich tax collector. During that time, this was a bad recognition because tax collectors were despised. They were hated…Tax collectors, if they become rich, the assumption is they are corrupt. They were perceived as unpatriotic because they worked for the invading nation, the Roman government. (Like the French who collaborated with the Nazis)
They were seen as “religiously unclean” because they worked with Gentiles. We tend to look at the external. We immediately judge people based on their status, position, title, or just about anything that is noticeable. But Jesus sees us differently We need to start seeing people through Jesus’ eyes.
2 Short Jewish Guy
He wanted to see who Jesus was . . . Luke 19:3
Zacchaeus was a short guy. Because of his eagerness to see Jesus, he ran and climbed a sycamore-fig tree just to get a good view of Him.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Luke 19:5
Jesus invited Himself to stay in Zacchaeus house. When Jesus invites Himself into our lives, He takes control of all the areas. To say that “Jesus is Lord” means He has
the authority to do whatever He wants. The people saw Zacchaeus as a short Jewish guy but Jesus saw otherwise. The church should be the place on earth where colour,
ethnic background and cultural background are irrelevant.
3 Sinner
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ’sinner.’” Luke 19:7
The Jews were very particular with the people they ate with. To have a meal with someone means you have a strong bond of friendship with that person. Moreover, the level
of friendship is taken a notch higher when that person stays in someone’s home. That’s why the people were surprised that Jesus was staying in a house of a sinner. But
that didn’t matter to Jesus. Some of us might have labels that were coined by the people surrounding us. While these labels are demeaning or insulting in nature, we
shouldn’t be affected by these because what matters most is how Jesus labels us.
When Jesus said He’ll be staying at Zacchaeus house, it meant that Jesus wanted to be a friend of Zacchaeus. In front of many people, He made a public declaration of
friendship with Zacchaeus. He even made one of these tax administrators his apostle. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners”
were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax
collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a
doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:15-17
Jesus reached out to people whom others didn’t want to associate with, and He wants us to do the same.
And I, the Son of Man, feast and drink, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of the worst sort of sinners!’ Luke 7:34 (NLT)
I’m always challenged that the church should be the place for lost people – for sinners. Think of Jesus’ day. In Jesus day it was the sinners and young people who
spent most of their time in his presence. The religious people hated being around Jesus. But somehow 2000 years later it’s the exact opposite – the church’s greatest problem
is that sinners and young people give it a wide berth, and religious people, can’t get enough of church. Be a friend of sinners. As we love one another through availability,
likewise be available and approachable to ordinary people, especially those whom religious people would look down their noses at.
4 Child of Abraham
Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay
back 4 times the amount.” Luke 19:8
In the Old Testament, the law stated that if you did something wrong, you must make restitution, give the amount back, and add twenty percent to it:
’When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full
restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.’” Numbers 5:5-7
Zacchaeus gave more than what was expected of him. His heart was so moved after his encounter with Jesus. He now wanted to do what was right. His realisation led to
his salvation. Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what
was lost.” Luke 19:9,10
Galatians defines who the children of Abraham are. those who believe are children of Abraham. Galatians 3:7
Jesus came for sinners. He came for Zacchaeus. He came for us. He came for you. “the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10
No-one is lost on purpose. In fact, some don’t even realise they’re lost. And this is our mission. To bring good news of forgiveness, power for the present,
purpose in life and hope for the future to lost people. Let’s love God passionately, and love one another, but let’s equally love the lost. We can no longer see people
through our eyes – we need to see them through Jesus eyes. Loving the lost is something we do in our neighbourhoods, work places, school gates and communities – and
as a church over the next month we’re going to give special events to help us engage with our lost friends.
