Say your favorite band is coming to town, or to the county fair. You know you are going to go, just to see them. It may be super-crowded, but you’re still going! No matter how big the crowd, no matter if you are so far away from them that you have to look up at the screen to actually see them, no one will stop you!
He only wanted a glimpse. He had heard of the celebrity and the famous works He had done. He was coming to town and Z just wanted to see Him. Like a famous band coming to town or an event that is only on the calendar once a year, Z knew the place to be, but he was too short to see Him over the crowd. So he climbed the tree. As the Man comes by, He looks up directly at Z and tells him to come down and invites himself to Z's house! Z just wanted a glimpse, but He wanted an encounter, one that Z desperately needed.
In Luke chapter 19, we meet a man named Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. “Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Luke 19:1-10 New Living Translation (NLT)
What if our favorite artist actually walked by and noticed us? Not just to sign an autograph for you, but really noticed? Said they were going to your house? We would be so excited! That is the way it was for Zacchaeus. What started out as just a thought became a party with the anticipated Master!
Zacchaeus only wanted a glimpse, what he got was a change of heart and, by that, his life was forever changed by the Master! He was a wealthy and notorious man because of his profession. He hung out with the riff raff and the edge-of-society crowd. Moral and religious people would not have liked him or went to his lavish parties. But Jesus stopped and took the time, something that Zacchaeus did not expect. Maybe, deep in his heart, he was ready for the Life-changing visit that only Jesus could give. He certainly knew he was a sinner and promised to pay back those he had cheated. Jesus certainly forgave him.
Many people are looking for Jesus. They hear of the stories about a good man who lived His life differently. They hear about the miracles and curious teachings. They hear that millions of people gather together on the weekend, identifying themselves as His followers. As they look for Him they are unsure if their life could change or if it will change just by seeing Him. Just a glimpse and they may walk away, but an encounter that could change everything! We do the same thing. We try books, maybe even darken the doors of a church building. We just want to see Him.
Maybe your life is great and you don't see your need for Him, but since He is famous, you decide to take a look at Him. Maybe you have done too much and you think His Grace could not cover your sins, or that He could even forgive you. Maybe you are not ready for Him to come in and interfere with your life, not ready for Him to come in for a visit. Maybe you make your way into a church building, a revival meeting or some other "Christian" event and you are just hoping that He will see you. What you don't already realize is that He has always seen you. You have always been on His mind.
He only wanted a glimpse. He had heard of the celebrity and the famous works He had done. He was coming to town and Z just wanted to see Him. Like a famous band coming to town or an event that is only on the calendar once a year, Z knew the place to be, but he was too short to see Him over the crowd. So he climbed the tree. As the Man comes by, He looks up directly at Z and tells him to come down and invites himself to Z's house! Z just wanted a glimpse, but He wanted an encounter, one that Z desperately needed.
In Luke chapter 19, we meet a man named Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. “Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Luke 19:1-10 New Living Translation (NLT)
What if our favorite artist actually walked by and noticed us? Not just to sign an autograph for you, but really noticed? Said they were going to your house? We would be so excited! That is the way it was for Zacchaeus. What started out as just a thought became a party with the anticipated Master!
Zacchaeus only wanted a glimpse, what he got was a change of heart and, by that, his life was forever changed by the Master! He was a wealthy and notorious man because of his profession. He hung out with the riff raff and the edge-of-society crowd. Moral and religious people would not have liked him or went to his lavish parties. But Jesus stopped and took the time, something that Zacchaeus did not expect. Maybe, deep in his heart, he was ready for the Life-changing visit that only Jesus could give. He certainly knew he was a sinner and promised to pay back those he had cheated. Jesus certainly forgave him.
Many people are looking for Jesus. They hear of the stories about a good man who lived His life differently. They hear about the miracles and curious teachings. They hear that millions of people gather together on the weekend, identifying themselves as His followers. As they look for Him they are unsure if their life could change or if it will change just by seeing Him. Just a glimpse and they may walk away, but an encounter that could change everything! We do the same thing. We try books, maybe even darken the doors of a church building. We just want to see Him.
Maybe your life is great and you don't see your need for Him, but since He is famous, you decide to take a look at Him. Maybe you have done too much and you think His Grace could not cover your sins, or that He could even forgive you. Maybe you are not ready for Him to come in and interfere with your life, not ready for Him to come in for a visit. Maybe you make your way into a church building, a revival meeting or some other "Christian" event and you are just hoping that He will see you. What you don't already realize is that He has always seen you. You have always been on His mind.
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