Zacchaeus and the Grace of God

Luke 19:1-10

The story today is one of the grace of Jesus Christ.

• Jesus is nearing Jerusalem step-by-step.
• As he moves towards Jerusalem he is demonstrating that he has power.
• Really, we are seeing the grace of God on display at every turn.

Today, I want us to see the grace of Christ cleary-

Zaccheus-

Before we look at God’s grace in Zacheus’ life lets get an idea of who Zacheus was.

1. Zaccheus lived in Jericho-

• His name is Jewish in origin, seeming to indicate he was a jew.
• Jericho is roughly 17 miles from Jerusalem.
• Jericho was apparently a Roman regional tax center.

1. Zaccheus was a chief tax collector-

• Whether he was a major tax collector or a chief tax collector terminology is a little vague.
• He was definitely successful in his tax collection.

1. Zaccheus was rich-

• Tax collectors worked for the Roman government and often skimmed money off the top which Zaccheus will indicate.
• How much would you have to love money to work an occupation your friends and family despised and steal from them in the process?

1. Zaccheus was short-

• I don’t exactly know how short, but short enough to where he couldn’t see over the crowds.
• In our family I look over the crowds and tell Marissa whats going on. Zacheus didn't have that.

1. Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus-

• He was willing to run ahead and guess where Jesus would be passing through.
• He climbed a tree.
• Maybe this tells us he didn’t care about looking foolish.
• Maybe this tells us he didn’t want to deal with the Jewish crowd who wouldn’t have liked him.
• Maybe this tells us how badly this man wanted to see Jesus.
• All we can say for certain is he climbed the tree in order to see Jesus.
• Jesus saw Him.

While this is a story centered around Zacchaeus he is not the main point of the story.

Christ is the focal point in scripture and in this story. Specifically his grace is on display.

Lets look at four key aspects of the grace of God on display in this story. 

Outline:

Seeking Grace (vs 5).

 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.”

1. Zaccheus had gone through great pains to see Christ.
2. Endured the crowds.
3. Endured the potential shame of being out with the Jews.
4. Running ahead.
5. Climbing a tree.
6. We think, “Wow what great lengths Zaccheus went to to see Christ!”
7. I would say, “Wow look at what Christ organized to save Zaccheus!”
8. He set in motion the plan of redemption.
9. He took the form of a servant.
10. He passed through Jericho.
11. He went to Zacheus tree and called for him to come down.
12. Far before you ever sought God he sought out his people.
13. In fact we were his enemies when he sought us.
14. Just as he did with Zacheus here.
15. Jesus said I “MUST” stay at your house.
16. His grace compelled him.
17. His mission compelled Him.

Sufficient Grace (6-7).

“He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

1. Last week the crowd murmured to the the Blind man, “Be Quiet”
2. This week they murmured, “He is gonna eat with a sinner?”
3. They thought Jesus should choose his dining companions based on whether the person was worthy to sit with him.
4. We never fellowship with Christ because we are worthy- we only can fellowship with him because of grace.
5. He can make the dirtiest amongst us fully clean.
6. Nothing and no one else can save.
7. Luke is telling us something through these two stories
8. Lastly, the desperate cry of faith leads to salvation.
9. Here the grace of Christ saves and changes us.
10. Both being apart from the laws works.
11. It is only by grace through faith that we can be saved by Christ.
12. Paul says at the end of Galatians 2 that when we base our standing on our works we make little of grace.
13. But when we make much of Grace- we make much of Christ

Sanctifying Grace (8). Transformational grace

1. His Grace Changes Us- Those never changed by God’s grace have never been touched by God’s grace.
2. Zacheus in verse 7 received Christ joyfully and then what….
3. The transformation begins.
4. Zacheus the robber became Zaccheus the restorer.
5. Zacheus the crook became Zaccheus the charitable.
6. Zacheus the pick-pocket became Zaccheus the philanthropist.
7. Jesus brought him from highway robbery to hospitality.
8. He went from cheat- to a christian because Christ chose to have dinner at his house.
9. The grace of God changes us.

Sean Lucas summarizes this transformation so well saying, 

The Bible speaks of our sin and sinfulness in wide-ranging ways: we are deceitful (Jer. 17:9); dead (Eph. 2:1); dirty (Isa. 1:18; 64:6); wayward (Isa. 53:6); lawless (1 John 3:4); disobedient (1 Tim. 1:9); ungodly (Rom. 4:5; 5:6); ignorant, hardened, and alienated from God’s life (Eph. 4:17–18). We fall short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23); we suppress God’s truth (1:18); and we act out in sinful ways (1:21–32; Eph. 4:19). We deserve God’s wrath for our sin and disobedience, and we are already condemned (John 3:17–18; Eph. 2:3).

But God, because He is rich in grace, chose to save some undeserving sinners — He united us together with Christ, made us alive with Him, raised us with Him from our dead condition, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:4–7). He has granted us faith to trust in Jesus (Eph. 2:8–9), declared us righteous (2 Cor. 5:21), clothed us with Christ (Rom. 13:14), and gifted us with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13–14). He empowers us to live in ways that please Him (Eph. 4:25–5:2; Gal. 5:13–26). We now can say no to our sin and live godly lives because God has shown us grace (Titus 2:11–14).

And this grace, this undeserved favor, is not just for the beginning of our Christian lives, but also for every moment of every day of our discipleship. We come again and again to this fountain of grace, trusting in our union with Christ (Col. 3:1–4), to putting to death our sin and living in the light of what is true about us (Rom. 6:11–13; 8:14–15; Col. 3:5–16).

A life lived rooted in God’s grace shown to us in Jesus is transformed. Our walk with Christ is transformed — no longer are we driven by mere duty, but by delight in this Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us (Gal. 2:20). 

1. The Grace of God cannot leave a person the same- it transforms us.
2. Perhaps the crowds murmured because they didn’t think Christ would transform.

Christ possesses a seeking grace, a sufficient grace, a sanctifying grace and a saving Grace.

Saving Grace (9-10).

1. Luke 19:10 summarizes the mission of Christ as clearly as anywhere, “He came to seek and save the lost”
2. Jesus always accomplishes what he sets out to do.
3. Who are we that Christ should die for us? Who are we that he should seek us
4. Who are we that He should take our place? Who are we?

Conclusion:

After seeing this beautiful picture of grace embodied in Christ that leaves us with a question:

Has Salvation come to your house?