Title: Let's Love Zacchaeus / Luke 19:1-10
Content Let's Love Zacchaeus / Luke 19:1-10
Everyone wants tomorrow to be better than today. I also want to live in a better house than before. I also want to wear better clothes than before. It is very good to turn such a bad environment into a good one. However, while it is surprising that the environment or circumstances change for the better than before, the greatest change is the change of people above all else. The gospel has the power to change people. Thankfully, this power of the gospel is given without discrimination. The poor, the sick and the lonely are sown more and more. Today's focus is on a man named Zacchaeus, who lives a completely alienated life as a religious sinner and a traitor to the nation.
He was the tax collector at the Jericho customs office. At that time, tax collectors were mainly Romans, but they also hired colonists to collect local taxes directly. However, hired tax collectors took the lead in exploiting the nation more than the Romans. Because of this, he was criticized by the people. So, when Luke introduced Zacchaeus, he did not leave out the word rich. But Zacchaeus was rich on the outside, but poor on the inside. People feel the satisfaction of life when they live together while giving and receiving help from society. But for Zacchaeus, there was no joy or reward.
Gentlemen, even today, there are many Zacchaeus nearby. The shameful fact is that there is also Zacchaeus in the church. So, what kind of people are we to Zacchaeus? Are you a weak Christian who doesn't have the courage to approach Zacchaeus, or are you a more aggressive person who condemns Zacchaeus and even criticizes those who approach him? In a sense, isn't that Zacchaeus himself?
May we look around for friends like Zacchaeus who are grieving around us today, so that we can call his name in the love of the Lord before it is too late. The eyes of the Lord were not like ours. He called Zacchaeus, whom everyone condemned and despised, and joined him. Like the Lord, we need to have the eyes of the spirit open to see broken souls. Only then will we be able to discover Zacchaeus in this age who is living a miserable life.
When the Lord calls, Zacchaeus cannot contain his overflowing joy and makes two declarations. First, he declares that he will give half of his wealth to the poor. Second, we declare that we will pay back four times if we have stolen someone else's property unfairly. People saw Zacchaeus as a man who lived only for wealth, but he was willing to give up his fortune because of the joy of meeting Jesus Christ.
Gentlemen, even at this moment, many Zacchaeus are waiting for us. They are eagerly waiting to call their names today.