Title Like Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
Contents
Like Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
At that time, Judea was a vassal state of Rome. Therefore, tax collectors took the authority of the Roman government on their backs and collected taxes using the most heinous means and methods at their discretion. Then, they paid a certain amount of tax to the Roman government, and the rest were exploited by them to fill their private clothes and make illegal wealth.
Because of this, the Jews treated tax collectors as slaves and sinners and did not engage in trade. (Luke 5:30) When people argued with people they hated, they called them “a tax collector”.
In the Bible, when talking about a publican, the expression “a publican and a sinner” was used together (Mark 2:15-16).
Therefore, Zacchaeus, who was the tax collector of Jericho at that time, was also the object of the greatest hatred by the Jews, and he was completely ignored by the people, and he had to live with the people's contempt and disdain at all times.
The text refers to Zacchaeus in two ways.
① It is a tax collector.
At the time when the Jewish nation was a vassal of Rome, it was a great success for a Jew to reach the position of a tax collector.
②I am rich.
He was a man who abandoned ethics, morals, and conscience and lived only by the truth. The name Zacchaeus means “pure,” “pure,” “innocent,” but in fact, he lived the exact opposite of his name.
He had so much of what he wanted, but he was unexpectedly unhappy. People often think that if they have power and wealth, they will be happy.
Is that really the case? Are all people with money and power happy in the world? see Solomon. That is how Zacchaeus came to seek Jesus.
“Jesus went into Jericho and passed by,” he said. It means that you passed through the city. It was to meet Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus wanted to know, “Who is Jesus?” It means “Who is Jesus?” I couldn't stand it because of my spiritual curiosity and curiosity about Jesus.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Who do you think I am?” asked. It doesn't matter who other people think Jesus is, it matters what I think.
Zacchaeus must have heard a lot about Jesus. But now, he wanted to know and confirm who Jesus was himself, not just a rumor. We must not know Jesus only by word of mouth.
There were two major obstacles for Zacchaeus to come before Jesus.
① Physical weakness, that is, short stature.
This problem is yours.
② It was an external disability, that is, an environmental disability caused by many people.
This is someone else's problem.
Even when we meet Jesus, there are two obstacles. One is for you, and the other is for someone else.
There are many cases where I do not meet the Lord because of my lack of faith, lack of prayer, lack of love, lack of earnestness, and lack of knowledge of the Word.
Another is because of other people. People surround Jesus. When you come to church, you don't see Jesus, only the people.
However, as we go through life, sometimes the unfavorable things turn into an advantage, and sometimes the anger changes into a blessing. A person's handicap can rather be a spiritual blessing. Because of their low social status, they seek the Lord more, and because they are poor, they depend on the Lord more. Because I am sick, I pray to the Lord more.
Zacchaeus had to make a decision at this time. “We can’t meet Jesus, so let’s just go.” And the other was, “If it’s not today, we don’t know when another opportunity will come, so let’s go and meet Jesus.” Zacchaeus chose the latter.
Then something caught Zacchaeus's eyes. It was a stone fig tree. God is not discouraged, and to those who seek and seek the way, He allows others to see what they cannot see and to hear what they cannot hear. There were a lot of people there, but only Zacchaeus saw the tree and thought of going up there.
He immediately ran to the tree. He ran for two reasons.
①Will someone else go up first and take the place? because I'm worried
②It was because I wanted to see Jesus sooner, even for one minute or one second.
The reason he climbed the tree swiftly was because he had given up his pride.
Judging from his age or his status, for him to climb a stone fig tree, he has given up both his prestige and face.
Climbing trees is also dangerous. If done wrong, you may fall.
When Zacchaeus climbed the tree, he was now the tallest. Jesus came across from the tree where Zacchaeus was climbing and looked at him.
Jesus looked up at the tree and said, “Zacchaeus! come down quickly Because I'm going to stay overnight at your house tonight." He said.
Jesus said that Zacchaeus did not invite him, but he did so and would become a guest of his house. He was deeply moved when Jesus called his name and said that he would stay in his house.
When Zacchaeus was given an opportunity, he did not miss the opportunity and acted on it. Without delay, he came down quickly. Opportunities don't always exist.
Zacchaeus only wanted to see Jesus, he only wanted to know who Jesus was. He never thought that he would have Jesus in his home. But Jesus said he would stay in his own house. When we long for God's grace and yearn for it like this, God grants us grace beyond our expectations. see Solomon.
Zacchaeus heard the people murmuring, but said, “Lord! I will give half of my wealth to the poor. And if I have stolen someone else’s property by cheating, I will pay it back fourfold.” said
In the past, Zacchaeus depended on wealth, and he believed that all happiness and peace were in wealth, but now all values have changed.
From now on, I have decided to use my wealth for the salvation movement. He called Jesus “Lord”.
When Jesus heard Zacchaeus' confession, he said, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man is also a descendant of Abraham. The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Jesus accepted him into the family of God.
Everyone! Now we must meet the Lord personally. Then you will be saved. become a new person You will find the meaning of life.