Two Year Gospel Study Week 55

Scripture - Luke 19:1-10, Romans 6:23, Romans 12:2, Titus 2:13-14
“Inner Healing” 

Today’s teaching is on the familiar story of Zacchaeus, but come along with us as we discover some new insights.

Zacchaeus was a very wealthy chief tax collector. Tax collectors were despised by people for their greed, for cheating people out of more than what was owed and they were considered to be traitors. Matthew, one of Jesus’ disciples, had also been a tax collector. This makes one wonder if Matthew and Zacchaeus had known each other professionally… Was Zacchaeus curious about Jesus because Matthew had talked about Him? Was Zacchaeus curious to learn more about this Jesus person who had changed Matthew’s life?

Zacchaeus was a short man and was unable to see over the crowd gathered around Jesus, so he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore fig tree and from there he could see Jesus coming.

Zaccheaus wanted to see Jesus, BUT what he didn’t realize is that Jesus wanted to see him! Our Lord is one who seeks people out. That day He wanted to show Zacchaeus His incredible love, His great mercy and His life-changing power.  And still today, Jesus desires to seek us out too and show us all that He showed Zacchaeus that day. 

Jesus calls Zacchaeus down from the tree and tells him He’s staying at his house.  Zacchaeus comes down from the tree and gladly welcomes Jesus to his home.

What was going through Zacchaeus’ mind?
    How did He know my name?
    Did Matthew tip Him off?
    Was he feeling shock that Jesus was speaking directly to him?
    Was he wondering why he was singled out?

We aren’t told about the conversation Jesus and Zacchaeus had, we don’t know how long Jesus stayed, what they eat, or how many others were there. All that Luke shares is this, the part that really matters: 

“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.” 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 the lost.’” Luke 19:8-10

Jesus came to seek and to save the lost….Such beautiful and powerful words! He came to save us from our sin. Through belief in Him, we receive life forever with Him. 

Jesus came to:
    1.    Save us from sin’s punishment (sin brings death - sin must be paid for - “for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23). The blood of Jesus pays for our sin.
    2.    Save us from sin’s grip - Just what we see with Zacchaeus - a man in the grip of greed - and Jesus broke that grip.

Jesus can and will brake whatever has a grip on our lives.  Zacchaeus’ story assures us of Jesus’ desire to give us inner healing. Jesus frees us from sin’s punishment, but also has the power to free us from sin’s grip.  

We will never be perfect, the only Perfect One is Jesus, but there is to be progress in our lives because through Christ we are no longer under the control of sin.

Biblical Truths found in this story:

AGREEMENT - Zacchaeus agreed with what Jesus told him. Zacchaeus agreed Jesus came to seek and to save him.  When we receive Jesus by faith we are changed people, just like Zacchaeus. We have passed from death to life and are no longer controlled by the flesh. Instead we are living by the Spirit.  He gives us the power to be changed by Him.  Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” There is a battle raging in us between the Spirit of God and the old nature, but there is power that we can find when in AGREEMENT with who Jesus is and what He says.

ACTIVITY - Zacchaeus engaged in godly activity - he acted immediately after hearing Jesus - not after thinking about it for a while - but immediately! He gave 1/2 of all he had to the poor and for those he cheated he said he’d restore them four-fold. God calls us to godly activity when we believe in Jesus as our Savior. And our faith calls forth action. Examples:
    ⁃    Rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4)
    ⁃    Let love be genuine (Romans 12:9)
    ⁃    Don’t let the sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26)
    ⁃    Be kind and considerate (Philippians 2:3-4)
    ⁃    Be gentle (Philippians 4:5)
Real faith acts!  We are not saved because of our actions, but because we are saved, our actions change.

ATTITUDE - Zacchaeus has a great attitude and is zealous to do what is right. He was eager to do what is good. Titus 2:13-14 “while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”  This needs to be our attitude - “eager to do what is good.” We are to have an attitude that says “Lord, here am I, use me, send me. I gladly and eagerly will do what you’ve called me to do.”

The Bible does not tell us the rest of the story…. But what we DO know is that Jesus came to seek out Zacchaeus that day. We know that Zacchaeus was a changed man that day. And we know that Jesus seeks us out too and His desire is to change us, and to do a work in us. May we agree and act and have the right attitude!Our website –  https://www.awakeusnow.com

Watch the video from our website! https://www.awakeusnow.com/2-year-study-of-the-gospels-upper

Watch the video from our YouTube Channel!! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTaaqrC3dMOzMkhPyiNWwlJRpV6Bwpu01

St. Luke’s Account is part three of our Two Year Study of the Gospels. This book written by Luke, a non-Jew, offers a unique perspective into the story of Jesus’ life.

This study is great for large group, small group or home group study.