Steps to Christ ZACCHAEUS COMES OUT OF HIS TREE
I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit. Isa. 57:15.
When Jesus came to Jericho, Zacchaeus had reached the point of giving up on a life centered on himself. He was tired of his life of fraud and cunning, tired of running away from the Holy Spirit, and ready to accept the rest that Jesus had to offer. When he heard that Jesus was to pass that way, he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed into the branches of a sycamore three in order to see Jesus.
When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him--Zacchaeus, the one who thought he was going to be hidden from view. Jesus saw him and said unto him, "Zacchaeus." He knew his name. We understand He'd never met him. But He knew his name.
Jesus never passes anyone by. He is no respecter of persons. He has an equal regard for everyone. No one should feel that he has been left out or passed by. Jesus has passed your way. He passes everybody's was.
And Jesus said, "Make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house" (Luke 19:5). Zacchaeus was up a tree in more ways than one. He was out on the limbs of the tree not only physically but spiritually. We often try to compensate for our smallness of stature spiritually by making up for it with some external maneuver.
It is a law of the spiritual life that you have to come down in order to go up. Zacchaeus received Jesus joyfully. And, of course, whenever that happens, there are always some in the crowd who begin to complain and gripe. When they saw it, they all murmured that Jesus was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner. Why did Jesus have to choose to go and eat lunch with this wretch? Why didn't He choose someone in high esteem in the town of Jericho? But there's the gospel again, in one phrase: Jesus went to be the guest of someone who was a sinner. Jesus receives sinners. If it weren't for the fact that he does, there'd be no hope for you and me. Aren't you glad He is willing to be a guest with people who are sinners? That's good news. The goods news of the gospel of Christ.
I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit. Isa. 57:15.
When Jesus came to Jericho, Zacchaeus had reached the point of giving up on a life centered on himself. He was tired of his life of fraud and cunning, tired of running away from the Holy Spirit, and ready to accept the rest that Jesus had to offer. When he heard that Jesus was to pass that way, he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed into the branches of a sycamore three in order to see Jesus.
When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him--Zacchaeus, the one who thought he was going to be hidden from view. Jesus saw him and said unto him, "Zacchaeus." He knew his name. We understand He'd never met him. But He knew his name.
Jesus never passes anyone by. He is no respecter of persons. He has an equal regard for everyone. No one should feel that he has been left out or passed by. Jesus has passed your way. He passes everybody's was.
And Jesus said, "Make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house" (Luke 19:5). Zacchaeus was up a tree in more ways than one. He was out on the limbs of the tree not only physically but spiritually. We often try to compensate for our smallness of stature spiritually by making up for it with some external maneuver.
It is a law of the spiritual life that you have to come down in order to go up. Zacchaeus received Jesus joyfully. And, of course, whenever that happens, there are always some in the crowd who begin to complain and gripe. When they saw it, they all murmured that Jesus was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner. Why did Jesus have to choose to go and eat lunch with this wretch? Why didn't He choose someone in high esteem in the town of Jericho? But there's the gospel again, in one phrase: Jesus went to be the guest of someone who was a sinner. Jesus receives sinners. If it weren't for the fact that he does, there'd be no hope for you and me. Aren't you glad He is willing to be a guest with people who are sinners? That's good news. The goods news of the gospel of Christ.
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