There’s a story about a local fitness center, which was offering $1,000 to anyone who could demonstrate that they were stronger than the owner of the place. Here’s how it worked. This muscle man would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and then hand the lemon to the next challenger. Anyone who could squeeze just one more drop of juice out would win the money.

Many people tried over time ­ other weightlifters, construction workers, even professional wrestlers, but nobody could do it.

One day a short and skinny guy came in and signed up for the contest. After the laughter died down, the owner grabbed a lemon and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains to the little man.

The crowd’s laughter turned to silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass. As the crowd cheered, the owner paid out the winning prize and asked the short guy what he did for a living. “Are you a lumberjack, a weightlifter, or what?”

”No,” The man replied, “I work for the IRS.

And today we are going to hear a story that you have all probably heard when you were a child. Actually, you probably haven’t heard this story SINCE you were a child. The story of Zaccheus.

We are going to see Jesus Christ on his way to Bethany, where He has recently raised a man (Lazarus) from the dead. You see, Jesus is nearing the end of His ministry and the end of His life. I can’t tell, from the scripture, exactly how long between Jesus’ conversation with Zaccheus and Jesus’ crucifixion for Zaccheus but I know it can’t be much more than two weeks. You see, Jesus was on a mission. Jesus was headed to the cross to hang there with all the sins of the world on his body for you… and for me… and for Zaccheus - for everybody under the sound of my voice! For everybody in the world… This was the kind of person Jesus was, this was what He was about.

                And what Was Zaccheus about? Well, Zaccheus was a tax collector. But he was not JUST a tax collector he was the chief of tax collectors in Jericho and the surrounding region. Now, you may know what a tax collector does in our day and time and you may know what a tax collector did in the time of Jesus and the Roman empire but for those of you don’t I’m going to explain it. You see the Roman Empire did not get to be the ruling empire of that day without making some cunning decisions. One of the best decisions they made was to collect taxes from their conquered nations, and on top of that they would use members of the conquered nations to collect the taxes. They did this in order to transfer anger associated with tax collection onto the tax collectors who were members of the city or region (Zaccheus) and not the roman soldiers. This kept civil disorder to a minimum. You might notice, the Germans did this in the period of WWII and the holocaust, not in the form of tax collection but in the form of crowd control. Anyway, the Romans mandated taxes on any type of commerce that they could. Whether it was import/export, goods sold, or services rendered. The Jew who was interested in making some money would make a bid with the Roman cleric for the taxes of a certain area. They could then collect taxes with the help of a threatening Roman soldier. Now, the Romans had a set rate or percent that they bargained with the Jewish tax collector for a region. That was the rate that the tax collector HAD to meet for the Romans. Any amount that the tax collectors could get over and above that rate was extra spending money for the tax collector. So, as you can see, this sets the people up for a huge amount of extortion from their own people – their neighbors and relatives. This is why tax collectors were so hated under the Roman Empire.

                Well, Zaccheus was not just a tax collector he was the CHIEF of tax collectors. He extorted money from all of the lesser tax collectors, which forced the lesser tax collector to extort even more from the Jews. This is why Zaccheus was so hated among the Jews of the region. But more importantly this is what Zaccheus was all about. Interestingly enough, Zaccheus means: righteous one.

Now let's read…

Luke 19:1  And²⁵³² Jesus entered¹⁵²⁵ and passed through¹³³⁰ Jericho.²⁴¹⁰

Luke 19:2  And,²⁵³² behold,²⁴⁰⁰ there was a man⁴³⁵ named^{3686, 2564} Zacchaeus,^{2195, (2532)} which⁸⁴⁶ was²²⁵⁸ the chief among the publicans,⁷⁵⁴ and²⁵³² he³⁷⁷⁸ was²²⁵⁸ rich.⁴¹⁴⁵

Luke 19:3  And²⁵³² he sought²²¹² to see¹⁴⁹² Jesus²⁴²⁴ who⁵¹⁰¹ he was;²⁰⁷⁶ and²⁰⁷⁶ could¹⁴¹⁰ not³⁷⁵⁶ for⁵⁷⁵ the³⁵⁸⁸ press,³⁷⁹³ because³⁷⁵⁴ he was²²⁵⁸ little²²⁴⁴ of stature.³³⁹⁶

Luke 19:4  And²⁵³² he ran⁴³⁹⁰ before,¹⁷¹⁵ and climbed up³⁰⁵ into¹⁹⁰⁹ a sycamore tree⁴⁸⁰⁹ to²⁴⁴³ see¹⁴⁹² him:⁸⁴⁶ for³⁷⁵⁴ he was³¹⁹⁵ to pass¹³³⁰ that¹⁵⁶⁵ way.

Luke 19:5  And²⁵³² when⁵⁶¹³ Jesus²⁴²⁴ came²⁰⁶⁴ to¹⁹⁰⁹ the³⁵⁸⁸ place,⁵¹¹⁷ he looked up,³⁰⁸ and saw¹⁴⁹² him,⁸⁴⁶ and²⁵³² said²⁰³⁶ unto⁴³¹⁴ him,⁸⁴⁶ Zacchaeus,²¹⁹⁵ make haste,⁴⁶⁹² and come down;²⁵⁹⁷ for¹⁰⁶³ today⁴⁵⁹⁴ I³¹⁶⁵ must¹¹⁶³ abide³³⁰⁶ at¹⁷²² thy⁴⁶⁷⁵ house.³⁶²⁴

Luke 19:6  And²⁵³² he made haste,⁴⁶⁹² and came down,²⁵⁹⁷ and²⁵³² received⁵²⁶⁴ him⁸⁴⁶ joyfully.⁵⁴⁶³

Luke 19:7  And²⁵³² when they saw¹⁴⁹² it, they all⁵³⁷ murmured,¹²³⁴ saying,³⁰⁰⁴ That³⁷⁵⁴ he was gone¹⁵²⁵ to be guest²⁶⁴⁷ with³⁸⁴⁴ a man⁴³⁵ that is a sinner.²⁶⁸

Luke 19:8  And¹¹⁶¹ Zacchaeus²¹⁹⁵ stood,²⁴⁷⁶ and said²⁰³⁶ unto⁴³¹⁴ the³⁵⁸⁸ Lord;²⁹⁶² Behold,²⁴⁰⁰ Lord,²⁹⁶² the³⁵⁸⁸ half²²⁵⁵ of my³⁴⁵⁰ goods⁵²²⁴ I give¹³²⁵ to the³⁵⁸⁸ poor;⁴⁴³⁴ and²⁵³² if¹⁴⁸⁷ I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation,^{4811, 5100, 5100} I restore⁵⁹¹ him fourfold.⁵⁰⁷³

Luke 19:9  And¹¹⁶¹ Jesus²⁴²⁴ said²⁰³⁶ unto⁴³¹⁴ him,⁸⁴⁶ This day⁴⁵⁹⁴ is salvation⁴⁹⁹¹ come¹⁰⁹⁶ to this⁵¹²⁹ house³⁶²⁴ forsomuch as²⁵³⁰ he⁸⁴⁶ also²⁵³² is²⁰⁷⁶ a son⁵²⁰⁷ of Abraham.¹¹

Luke 19:10  For¹⁰⁶³ the³⁵⁸⁸ Son⁵²⁰⁷ of man⁴⁴⁴ is come²⁰⁶⁴ to seek²²¹² and²⁵³² to save⁴⁹⁸² that which was lost.⁶²²

In this passage of Scripture there are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people but only two main characters: Jesus and Zaccheus.

In this room there MIGHT be over one hundred, to me it seems like thousands of people but there are only two main characters: those who share with Jesus and those who share with Zaccheus. I can only hope, at the end of this sermon that there will be a joining of those who share with Jesus and those who share with Zaccheus just like at the end this passage there is a joining of Jesus and Zaccheus.

                There are three main points that I want to pull out of this special passage. Three points that relate the differences between Jesus and Zaccheus. The difference between those who share with Jesus and those who share with Zaccheus.

POINT 1 – In the story of Zaccheus there was an AN INVITED CALL   (Luke 19:3-5)

A.       Zaccheus himself invited the call, so to speak, by his action in climbing into the tree. He put himself in the path of       Jesus. The LOST today may come to Christ in the same way, by visiting a church service, prayer meeting etc.  These things cannot save them, but may put them in the path of Christ. I can guarantee, that in a crowd of this size, even on a Sunday night where most of the “backbone” of the church is in attendance there is someone here who has put himself ( or herself) in the Path of Christ but has not responded to the imperative invitation of Christ. Do that tonight… 

B.       Christ, in the midst of all the noise and crowd of people asking him for his time and his energy, recognized the one who needed Him the most. You see, most of the crowd did not know what he was about most of them did not care they were there for healing or to be seen of man.  Jesus’ own disciples did not understand the reason that Jesus was really here on earth. But  Jesus sensed the need that Zaccheus had and responded. You and I, as those who share with Christ, should and could be the same way. We get so wrapped up in our work and our school and our social lives that we become desensitized to those around us who need Jesus. It should come as no surprise that we know what Zaccheus was all about –seeking money- and we know what Jesus is all about –seeking souls- but what are we all about? We should be all about seeking men, for Jesus said “I will make you fishers of men.”

Illustration:  I have been studying about a man named George Whitfield preaching in Philadelphia in 1740. this man was so popular  that he had to preach outdoors, because no church was large enough to hold the crowds. So he stood on the Courthouse steps and preached to thousands of people.  History records that 2,300 coal miners attended one revival meeting out in a field.  

In his Court House message he preached that, "salvation was available to anyone, highborn or low, self-righteous saint or miserable sinner. And what must one do to be saved? Just ask God's forgiveness for your sins, known and unknown, accept Christ as your Savior, and turn your life over to Him."   

A simple choice to make, yet the most important one a man could make and it had never been put that simply to America before. You see, George Whitfield knew what he was all about. He was all about seeking men and he began what we now call the “great awakening” in America.

POINT 2 – In the story of Zaccheus there was AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE (Luke 19:5-8)

A.       Jesus overwhelmed Zaccheus with his response to his actions. You see, Zaccheus never imagined that Jesus would call him down from the tree to dine at his house. Zaccheus never imagined that this Rabbi would break bread with a man who was habitually a sinner. We, as those who share with Christ, should seek to exceed the expectations of those who are searching for Christ. All too often we set our selves above the common sinner forgetting that we are only uncommon sinners.

B.       Zaccheus responded overwhelmingly –at least in the people’s eyes- by determining that he would immediately give half of all he had to the poor and refund those that he had stolen from four times over. Levitical law only recommended 20% for pious giving and two fold for recompense of theft.

POINT 3 – In the story of Zaccheus THE LOST WAS FOUND (Luke 19:9,10)

A.       Not because of Zaccheus’ actions but because of the change in his heart Jesus was happy to bring Zaccheus into the family of God.

B.       Jesus responded with what He was all about; “For¹⁰⁶³ the³⁵⁸⁸ Son⁵²⁰⁷ of man⁴⁴⁴ is come²⁰⁶⁴ to seek²²¹² and²⁵³² to save⁴⁹⁸² that which was lost.” Which is the heart of the gospel. What does it mean to be lost? Lost: (Webster) Unable to find the way. No longer visible. Lacking assurance or self-confidence. Ruined/destroyed physically or morally.

Illustration Most of us have gotten a Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes letter in the mail right? They use their sweepstakes to entice consumers to subscribe to magazines they represent. They used to write letters making it sound like you were one of a very few finalists eligible to win millions of dollars. The letters appeared to be “personal” because they repeated your name several times. Of course, the letters are actually generated by a computer that just plugs a name in the right place. It may sound as if you are the only one getting the letter when, in fact, millions of people are getting the same “personal letter.”

A funny thing happened a couple of years ago–the computer generated a personal letter to the Bushnell Assembly of God church near Tampa, Florida. The church got a letter that said: Dear God of Bushnell Assembly, “God, we’ve been looking for you! You are a finalist to receive our $11 million Sweepstakes! So don’t just sit there, God, return your sweepstakes form today!” The Tampa Tribune interviewed the pastor, who said he didn’t plan on returning the form because God already has at least $11 million.

That’s humorous, but when I read the phrase, “God, we’ve been looking for you” I thought it spoke the truth. People today are looking for something. They are looking for God, but they call it happiness, or purpose. They look for it in money, in human relationships, or in a career. When those things don’t really satisfy they may get out on a limb, like Zaccheus, and start looking for it. It’s our job to show it to them.

CONCLUSION

Illustration: Larry King once interviewed Dr. Billy Graham. During the course of the interview Larry King asked Dr. Graham what his biggest disappointment in life was. Dr. Graham said without question it was when President Kennedy called and asked me to come to the Oval Office. He asked me if I believed in the rapture of the church and I told him that I did. He said, as you know I am a catholic. Does my church believe in the coming of the Lord? Dr. Graham said yes they do believe it. It is in their creeds and catechisms. President Kennedy said then why don’t they talk about it. Why don’t I ever hear anything about it from my priest. He said Dr. Graham I want you to come to the Oval Office and talk to me about the rapture. Billy Graham said I’ve got the flu and I’ve been sick and under the weather, just give me a couple of days and I’ll come. He never got another opportunity to speak to the President because he was assassinated just a few days later. Dr. Graham said that was my biggest disappointment in this life. There was a man that was hungry for God and I put it off.

To the found: between waiting for our lives to peter out and waiting for the rapture. There is not much time for us to do the work that God has put us on this earth to do. Take every opportunity to reflect Jesus’ love for you onto other people. Its not that hard, Jesus said; “if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me.”

To the lost: between waiting for our lives to peter out and the rapture there is not much time for you to choose Jesus. If you are here tonight it is an opportunity to accept Jesus’ love for you. It is not hard, Jesus said; “For¹⁰⁶³ the³⁵⁸⁸ Son⁵²⁰⁷ of man⁴⁴⁴ is come²⁰⁶⁴ to seek²²¹² and²⁵³² to save⁴⁹⁸² that which was lost.” Wont you let your self be found?