Sermon Tone Analysis

What Did You Lose?

Luke 19: 1 – 10

Introduction:

It was a very unusual sight that a *little man* was running toward a *tree* that was planted beside the road where *Jesus* was passing by.  [What happened to this man happed to me so I want to tell you my story from this man’s experience.]

*His name is Zaccheus*, (Zacchaeus) simply means, “*pure*” or “*righteous*” from Hebrew root meaning.

He was *a Jew*.

He was a tax collector and was a chief of tax collectors.

Luke is the *only one* uses this term “chief Tax-collector.”

Not even *extra-biblical* writings mention this term.

*Revenue Canada* hires hundreds and hundreds of people to collect taxes.

But the Romans are smart.

See at that time the *Roman government* came up with the *cheapest* way to collect taxes.

That is to sell the tax *franchises* in various areas for 5-year contract to the highest bidders.

Zaccheus *bought* the Jericho tax franchise from the Roman government and *hired* many tax collectors to collect all kind of taxes.

See he can set *any* amount of *commission* and the location was ideal.

Jericho: It was a *major route* to Jerusalem and there was no end for the customers.

He was a rich man.

No wonder everyone *hated* tax collectors and he was an employer for many tax collectors.

One day he *heard* some commotions on the street and found out that *Jesus of Nazareth* was passing by.

He wanted to see this man whom everyone was talking about.

*A few days ago* this Jesus of Nazareth *raised *Lazarus from the dead.

A kind of thing he never heard of before.

Zaccheus came to the street but a lot of *people* there already and was *unable* to see Him because he was short.

He *could have given up* because the crowd might turn on him.

But his business training, entrepreneurial spirit, made him to do something *extraordinary*.

*He ran*.

He run ahead and found the tree and *climbed* up.

It was not the custom of the land.

See *in the East*, men just don’t run let alone, in his position, *climb up* to the tree is something never done at that time.

It was *embarrassing* of course.

But he did it anyway because he wanted to see Jesus.

When Jesus came to the place, do you know what happened?

Jesus the Son of God *stopped* and *looked up* and *called out* to him the tax collector.

There were hundreds of people there but Jesus somehow *singled out* Zaccheus among them.

Jesus *knew *his *name* and not only that He said, “Zaccheus, come down *immediately*.

I must stay at your house today.”

When Zaccheus saw Jesus’ *gaze* something *happened* to him.

He was not really a seeker or anything, some religious people would say, but Zaccheus was *curious* about who this Jesus of Nazareth was.

Of course he had a guilty feeling, his conscience was bothering him, but he did not *realize* it was this very *purpose* Jesus came to the world.

He thought the offering and giving some gifts to the *temple* and *priests* would take care of it.

But the guilty feeling came back even after short while when he returned from the temple.

It never went away.

So when Jesus said, “come down *immediately*.”

Something *clicked*.

Zaccheus did *not need* to think it through.

He did not need to study out Jesus till he understood everything.

It was an *immediate decision*.

More over this famous figure was inviting Himself to Zaccheus’ house.

A house of a sinner.

So Zaccheus came down *hurriedly* from the tree and received Jesus rejoicing (vs.

6).

Of course people *did not like* the idea of the Son of God staying with a sinner.

That was not their expectations so they grumbled (vs.

7).

Though only Luke recorded this account and he does not say about *disciples*’ *reactions* but probably the disciples did not understand what was going on either.

It was a *life changing* experience for Zaccheus.

It *brought *him the conviction of what he was doing.

The Transformation was so vivid and immediate.

Like *Lydia* in *Acts 16:14* that “the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”

The Lord opened the heart of Zaccheus.

His value system changed.

It *turned* 180 degree.

Till then, the *money* was everything to him.

He wanted to be rich and though he accumulated *earthly wealth* but he wanted more.

He *cheated* both Roman government and the people.

He *took the bribe* from the rich so that they pay less tax.

He had *no* regard *for the poor*.

But it all *changed* now.

He *acknowledged* all that as sin.

Sin that anguished the heart of God.

Zaccheus *confessed* his sin by action through form of making restitutions.

The word is cheep in this instance but he, out of his heart, wanted to make things right.

In the case of *making restitution*, the Jewish law requires *principle + 1~/ 5* must be returned to make it right (Num.

5:6,7  Lev.

6:5).

In the case of *stolen ox* or *sheep* and if they are dead then the thief must return *5 oxen* for one and *4 sheep* for one sheep (Exd.

22:1).

But Zaccheus *wanted* to give half of his entire estate for the poor, and to those he cheated, *four times*.

He *stood* firm in spite of what the grumblers said about him (vs.

8).

See his confession of sin was verified by his action.

To this Jesus said, “*Today* salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.”

It was am immediate administration of grace like Jesus said it on the Cross, “*Today*, you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

It is not the family tree, not because he was born a Jew, but just as the Bible says in *Gal.

3:7*, “Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith that are sons of Abraham.”

He did not have to *wait* a few years to be a Christian.

That day Zaccheus became a new creation, *washed* and *cleansed* all of his sins.

Zaccheus’ story is very similar to my story.

I was born and raised in Japan.

You can say that Japan is a pagan society not much of Christian influence.

There is a big *social barrier* for the Gospel.

People think Christianity is the religion of America.

At least my father thought so.

*127* million people live in the land just *half* the size of Alberta.

Heavily rooted in *Buddhism* and *Shintoism*, Japanese culture is not conducive to the idea of only one *living God*.

It is a wall of people that prevent a person to seek out the spiritual things.

I was 18 when the Lord granted me Zaccheus’ experience.

I was the youngest of three brothers and I had a very wonderful childhood.

My childhood was spent in the nature; fields, rivers, ocean, beaches, hills, mountains, roof tops, rice fields, streams, trees, dogs, cats, chickens, flowers, meadows, snow and rains, stars, sun and moon, and all nature around me.

I *still believe* they were the *best* schooling I ever had.

My childhood was characterized by *carefreeness*.

Since both of my parents were working, I had ample time to *enjoy myself*.

I did not have much homework either, even I did, I did not spend too much time on it.

I was satisfied with just passing the grade.

I do not tell this to *my children* now.