Author: Bridget Turner

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)

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SEIZE THE MOMENT

 

Last week I spent some time sitting in a hospital room with a loved one. One morning a hospital worker came in and we started talking. It was not about anything consequential, just filling the quietness of the moment. When she finished working, she said, “You look like a lady who will give me her opinion!” I chuckled and said, ‘You’re not wrong. What is going on?” We had not met before, so I was surprised when she began to tell me about a relationship she was in with a married man. She admitted it was wrong and that she knew God had someone for her. I just listened and waited for her to ask me a question. She finished her story and just stopped talking. There was no question, just quietness in the room. We locked eyes with gentle smiles on our faces and I said, “Jesus loves you and you do not need to settle for anything less than His best for you. You know this relationship is not it.  Don’t settle.”  She thanked me, we said our goodbyes and that was it. Not a moment I planned, certainly not one I expected and yet God knew it would happen. I am so grateful that I did not ignore her while she worked, and that God used me to encourage and challenge her.

As we have studied the story of Zacchaeus this week, I have often wondered why this particular moment was left for us in the Bible. It is not a parable Jesus is telling, but a real-life encounter between Him and Zacchaeus. Perhaps it is because Jesus knew what lay ahead for Him. Reading further in the book of Luke, we soon find Jesus entering Jerusalem with only a few days left of His earthly ministry as the Son of Man. He will be betrayed, arrested, and crucified. And yet, while in route to His destination, He calls down a notorious sinner, ignores the rumbling of the crowds and offers him salvation. One more person who will be with Him in heaven for eternity.

“You didn’t want heaven without us” is a line in my favorite worship song, “What A Beautiful Name.”  This was true for Zacchaeus, and it is still true today. My prayer is that we will ask God to give us such a strong burden for the lost that we will do whatever it takes to not be in heaven without them and seize the moment to share the gospel.

 

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Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

 

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)

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COME AS YOU ARE

 

I grew up in a small town, where we lived on about five acres of land surrounded by family.  We lived in between my grandparents and an aunt and uncle, with their children on the other side. I spent my summers playing with my siblings and cousins, running in and out of each other’s homes. If we were hungry, we ate in whoever’s house we were in at the time. It was a very serene, communal way of life.  Fast forward 35 years, and I live in a subdivision with neighbors on each side that I barely know. We would never consider going in and out of each other’s houses unannounced. Certainly, if anyone does ask to drop by, we frantically start cleaning and hiding things in closets! 

During the time of Zacchaeus’ story, life was lived more like my childhood. Families lived in community, sharing the workloads, meals and caring for one another. In this week’s story Jesus tells Zacchaeus to come down from the tree so He can be a guest in his house. Zacchaeus immediately responds with excitement and joy! He is not concerned with what his home looks like, what mess they might find or what they would eat. The man Zacchaeus desperately wanted to see, is now coming home with him!

This encounter with Jesus changes Zacchaeus. Not only does he welcome Him into his home, but he instantly gives half of his wealth to the poor and offers to repay four times back to anyone he has cheated. Jesus doesn’t ask Zacchaeus to do this, but once he meets Jesus, his heart is moved to do the right thing. Remember, Zacchaeus was called a notorious sinner, the chief tax collector, able to take whatever he wants. The people are grumbling that Jesus would go to his house and yet Jesus says, ‘salvation has come to this home today.” Jesus has shown him what love and forgiveness looks like.

Too often we can think we need to change, to be cleaned up before we can come home to Jesus. The truth is there is no perfecting of our lives that makes Jesus love us more or makes us worthy to come to Him. Romans 3:22-24 teaches us, “The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, since there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Today if you have not accepted God’s grace and gift of salvation, I pray that you would stop and ask Him to come into your heart and be your Savior. For those of us who do know Jesus, may we bold to share God’s love and grace with those around us who need it.   

 

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Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

 

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)

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JESUS WAS INTENTIONAL

 

I am a visual learner, and for whatever reason, I have always pictured this scene as a dusty dirt path with a single tree, standing all alone beside the road.  These thoughts were probably stirred up by the children’s song we talked about earlier this week!  However, a quick internet search showed that Jericho is actually known as “the city of Palm Trees,” bordered with lush vegetation and natural springs. It is probably more accurate to picture Zacchaeus in a sycamore tree on a dirt path running through a small forest like setting.  

 

It may seem insignificant at first, but let’s take a closer look at verse 5.  It says, “when Jesus reached the spot, he looked up.” That is a very specific detail, given that we know there is a crowd following Him. The verse continues, “and (Jesus) said to him, Zacchaeus, come down immediately.”  We know they have not met before, but Jesus calls him by name. It reminds me of a football game where a player scores a touchdown and gives the ball to a child in the end zone. The kids’ faces are always so shocked and excited. Being singled out among thousands of fans for a great souvenir – what a thrill!  Zacchaeus probably felt that same way when he realized Jesus knew him.  He was there to see the man he had heard about. Jesus was there to change his life.  Amid the noise, the crowds and the trees, Jesus intentionally stops at the very spot Zacchaeus was located and gets personal. 

 

The busyness and loudness of our lives can rob us of these personal moments with Christ if we let them.  We must be intentional in pursuing a relationship with Jesus. Spending time with Him, asking Him to lead us as we seek to do whatever it takes. Our obedience to follow through, will depend greatly on our connection to Christ. Do we truly know Him? Are we committed to seeking Him daily? Do we have a “spot” that we meet with Christ, pray and study His Word? There is nothing more important and nothing that equips us more for this life than to be with Jesus.

 

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Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

 

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)

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TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF GOD IN THE FLESH

 

I am vertically challenged, or short, as some would say.  I stand just a bit over 5 foot 3 inches, and in a crowd, I typically can’t see anyone or anything not right in front of me. Scripture tells us that Zacchaeus dealt with height issues as well, and in verse 4 that he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree. Jesus was headed his way and he wanted to see who Jesus was. While I have not climbed any trees lately, I have stood on my chair or moved to higher ground to catch a glimpse of someone before. The curiosity to see what they look like, what is going on or what is being said can drive us to do whatever it takes.   

What would make Zacchaeus so curious to see who Jesus was? He is a rich man – no doubt powerful, and yet he climbs a tree!  Perhaps, he heard the stories of Jesus teaching and healing as He was making His way to Jerusalem. Luke 18:25-43 tells us that Jesus heals a blind man sitting by the road just as He enters Jericho, right where we find Zacchaeus in Luke 19. The blind man literally cannot see Jesus but is told Jesus is passing by. So, he begins to yell, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowds in front of him tell him to be quiet, but the blind man is persistent and keeps yelling. As Jesus gets close to him, He asks him what He can do for him. The man says, “Lord, I want to see.” Jesus replies, “Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.” Instantly the man could see and began to follow Jesus, glorifying God.

This is another moment where we see Jesus seeking out the lost, coming for those who need Him. In her book Rediscovering Israel, Kristi McLelland says, “From beginning to end, the biblical narrative communicates that God is coming for us!” In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God hovers over the waters and later we find God dwelling in the Tabernacle among His people in the desert. In the New Testament, God comes in flesh as Jesus and lives among us. Then in Acts, He sends the Holy Spirit to live within us. Finally, at His return, Christ will gather His bride and live with us forever. No moment exists in all creation where God does not pursue His people. It is who He is.

Today, as we pray and consider “whatever it takes,” ask God to give you the boldness to seek out those who are lost. Today may be the first time someone sees Jesus through you.   

 

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Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.

 

1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)

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EL ROI: THE GOD WHO SEES

 

If you grew up in church, you may have learned a song that told the story of Zacchaeus.  It went like this:

Zacchaeus was a wee, little man,
And a wee, little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree,
For the Lord he wanted to see.

And as the Savior came that way,
He looked up in the tree,

And he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down from that tree,”

For I’m going to your house today.
For I’m going to your house today.

Zacchaeus was a wee little man
But a happy man was he
For he had seen the Lord that day
And a happy man was he;
And a very happy man was he.

 

Although it is a great way to learn the story of Zacchaeus, it leaves out some key points about who Zacchaeus was. Luke 19:2 tells us that he was a chief tax collector and was rich. In those days, the tax collectors worked for the Roman government and collected the taxes demanded, but they were also allowed to collect what they wanted for themselves. As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus would also get part of what other tax collectors had gathered. This structure set the stage for tax collectors to be immoral and highly disliked by the people. Zacchaeus was no exception, as verse 7 says the people called him a “notorious sinner.” 

 

The story also tells us that Jesus sees Zacchaeus. He calls him by name – the notorious sinner, in a tree, separated from the crowd watching Him, as He travels through Jericho. From the very beginning, scripture reveals God as a seeker. After Adam and Eve sin, we see God calling out to Adam in Genesis 3:9, “Where are you?” Their sin is not deterring God from seeking them out. Later, in Genesis 16, we find Hagar running away from Abraham and Sarah, hiding in the wilderness, pregnant with Ishmael. An angel of the Lord finds her, and after that encounter she says, “You are the God who sees me.” (Genesis 3:13)

 

Jesus declares at the end of Zacchaeus’ story that He came to “seek and save the lost.” It takes intention to seek out those who don’t look like us, who don’t live or believe the way we do. It is much easier to gather and be around people that we know, that are like us, those we are comfortable with. Today, let’s ask God to show us who we need to seek out. Who needs to see a glimpse of Jesus through us?  Ask God to open your eyes as you go about your day for the one person you can share His love with.

 

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Bridget Turner serves as the Director of Women’s Groups at NorthStar Church. She and her husband, Steve, live in Powder Springs and have two young adult children, Hannah and Joshua. She enjoys watching football, traveling and reading.