mySundaySermons

Luke 19:1-10
1 He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” 9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” [NRSA]

Why a sycamore tree? Fig / Mulberry tree. Acer Platanus occidentalis middle eastern varieties have fruit. Tree of life, cur as the tree of judgement. Amos was a prunerer of sycamores

Who does the inviting? Jesus.

Where is the invitation? Public to meet in private.

What happens at the dinner table, communion table, eating with sinners and tax collectors? Truth sharing, conviction, confession,  repentance

Why Zacks house? Was he a child of the Covenant od Abraham? He was just as much in need of Jesus as any of us, all of us.

Why was Zack happy to visit either Jesus, thus hurried down the tree? ? Reputation, prophet, favor, healing, previously taste of grace?

Why is Jesus interested in a home visit? Jesus was not shaming by confronting Zack with the truth of his lifestyle and practices.

What happens when Jesus comes home? To Zack, for us all? Healing wholeness,  transformation.  Whole person, whole household.

The response of restitution instead of the fine of restitution, willingness vs forced. Seems like it is zacks idea and not Jesus’s

The Justice comes when it’s the oppressors response to Christ.   We typically believe victims demand justice but that creates a new deposit of hate, dross, I’ll will.  When the response come to Jesus’s gave justice follows natirally.naturally., not forced.

Repayment with interest as a response not a payment nor penalty. (LOOK UP CONTEXT IN OT)

OTLott payment in person each week

Declaration that salvation had come home TODAY! Salvation come directly through Jesus, instantly

Jesus came to save the lost. SUMMARY

What is missing from the story? The entire conversation of repentance, judgement, of Zack by Jesus. Did it not occur? Then what accounts for the change in Zacks behavior and life?

BOTTOM LINE: When are we allowing Jesus into our home, hearts, to allow for confession, cleansing, healing, with a confirmation of salvation as the goal?

Our home is a place of infinite love, growth, mercy, faith and trust.

Finite vs infinite groups, baseball is a finite group, with known players, known rules, with the expectation and goal of winner and losers. The church is an infinite group, until Christ’s return, our players are all gods children the rules are both steadfast and unfolding and our goal is to improve upon our faith and trust in this day over yesterday’s attempt, until Christ returns. SELF HELP SECTION VS HELP OTHERS SECTION

Our task is to take home the work of making our neighbor stronger in faith than they were before and in the process we too become more faithful, it not just about my faith it is me inspiring and instructing someone else. Making them better.