ENCOUNTERING JESUS
Part 5 – When Money Is Not Enough
(Luke 19:1-10)
June 16, 2024
Dr. Mark S. Hartman, Lead Pastor
INTRODUCTION
A. Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
B. This story happens within the last few months of Jesus’ ministry when He passes through Jericho. This picture might be a good representation of Jericho in the time of Jesus.
C. Luke19:1-6 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed Jesus gladly.
1. MONEY DOESN’T MAKE US WEALTHY. (Luke 19:1-4)
A. Being rich and financially successful does not give you purpose.
B. The deep need we all have inside leads us to Jesus.
1. He didn’t sit around complaining. He didn’t procrastinate and say, “Someday I’m going to do something about this.” He went to find Jesus.
Luke 19:3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man, he could not, because of the crowd.
2. Luke 19:4 So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. He swallowed his pride by climbing up a tree – a grown man – for just a look at Jesus.
2. THERE IS A MAKE OR BREAK MOMENT FOR ALL OF US.
A. Luke 19:5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
B. Jesus melted Zacchaeus’ heart with His kindness.
1. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. John 6:37 “Whoever comes to Me I will not reject.” (Jesus)
3. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
C. Luke 19:7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’”
D. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind have taken us away.
3. LIFE CHANGE IS EVIDENCE OF CHRIST IN US. (Luke 19:8-10)
A. Luke 19:8-10 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
B. Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.