Finding Christ Despite Obstacles

Luke 19:1-10

Introduction.

  1. Successful Americans have often overcome many difficulties (e.g. Abraham Lincoln).

  2. Many in the Bible and Christians have also faced hardships (e.g. martyrs).

  3. Zacchaeus found the Lord having overcome his hindrances.

    1. He can be a model for us to seek after God.

    2. We will see what he overcame and how he did it.

Body.

  1. What He Overcame.

    1. He had a problem with his riches.

      1. Perhaps it was attained through inheritance or hard work.

      2. Suspicious of how wealth was attained, others looked down on the wealthy.

      3. There is no indication that Zacchaeus deserved this scorn.

      4. Wealth often hinders people from hearing the gospel.

      5. They are more interested in getting the most out of physical pleasures of life.

      6. With wealth comes a sense of self-sufficiency—they don’t think they need God.

      7. Riches are an hindrance to finding God.

    2. He was short in stature—vertically challenged.

      1. The whole town had heard of Jesus’ deeds and wanted to see Him.

      2. Instead of having a pity party, he found a solution—climbed up a sycamore tree.

      3. Physical obstacles often provide a convenient excuse not to do something.

      4. God looks into our hearts and sees the real reason!

      5. When someone wants to do something, very little will stop him.

        1. A man in Lisbon had MS, confined to a wheelchair.

        2. He literally cannot take care of his bodily functions—talks with great difficulty.

        3. Yet he had visited so many people in his wheelchair.

        4. He would hand out tracts and talk to others about Jesus.

        5. As a result, he brought people to Christ that were thought unreachable.

        6. What is our excuse?

      6. Some are economically or socially short of stature.

        1. I can’t go to church because I can’t afford the right clothes, new car, to put much in the collection plate.

        2. No Christian ought to feel superior to another, for God shows no partiality.

    3. He was the chief tax collector.

      1. They went around town collecting taxes.

      2. Any extra they could swindle out of the people, they could keep.

      3. Nobody like the tax collectors—they were seen as stooges of the Romans.

      4. Tax collector was synonymous with sinner.

      5. People did not like him automatically by reason of his vocation.

      6. How difficult is it to live with these prejudices against you?

      7. He had these obstacles that would have discouraged others.

  2. How He Overcame.

    1. Zacchaeus became an honest person.

      1. He offered to restore what he may have defrauded (Luke 8).

      2. Law required giving back 120% of what was taken ($100 taken, $120 given back) (Lev. 6:1-5).

      3. He instead would give back 400% ($100 taken, $400 given back).

      4. Perhaps he made this offer because he knew he would not need to carry it through.

      5. He was letting the Lord know he wanted to be an honest man.

      6. Honest hearts are ones that will study the Bible and do what it says.

    2. He became a charitable person.

      1. He said he would give half of his goods to the poor (19:8).

      2. Others viewed him as nothing more than a tax collector, but he was selfless.

      3. Many people today are self-centered and selfish with a “me first” mentality.

      4. Zacchaeus was not, and it is this type of person that will find Christ.

    3. He became a godly person.

      1. He was eager to see the Lord and joyful when He called to him (19:6).

      2. This interested him more than his business.

      3. Christ was the source of his joy, happiness, and satisfaction, as He should be for us.

Conclusion.

  1. Zacchaeus, in spite of all that he overcame (wealth, size, occupation), he had an honest and simple heart, he was generous, and he loved God.

  2. Jesus said that “salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9).

  3. Why? “because he … is a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9) – he was a true representation of what it meant to be a descendant of Abraham, that man of faith (Gal. 3:29).

  4. Jesus then gave His purpose statement: “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

  5. If you are lost, Jesus seeks you now. Will you come to Him today and allow salvation to come to your house?