TTC Weekend: A Surprising Encounter With Jesus (Traditional)

November 24, 2024 | Traditional Worship Service

Rev Dr Jeremy-Joe Tan
TTC Weekend: A Surprising Encounter With Jesus (Traditional)

November 24, 2024 | Traditional Worship Service

Rev Dr Jeremy-Joe Tan
Scripture Passage: Luke 19:1-10 (NIV)
WATCH | VIDEO

Catch up with our sermons preached during worship services via Sermon Podcasts !

READ | SERMON NOTES

Summary l The account of Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus is surprising in some ways:

1) A Surprising Person
Zacchaeus is a surprising person to be chosen as he is rich and corrupt. As the chief tax collector, he collects more than required to line his own pocket. He is a traitor who collects taxes from fellow Jews on behalf of the Roman empire. People despised him and openly called him a sinner (V7). He was described as small in stature which in Greek refers to age and maturity rather than height. The ESV translation of stature is perhaps the closest – reputation in the community. Zacchaeus has a low reputation in his community.

Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus but the crowd who despised and dismissed him did not want him to see Jesus. Nobody cared about him except Jesus. Though Zacchaeus was far in the background, Jesus saw him, valued him and asked to stay in his house. This was not a random encounter as Jesus chose, valued and loved him. Throughout the gospel we see Jesus encounter and save surprising people – people with low social status, the poor and people we may not want saved. Would we fight to save the 10 lepers, the blind beggar and the marginalised as we would to the those who will reward us or those in high positions in society? Today you may feel like Zacchaeus – alone, unnoticed and wonder whether Jesus sees you. The truth is Jesus sees you, loves you and wants to encounter you afresh.

2) A Surprising Response
Jesus goes to Zacchaeus’ house. Zacchaeus offers to give half of his possessions to the poor and pay back four times those he had cheated. Old Testament laws stipulate restitution of the original amount plus 20 percent. Zacchaeus was offering to pay back more than what was required by the law. Jesus’ response to Zacchaeus was to declare that “today salvation has come to this house” (V9a).

Was Jesus awarding or affirming Zacchaeus’ salvation?
To award salvation implies that Zacchaeus earned his salvation. Most scholars think Jesus is affirming salvation as Zacchaeus repented and was bearing fruit in keeping with repentance (Lk 3:8). Jesus acknowledged Zacchaeus as a son of Abraham as he shares Abraham’s faith (V9b).
Personal salvation should not be mixed up with private salvation. People see our salvation if there is fruit in our lives. Are we soldiers of Christ or Secret Service agents of Christ? Jesus is our Saviour, not moral education teacher (although moral living comes with Christlikeness). Morality is about making bad people good but Jesus came to make dead people live.

3) A Surprising Salvation
Though the crowd rejected Zacchaeus, he did not walk away but ran down the road and climbed up a tree to see Jesus. God’s grace is already working in Zacchaeus for him to do so and to receive Jesus joyfully (V6). Salvation is surprising as we do not even know God is working. A common testimony among Christians is “we have no clue why we are Christians, go to church and stay in church”. That you are still going to church may point to the grace of God drawing you as you respond by faith.

Lk 19 is not an account of morality but God’s grace working in surprising ways to bring about surprising salvation. The Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost (V10). Zacchaeus was seeking to see Jesus (V3) and Jesus was seeking to save Zacchaeus who was lost (V10).
God sees and loves you. We do not need to despair of God’s grace. God is always at work even when we do not see Him or feel His presence. In our struggles with questions on faith and security, may the Holy Spirit remind us that God sees and is always working in surprising ways all the time.

(Sermon notes by Woo Choi Yin)


PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. What is one point you took away from the sermon?
  2. How does it help you understand or see God more closely? 
  3. Do you feel dismissed by the crowds in your life? How so?

Picture of Wesley Communications Team
Posted by Wesley Communications Team

Share This!