Why the Son of Man Came

Why the Son of Man Came

 

Luke 19:1~10

 

□ Praise and Sharing

Hymn 287 When we come before Jesus

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When you meet people through colored glasses, you see them differently depending on the color of the glasses. If someone treats someone with preconceptions and prejudices, he or she will not be able to properly understand or love that person. There is one person whom the people of Israel have branded as a sinner. This is Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector. People are reluctant to even approach Zacchaeus because of the attention he receives from others. But Jesus did not care about people's gaze, and entered Zacchaeus' house, fellowshipped with him, and gave him a chance to repent. Since Jesus embraces the weak of the world, it is not right for the church, the body of Christ, to turn its back on the socially marginalized.

 

□ Words and Sharing

1. There is an obstacle in front of Zacchaeus who wants to meet Jesus (verses 1-4).

1) What kind of person is Zacchaeus socially (verses 1-2)?

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and was also rich.

2) What is the obstacle that stands in the way of Zacchaeus’ desire to meet Jesus (verse 3)?

3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.

He was short and there were so many people that he couldn't see Jesus.

3) What did Zacchaeus do when faced with the obstacle (verse 4)?

4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus.

 

<Sharing 1> Zacchaeus climbed up the tree without caring about his own dignity. He tried to overcome many obstacles with the simple thought of wanting to see Jesus. What are the obstacles that prevent us from approaching God? Let's share what actions we took in the face of that obstacle.

 

Ask God for Wisdom

 

2. Jesus enters Zacchaeus’ house with him (verses 5-10).

1) What did the people say when they saw Jesus entering Zacchaeus’ house (verse 7)?

7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

 “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner,” they grumble.

2) What change occurred in Zacchaeus after he met Jesus (verse 8)?

8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

Zacchaeus gave half of his possessions to the poor, and promised that if he had cheated anyone out of anything, he would pay back four times as much.

3) What is the purpose of Jesus coming to this earth (verse 10)?

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The purpose of Jesus coming to this earth is to seek and save the lost.

 

<Sharing 2> Zacchaeus’ repentance was not a repentance of words, but a repentance of life. He not only confessed his sins, but also resolved to make amends for his past wrongdoings and live righteously. Let us share what has changed or needs to change in our lives in order to be worthy of repentance.

 

Like Zacchaeus, we must meet Jesus, let go of our greed for money, and live a life of sharing.

 

<Sharing 3> Jesus did not consider Zacchaeus a ‘tax collector’, a ‘rich man’, or a ‘sinner’, but simply a ‘lost person’. Let’s share who the ‘lost ones’ are that we must seek in the Lord’s name today and how we can ‘find and save’ them.

 

In this age of materialism, we must approach and help those lost people with empty hearts like Zacchaeus, with the heart of Jesus, by abandoning prejudice and preconceptions, and allowing everyone to meet the Lord and live a changed life.

 

□ Let's pray together

Lord, help us not to blame external obstacles but to seek You actively.

Please let us meet the Lord like Zacchaeus and live completely transformed lives!

In this age of materialism, let us approach lost people with empty hearts like Zacchaeus with the heart of Jesus, casting aside our prejudices and preconceptions, and help them so that they may meet the Lord and live a changed life!

 

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