Our hunt for hope continues on the Bible for Busy People! Today, we’re gonna climb a tree to find some hope. We’re gonna meet a man named Zacchaeus, who nobody liked back in the day, except for one man. A man named Jesus, who not only liked Zacchaeus but loved him?
Come and join us in Luke chapter 19.
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Transcription:
No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame. Soak up that promise today. Those who look to you are radiant. Their faces are never covered with shame. Oh, my goodness. Our hunt for hope continues on the Bible for Busy People today. I’m Erica, and I’m so glad you’re here. Today, we’re gonna climb a tree to find some hope. We’re gonna meet a man named Zacchaeus, who nobody liked back in the day, except for one man. A man named Jesus, who not only liked Zacchaeus but loved him? Come on, join me in Luke chapter 19.
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.
I’m also short, so I really relate to Zacchaeus. I’m four 11. They say closer to heaven, right? Ha ha. Okay…
He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd, so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore fig tree beside the road for Jesus was going to pass that way.
So, Zacchaeus was just simply hoping for a glimpse of this man, Jesus, who he had heard of. I bet he didn’t expect much else.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. Zacchaeus, he said. Quick, come down. I must be a guest in your home today.
Now, I imagine for a hot second, Zacchaeus was up there going, “Me?” And he was looking around going, is there somebody else named Zacchaeus up in this tree?
But he quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy, but the people were displeased. He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner. They grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, I will give half my wealth to the poor Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much. Jesus responded. Salvation has come to this home today for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the son of man came to seek and save those who are lost.
When Zacchaeus climbs into that tree, he’s feeling pretty hopeless. He’s feeling pretty low. He was living a life of sin, essentially stealing money from his neighbors. That’s why nobody could stand him. But Jesus saw who Zacchaeus could be. He just needed some hope. And when Jesus called his name, he must have felt a spark of hope in his heart. And when Jesus sat in his home, perhaps across the table from him, hope must have just caught flame in his heart, and it changed everything. Imagine going from a thief to saying, I will pay back four times what I’ve stolen. That’s incredible, and I think it’s very powerful that Jesus called him by name. No matter what you’ve done, Jesus loves you like that, and he sees the you you can be in him. He sees the you you can be, once you understand that there is hope. That things can change. I wanna jump over to Isaiah chapter 43 and read a few verses to you because they’re beautiful. I want you to know that there was hope for Zacchaeus, and there is hope for me, and there is hope for you. No matter what we’ve done, we don’t have to be ashamed. Isaiah 43, chapter one.
But now, oh, Jacob, listen to the Lord who created You. Oh, Israel, the one who formed you says, do not be afraid for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name. You are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up. The flames will not consume you, for I am the Lord your God, the holy one of Israel, your savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom. I gave Ethiopia and Siba in your place. Others were given an exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored and I love you. That’s straight from the Lord to you today.
If you are ashamed by something you’ve done, if you are ashamed by the life you’re living, you know you’re doing wrong, you can feel it in your heart, but there’s something in you that makes you want to climb the tree of faith. There’s something in you that wonders, is there hope for me? There is. There’s nothing you’ve done that’s bigger than what Jesus did on the cross for you.
He sees you. He sees who you can be in him. If you are ready to turn away from a life of sin, all you have to do is turn like Zacchaeus did.
Lord, I’m sorry for what I’ve done and I’m going to live a different life from now on. You say, Lord Jesus, I come to you. I believe in you. I believe that you’ve died for my sins and rose again. And I turn from my life of sin and I turn toward you, and I receive the free gift of salvation. I receive the peace you wanna give me now. An eternal life forever. I trust you today. In Jesus’ name.
You pray that prayer, that simple prayer, you can pray it in your own words, and you are going to feel hope. There is hope. I promise. Our God is the God of hope. Until next time, you are so loved.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life.
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