Zaccheus … Luke 19:1-5

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Key Passage

  • Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector [a superintendent to whom others reported], and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, but he could not see because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran on ahead [of the crowd] and climbed up in a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. When Jesus reached the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” Luke 19:1-5 AMP

What he did

1. ran on ahead [of the crowd]

Do something that sets you apart from the crowd

  • As He was approaching Jericho [on His way to Jerusalem], it happened that a blind man was sitting beside the road begging. Now when he heard a crowd going by, he began to ask what this was [about]. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” So he shouted out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David (Messiah), have mercy on me!” Those who were leading the way were sternly telling him to keep quiet; but he screamed all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then Jesus stopped and ordered that the blind man be led to Him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Luke 18:35-37 AMP
  • But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him. And a woman who had suffered a chronic flow of blood for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.” But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had left Me.” Now when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and admitted in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. Luke 8:42-47 NASB

Both these did something that set them apart from the crowd and got what they wanted.

2. climbed up in a sycamore tree

Took up a position without distractions (Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, but he could not see because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. Luke 19:3 AMP)

  • I will stand at my guard post
    And station myself on the tower;
    And I will keep watch to see what He will say to me,
    And what answer I will give [as His spokesman] when I am reproved. Habakkuk 2:1 AMP

3. for He was about to pass through that way

Found out the path Jesus would take. Where would Jesus come now? Place of – 

  • Prayer: When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the [Shekinah] glory and brilliance of the LORD filled the house. 2 Chronicles 7:1 AMP
  • Fellowship: For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20 AMP
  • Worship: you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

Search = specifically to worship
Find =  to come forth {to} that {is} appear 
In other words, when one worships God with all their heart, God’s Presence appears i.e. one has an Encounter with God.

Read: PRAYER
Read: FELLOWSHIP 
Read: WORSHIP

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