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welcome to everyone it's good to be back in the house of our God you can turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 130 for our call to worship this evening psalm 130. foreign and I'll begin reading in verse 1 a song of a sense out of the depths I have cried To You O Lord Lord hear my voice let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications if you Lord should Mark iniquities O Lord who could stand but there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared I wait for the Lord my soul Waits and in his word I do hope my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning yes more than those who watch for the morning o Israel hope in the Lord for with the Lord there is Mercy and with him is abundant Redemption and he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities amen well please turn in your hymn books to number 219. that's number 219 will stand as we sing together yes [Music] foreign [Music] yes foreign foreign [Music] yes foreign foreign [Music] foreign [Music] let us pray our blessed God and Father we gather together on this Lord's day and it is a privilege for us to gather in the place where Christ is in the midst of we give praise to you for your works of creation and Providence the way that it displays your wisdom and your goodness and your power and we rejoice in Redemption that demonstration of the grace and love and mercy of God in the salvation of Sinners we know father we're not heaven bound because of our own works or Merit or our own ability but because of solely and alone based on what Jesus Christ accomplished in the gospel we thank you that in your time you sent him forth born of a woman and born under the law to redeem those under the law we praise you for that life of obedience to to the law his death that Calvary is a substitute and a sacrifice and that Resurrection again the third day and we praise you for that current session at the right hand of God Almighty and we look forward to his return in glory to judge the living and the dead and even until that time we Rejoice that we can gather as the church to sing the Praises of our God to celebrate the word of God and to remember in a special way the the death of our savior this is the corporate aspect of a declaration a proclamation of the Lord's death until he comes so be glorified tonight and be honored and be enthroned upon the Praises of your people here we ask that you would forgive us for all of our sin and unrighteousness whenever we gather together in the presence of a Thrice holy God we are mindful of our own proneness to wander and our proneness to leave the god that we love the psalmist is so correct so right on when he said if you Lord should Mark iniquities oh Lord who could stand but there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared and we can all confess a hearty Amen to that sentiment to that statement we Rejoice that Christ is at the right hand of the father where he ever lives to make intercession for us and where he functions as an advocate with the father even now do forgive us for our sin and try transgression cleanse Us in that precious blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world we pray for your blessing upon this local church we pray for the various needs think of the newfounds and pray God that you'd look with favor upon them we pray that you look with favor upon surely in the ongoing medical concerns that she has we ask God that you would bless the ladies who are pregnant we rejoice in your goodness and giving children as a gift to your people and we pray that each of these little ones in the womb would be healthy and well we pray for all of our children and young people that they would come to a saving knowledge of our blessed savior that they would confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and that they would know the joy of being found in him we pray for other churches in our community thank you that we're not here alone thank you there are other faithful Witnesses in this in this city and we pray that you would bless and prosper them that they would glorify you and the proclamation of the truth and that you would be well pleased to bless that word as it goes forth in this in this part of the world we pray throughout this land for all of the faithful churches she would smile upon them and that you would use them for your glory we pray that your word word would run swiftly and be glorified throughout this nation of Canada in this coming year we see a nation steeped in lawlessness and wickedness and as we considered this morning it's a day and age much like the prophet isaiahs when men call evil good and good evil we see the crimes the sins of abortion and euthanasia no matter of sexual perversion and we know the ultimate remedy is that fountain that is open for sin and uncleanness so we pray that gospel would be proclaimed that it would go forth conquering and to conquer and that you would save multitudes in this particular nation and be glorified in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ bless the church and Surrey the church in Armstrong the church in Dryden continue to look with favor upon the gathered assembly there in Honda Honduras may you give Grace to these Brethren who preach give them help and strength and a courage and boldness to not shrink back from declaring the whole counsel of God most high and Lord we pray for the persecuted Church throughout this world we think of Myanmar we think of that Orange Grove we think of Peter and we just commend them to you into the word of your grace and pray she would continue to bless them and look with favor upon them we pray for the nation of China steep in communism and Atheism and those sorts of things that are contrary to God most high and the Christ who sits upon his throne yet father we know there are a multitude of Believers in that land so we pray that would continue to go forth that your your word would continue to find a root in in the hearts of men and women and boys and girls in that part of the world and all over the Earth God we pray that you would let the Nations be glad that you would cause your face to shine upon the peoples and that you would draw a multitude unto yourself thank you again for this opportunity to gather corporately in the name of our blessed savior and we pray that as we come to the father through the son in the spirit of God you would be glorified and honored and praised here and we ask through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well you can turn with me again in your hymn books to number four seven six 476 will stand as we sing together it is foreign with My Soul [Music] it is foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign foreign [Music] foreign zombies [Music] foreign [Music] thank you [Music] ah we could turn on your Bibles to Luke 18. I know you don't get to pick how you die but it wouldn't be bad to be translated while you were singing A Hymn like that Luke 18 our Focus this evening is on Luke 19 verses 1 to 10 but I think it's important to set it in its larger context so I'll read beginning in Luke 18 at verse 18. now a certain ruler asked him saying good teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life so Jesus said to him why do you call me good no one is good but one that is God you know the Commandments do not commit adultery do not murder do not steal do not bear false witness honor your father and your mother and he said all these things I have kept from my youth so when Jesus heard these things he said to him you still lack one thing sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me but when he heard this he became very sorrowful for he was very rich and when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful he said how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God for it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God and those who heard it said who then can be saved but he said the things which are impossible with men are possible with God then Peter said see we have left all and followed you so he said to them assuredly I say to you there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who shall not receive many times more in this present time and in the age to come eternal life then he took the 12 aside and said to them behold we are going up to Jerusalem and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the son of man will be accomplished for he will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon they will Scourge him and kill him and the third day he will rise again but they understood none of these things the saying was hidden from them and they did not know the things which were spoken then it happened as he was coming near Jericho that a certain blind man Sat by the road begging and hearing a multitude passing by he asked what it meant so they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by and he cried out saying Jesus Son of David have mercy on me than those who went before warned him that he should be quiet but he cried out all the more son of David have mercy on me so Jesus Stood Still and commanded him to be brought to him and when he had come near he asked him saying what do you want me to do for you he said Lord that I may receive my sight then Jesus said to him receive your sight your faith has made you well and immediately he received his sight and followed him glorifying God and all the people when they saw it gave praise to God then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho now behold there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector and he was rich and he sought to see who Jesus was but could not because of the crowd for he was of short stature so he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for he was going to pass that way and when Jesus came to that place he looked up and saw him and said to him Zacchaeus make haste and come down for today I must stay at your house so he made haste and came down and received him joyfully but when they saw it they all complained saying he has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord look Lord I give half of my goods to the poor and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation I restore fourfold and Jesus said to him today salvation has come to this house because he also is a son of Abraham for the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost amen let us pray our gracious God and Holy Father we thank you for the power of our blessed savior not only Power and ability to save but that Mercy wherein he does save we thank you that we have found that to be the case that by your grace we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good and may you encourage our weary Hearts tonight as we once again witness the power of the Lord Jesus in the life of this man Zacchaeus and we pray God in heaven that you would reach down in Mercy and draw Sinners unto yourself we Rejoice to see the mission of the Savior declared in such such Clarity he's come to seek and to save that which was lost and Lord God we give praise to you because we live in a world filled with lost men and women so may you indeed be pleased to bless the word as it goes forth even tonight God again forgive us for all of our sin and guide us by the Holy Spirit and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well there is a connection between these two chapters if you look back to chapter 18 Jesus sets forth the necessity of God's grace in the matter of Salvation and we see it in verse 27 the things which are impossible with men are possible with God and that on the heels of declaring how difficult and I almost impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God he illustrates that by giving the the analogy of an of an of a camel Trying To Shimmy through the eye of a needle it would be that difficult for a rich man to enter into heaven of course that evokes from the disciples the response in verse 26 those who heard it said who then can be saved on the heels of that he says the things which are impossible with men are possible with God so lo and behold we see that there is this statement concerning the difficulty for those who have riches and yet in chapter 19 we see that this man Zacchaeus Was rich so he's an illustration or he's a a demonstration of a camel going through the eye of a needle the Lord God most high is powerful the Lord God most eye is Sovereign the Lord God most high is able to save to the uttermost all who draw nigh unto him through his son the Lord Jesus Christ so I want to look at two things tonight in chapter 19 verses 1 to 10. First the object of Mercy verses one to four and then secondly the mission of Christ in verses 5 to 10. but let's look first at the object of mercy and there's two things I want to see here first a description of his person and then second a demonstration of God's power but notice his occupation verse one then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho now behold there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector now tax collector I think in probably every age and every generation in every geographical Locale are not the sorts of persons that are eye on your priority list for friendship Tax Collectors are not typically looked upon as those favored ones in society that everybody flocks to because they want to have a close friendship with that and in this particular context in the first century Tax Collectors were especially hated by the Jews that was for a variety of reasons first they collaborated with Gentiles never a good thing for the Jews secondly they handled currency with Pagan inscriptions and iconography so they were those who basically trafficked in some sort of idolatrous an idolatrous Venture third they took money from fellow Jews to give to an oppressing government I mean that right there would tell you there's no reason why you would want to befriend that particular individual and they were often greedy and corrupt themselves in fact Zacchaeus admits as much in verse 8 he's willing to demonstrate his faith and repentance through the good works of returning money to those that he had taken it from in other portions of the gospels or gospel records They are linked with Sinners they are linked with Heathen Gentiles they are linked with harlots they are linked with extortioners unjust and adulterous man in fact you can go back to Luke 18 and you'll see that we have that story that Jesus told about the Pharisee and about the Public Act and in verse 9 it says he spoke this Parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others two men went up to the temple to pray one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector the Pharisees stood and prayed thus with himself God I thank you that I am not like other men extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this tax collector so the tax collector in this Society was The Benchmark for wretch it was the worst of the worst he was a bad guy he was a notorious sinner he was the sort of person that you didn't want to be around and so as Jesus passes through through Jericho we are introduced to this man who by occupation is a tax collector but notice his economic standing this chief tax collector gig had fetched him great reward notice in verse 2 at the very end and he was rich Luke expects you to remember that that statement earlier about how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven but when Christ facilitates he can make that camel go right through the eye of a needle so he is a chief tax collector he's a rich man and then notice it tells us something about his physical stature he was short he was a wee little fellow he had to shimmy up into the sycamore tree just to get a view of Jesus why does Luke include that I don't know but it's certainly a curious detail and one that causes a bit of reflection in the sense of even short dudes can come to the Savior there's no impossibility there and then notice as well his spiritual State and this is key to the narrative verses seven to eight a seven and eight and verse 10 tell us that he was a Lost Sinner before God so in verse 7 notice what the crowd grumbles he has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner after having saving dealings with our Lord confessing him as Lord in faith Zacchaeus verse 8 says look Lord I give half of my goods to the poor and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation I restore fourfold and then in verse 10 Jesus defines his mission as to come and to seek and to save that which was lost so Zacchaeus spiritual stature was the case or was the fact that he was a sinner before a holy God and it's intriguing in certain places in the gospels you'll see where the gospel author links together narrative that shines light on each other so we got that rich young ruler that comes to the Lord Jesus and he says what good thing must I do to inherit eternal life and Jesus preaches the law to him he's not telling him that if you do all these things perfectly you can enter in well he is but he knows that this man is a sinner he's preaching the law to him to show him his sin this man says in boasts all these I've kept from my youth what one thing do I lack so what does Christ do he preaches the tenth commandment to him he tells him go sell everything you have take the money give it to the poor and follow me that's the law that humbled the man but it bro it didn't humble him to the place where he would confess faith in Christ he was sorrowful because he was rich and on the heels of that Christ makes the Declaration on how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven but it's not an impossibility because With God all things are possible you see the same sort of thing in Matthew chapter nine in that lowering of the paralytic into the midst of the crowd and Jesus said Son your sins are forgiven you and the religious leaders are scratching their heads saying who does this man think he is only God Alone can forgive sins so Jesus says which is easier to say to the man your sins are forgiven or to say to the man rise up take your mat and walk well it's easier to say your sins are forgiven because we don't know it's more difficult at least in terms of the physical eye to say take up your mat and walk well Jesus then says take up your mat and walk that demonstrates what he says that the son of man has power on Earth to forgive sins now on the heels of that we have the calling of Matthew another tax collector another wretch so if we ask the question what kind of Sinners does the Lord save we can answer big Sinners gross Sinners bad Sinners wretched Sinners because With God all things are possible so Zacchaeus is an illustration or rather a parallel to a camel going through the eye of a needle so with all this in mind let's turn now to the mission of Christ and the invitation given in verses 5 to 8 and then the mission stated in verses 9 to 10. notice the invitation proper so verse 4 tells us about his uh short stature he ran ahead climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for he was going to pass that way now notice in verse 5 and when Jesus came to the place he looked up and saw him and said to him Zacchaeus make haste and come down for today I must stay at your house that's not ordinarily how we understand an invitation Christ invites himself over to zacchaeus's house Christ says I must come to your house today it demonstrates a few things about the Savior first his condescension he comes to the place where Zacchaeus is and he stops and he looks up we have a previous instance in Jericho with the man Bartimaeus Christ Christ is walking through a very crowded City and blind Bartimaeus says Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me we know the response of the crowd it's kind of like the response of the crowd that we find with reference to Zacchaeus they try to silence Bartimaeus oh he's too busy he doesn't have time for somebody like you so what does Bartimaeus do all the louder he cries Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me so Jesus stops in the midst of the crowd wanders over to zacchae uh to Bartimaeus and says what would you have me to do and Bartimaeus says Lord I want to see well the same sort of instance is here he's around a lot of people he's passing through a city Zacchaeus has to go up into this sycamore tree just to get a view of the situation because he's such a short man and yet Jesus stops at that tree it demonstrates his condescension it demonstrates his mercy and Grace it demonstrates the reality that he is what the bible promises him to be as well notice that he knows Zacchaeus his name he calls him specifically by name now perhaps somebody whispered it into his ear or perhaps as the Divine Son of God he invokes that and says Zacchaeus he addresses him purposefully relative to the situation and then he mentions or then he says make haste and come down today for today I must stay at your house again this underscores his grace make hasten come down for today I must stay at your house Gil makes the observation the dangerous estate and condition of a sinner requires haste let's not bypass that too quickly make haste and come down you don't have tomorrow for sure you don't have another year for sure you don't have another 10 years for sure I mean you might but that's known only to God the time to deal with God is now it is time to make haste and to deal with our blessed savior Christ doesn't say I want you to sit up there and Ponder things I want you to reflect upon things I want you to wonder about things I want you to survey things I want you to prepare yourself for a descent down no he says make haste and come down there is an urgency and a necessity in terms of gospel preaching there is a two-dayness about salvation today or now is the acceptable time today is the day of salvation do not resist this do not reject this do not oppose this and then notice when he says I must stay day at your house I think the backdrop you might be able to guess this is Covenant the fact that it refers to him as a son of Abraham in verse 8 also reflects Covenant God purpose to save a great multitude that no man can number from every tribe tongue people in Asia and even very sinful men even very Wretched Man even chief tax collectors who were very rich notice he must stay at your house the Son of God does not have options in terms of well I could possibly go to Bill's house for lunch right no I must stay at your house why because Zacchaeus is coming to Salvation Zacchaeus is going to believe Zacchaeus is going to confess faith in Jesus Christ and there is a must-ness about this situation Matthew Poole says Zacchaeus is the first man we read of to whose house Christ not asked but invited himself and in it did more Force Zacchaeus he didn't ask Zacchaeus but rather invited himself and in it did more for Zacchaeus than he expected oh the freeness and Rich Riches of divine grace which seeketh not a worthy object but makes the object worthy and therefore loveth it so Christ comes to deal mercifully with this man now notice the response of Zacchaeus this is in verses 6 and 8. verse 7 will deal with the crowd in just a moment but notice in verses six and eight how Zacchaeus responds to this now why do you think he shimmied up that tree in the first place preparationism he's getting ready for the big salvation he's setting himself in the right spot at the right time so that the same it was curiosity Brethren you know you can't drive down the freeway without some you know haphazard or accident on the side of the road everybody has to slow down don't they it's the nature of man I I I complain about others doing it and yet I find myself slowing down because because I have to see what's over there you've got a small town that's filled with people and a very famous figure is walking through Zacchaeus got up that morning probably heard that Jesus was coming saw the Press of the crowd and figured he'd go up to that sycamore tree and just spy the situation for his own curiosity's sake this isn't sort of a preparing for Grace this wasn't some sort of a a Prelude to his salvation he was a curious man but then notice he comes down the tree in response to Christ ver verse 6 he made haste and came down now that's so infrequent in real life that we should camp on it for just a moment how often do preachers preach and say come to the Savior and yet not everybody comes to the savior in fact preachers might say make haste and come to the Savior right away and yet persons don't make haste and come to the Savior right away Zacchaeus actually did Zacchaeus actually responded to Christ ah Zach he has actually made haste and came to the Savior Matthew Poole makes this observation he says curiosity carried Zacchaeus up but love to Christ bringeth him down amen that is a perceptive and beautiful statement and then notice he receives Christ joyfully so verse six he made haste and came down and received him joyfully now Brethren there's more going on than just a house guest there's more going on than just Zacchaeus you know phoning ahead to his wife and you know sat another place mat or place a setting because I've got a guest coming over for supper he received him joyfully as now a saved man Christ in calling him has the power to enable compliance it's the effectual call of God upon Zacchaeus and I think Gill gets this right he says he received him joyfully not only into his house but into his arms and heart Christ was a welcome yes to him as he is to every sensible sinner who by faith receives him as the father's free gift as the alone Savior and Redeemer as the great mediator in all of his offices of prophet priest and King and in every relation and character he bears and Embraces his doctrines and submits to his ordinances and that with the greatest joy as there is reason for it since with him he receives the free and and full forgiveness of his sins a justifying righteousness and abundance of Grace and a right unto and meekness for heaven no I don't want to leave this point that quick either in the sense of he received him joyfully Brethren it is easy to get discouraged in life and to forget the joy of our Salvation we have to consciously reflect upon these things we have to think on that pearl of great price we have to think on that bridegroom who's altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand when we received him initially it was with great joy perhaps you remember your baptism and the time you went into the water and there was that Joy there was that Thanksgiving there was that that public confession that he is mine and I am his and then you get in the pilgrim way and there's a lot of trouble there's a lot of difficulty stuff you didn't always bargained for you thought right now as a Christian everything should be great you're a child of the king the king's child never has any difficulties the king's child never has any hardships well God the King has his children go through such things so that they like the Savior or look will learn obedience through suffering it's God's way with his children he's a good God it's like with us and parenting you let your kid eat some dirt to build up his immune system you let your kid you know fall down once in a while so that he's not you know an antsy boy you do those sorts of things so that he is God a strength and a resolve about him but with reference to God we go through these hardships and we go through these trials and we go through these difficulties and we forget to be happy and that's a crime brethren we received him joyfully initially we ought to Look to Him joyfully each and every day we ought to reflect upon the reality that the Blessed Christ said to us in one form or another make haste and come down for today I must stay at your house Zacchaeus makes haste he comes down and he receives him joyfully it is a Most Blessed thing now notice as well he can confesses Jesus as Lord look down at verse 8. then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord look Lord I give half of my goods to the poor he addresses him as Lord he confesses him as Lord Brethren first first Corinthians chapter 12 tells us nobody can confess Jesus as Lord except by the spirit this man is saved this man confesses Jesus as Lord and now notice he manifests faith and repentance through the work of giving back verse 8 then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord look Lord I give half of my goods to the poor and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation I restore for full he owns his sin and he deals with his sins he owns his sins and he deals with of this sense and he repents of those things our confession says good works done in obedience to God's Commandments are the fruits and evidences of a true and Lively Faith they demonstrate that there has been this change they demonstrate that there is this confession of Faith the Geneva Bible says the example of true repentance is known by the effect how do we know that somebody has believed and repented because the effect is there the same sins are not indulged in anymore he's not going to go extort people he's not going to go take from people he's not going to keep that ill-gotten gain rather he is going to give half of his Goods to the poor and if he has taken anything from anyone by false accusation he's going to restore it fourfold and then ultimately what what happens in terms of his salvation he enjoys communion with God the Lord Jesus Christ goes to be a guest at his house and he eats with him but it wasn't just that meal he is now a Believer he's now a Christian he's now a man of God he's now one that has been been bought with a price and he wants to follow and serve the master who gave his life for him and then notice we skipped over let's look at the response of the crowd in verse 7. when they that's the crowd saw it they all complained saying he has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner this isn't new in Luke's gospel turn back to Luke Chapter 5. Luke Chapter 5 the call of Matthew or Levi foreign Matthew 5 verse 27 after these things he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office this is Matthew two names like James Peter and he said to him follow me so he left all rose up and followed him then Levi gave him a great feast in his own house and there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with that and their scribes and the Pharisees complained against his disciples saying why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners same sort of response there at the tree of Zacchaeus turn over to Luke Chapter 15. Luke chapter 15 a similar response to the ministry of Our Lord Luke 15 beginning in verse 1 then all the tax collectors and the Sinners Drew near to him to hear him and the Pharisees and scribes complained saying this man received Sinners and eats with them so he spoke this Parable to them saying it's going back to Luke chapter 19 this ought not to surprise us this ought not to make us say wow I cannot believe that somebody wasn't happy that a sinner was saved Brethren this is kind of the default setting a man when good things happen to others we don't always Rejoice Paul has to command that in Romans chapter 12 Rejoice with those who Rejoice weep with those who weep why would he have to command that because it's not the default setting it's not natural to the sons of Adam it's not the case that we're so happy for others because they have benefited or been blessed by God Almighty Calvin says it is thus the world disregards the offer of the grace of God but complains bitterly when it is conveyed to others on the one hand they complain about it and the other uh on the one hand they reject it and resist it and on the other hand they they complain about it when others receive it so there's this idea out there that you know that that guy doesn't deserve it none of us deserve it nobody deserves the grace of God that's why it's Grace if you look at the newsletter underneath the crossword puzzle my brother says something to the effect that if you complete all these puzzles results you will earn a free gift praise God Grace isn't that way you don't earn Grace you don't earn the gift of Salvation it's not a payment for for services rendered it is rather Grace we are dead in our trespasses and sins and God conveys eternal life upon us we didn't deserve it he didn't owe us we aren't uh worthy recipients rather he just gives it to us and so these people complain they all complain saying he has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner and that brings us to the statement of his mission in verses 9 and 10. and there's a few things here notice first the salvation of Zacchaeus verse 9 Jesus said to him today salvation has come to this house now the Lord did not come to Zacchaeus to exhort him to be a better Zacchaeus he didn't come to reign in his you know degeneracy by saying you know don't don't extort people anymore he came to save him it wasn't just about a moral persuasion it wasn't just a bit of Education it wasn't a bit of further instruction on how does that on how Zacchaeus wants to live his life but he wants to save or he comes to save Zacchaeus and when we ask the question what does he save Zacchaeus from he saves him from his sins Matthew 1 21. you shall call his name Jesus for it is he who will save his people from their sins he saves him from the penalty of the law Galatians 3 13 God made Christ to be a curse for us to receive it himself all that we deserved in terms of our violation of God's law and he saves him from the wrath of God Romans 3 25 26 God set forth his son as a propitiation through his blood so Zacchaeus is the man that God Saves or Christ saves on that day today salvation has come to this house and then notice again that Covenant because he also is a son of Abraham interesting language in our studies in John's gospel fall specifically there in chapter eight the religious leaders boast that they are sons of Abraham we have Abraham as our Father and Jesus disavows them of that nausea they go one step further they say we were not born a fornication but God is our father again Jesus disavows them of that notion and says that you are of your father the devil and so with reference to this particular statement Zacchaeus this Rich Chief tax collector this despised man this low life in society this person that nobody liked is the son of Abraham while the religious leaders while the ones that were polished while the ones that were teachers well the ones that were the respectable in society were nevertheless not sons of Abraham but rather sons of the devil so the Lord Christ is indicating here that God has his purpose and plan and this man is connected to Abraham and then notice the mission is set forth very clearly in verse 10. if anybody ever asks you why did Jesus come into this world Luke 19 10 is a great place to go it is a clear explanation of the mission of the son of man for the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost there is divine Initiative for the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost he wasn't invited we didn't beg for this we didn't ask for this but there is divine initiative when you trace the scripture and you see man in sin you will see that it's God who comes after him when Abraham Adam and Eve sin they run from God God comes after them when the Babel or the tower Builders at Babel build that Tower to to rise up into the heavens God confounds their lips and on the heel of heels of that he comes to Abraham and says that out of you I will make a great name out of you I will make a great nation we see the promise of God all throughout the Old Testament concerning the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ we see it in Galatians 4 4 in the fullness of time God sent forth his son Brethren it is divine initiative it's not our initiative it doesn't depend upon him who Wills or upon him who runs but on God who shows mercy so we find that very clearly in this instance and Jesus says that the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost he didn't come to start a revolution he didn't come just to start a new religion he didn't come to just pass on a bit more information or give a new commandment he came to save his people from their sins and Zacchaeus Was a blessed recipient on that day of the mercy of God most high and a very clear explanation or illustration rather of a camel passing through the eye of the needle into the very Kingdom of Heaven itself well in conclusion we have the object of Mercy the emphasis in scripture is clear Jesus came to call Sinners to repentance there was nothing in Zacchaeus wasn't that Zacchaeus Was a better version of the other jerichoites wasn't that Zacchaeus Was somehow on his you know on the way on the path on the right track he was curious that's what led him up into the tree it was grace that brought him down from the tray we see that Zacchaeus is a picture of a sinner it's not just you know Garden variety Sinners that God Saves though he does save Garden variety Sinners he saves the really bad Sinners and that should be good news to all Sinners because God in his mercy and Grace is about saving sinners in God's purpose and plan this man Zacchaeus Was in fact a son of Abraham one chosen by God from before the foundation of the world that would meet Jesus in Jericho while he's in a sycamore tree and come to a saving knowledge of our Blessed Redeemer as well we see the glory of Christ Jesus says back in chapter 18 specifically at verse 27 the things which are impossible with men are possible with God the things which are impossible with men are possible with God you might know somebody you think oh no there's no way that person could be saved perhaps person said that about Zacchaeus perhaps they thought there's no way that man will ever come to God that man will never get religion that man will never be center right that man will never know Salvation And yet With God all things are possible and we see it fleshed out in the very passage that we're considering as well the Lord Jesus describes his mission to seek and to save not again form a new religion or set a new example and what we find Illustrated here is what we see in First Corinthians chapter six you can turn that First Corinthians chapter 6 specifically verses 9 to 11. First Corinthians chapter 6 verse 9 do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God do not be deceived neither fornicators nor idolaters nor adulterers nor homosexuals nor sodomites nor thieves nor Covetous nor drunkers nor revilers nor extortion or will inherit the kingdom of God and such were some of you but you were washed but you were Sanctified but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of our God first Timothy 1 15 the Apostle Paul says this is a faithful saying worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world Sinners to save so Zacchaeus is a wonderful illustration of that and then finally in terms of the gospel of Christ there is a similarity here between Zacchaeus and between Matthew we looked at Matthew in Luke Chapter 5. there is a similarity Christ their answers the grumbling Pharisees and scribes when they complain that he eats with Sinners he says of course the physician goes to the sick The Physician doesn't go to the healthy you don't you know start a business as a doctor and you know spend all your effort and time on the health you go to the sick as well he says this was what was prophesied concerning me in the prophet Hosea I deserve I I I require Mercy over sacrifice and then that specific illustration of why he came to call The Sinner to repentance and he does that here specifically with Zacchaeus as well Gill says such who come to Christ must quit all their exalted thoughts of themselves of their riches fullness and self-sufficiency and come to him as poor and needy for such only he fills with his good things and of their health and soundness and come to him the great physician as sick and diseased and of their purity and goodness Holiness and righteousness and come to him as Sinners but it must be Mighty Grace to cast down imaginations and high things that exalt themselves against Christ and the knowledge of him and to Humble a proud Sinner and bring him to the feet of Jesus well as We Gather tonight for the supper we rejoice in the one who said the son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost we once were lost we're now found we were dead and now we live we were blind and now we see so let us eat this bread and drink this cup and in this proclaim the Lord's death until he comes will let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for your grace we thank you for your son the Lord Jesus Christ Our Savior Our Redeemer our Lord our friend and conqueror and we thank you for this ordinance that reminds us rehearses for us that death at Calvary on behalf of Sinners that broken body that shed blood we give praise to you that we have been blessed and included in this wonderful Covenant and that we now by faith in Jesus are sons of Abraham we rejoice in your loving kindness and in your goodness and we pray now through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well you can turn to Matthew chapter 26 for the section that will read after the brothers pass out the bread just a couple of preliminary thoughts before we participate in the supper first the sacrament or ordinance of the supper is for believers only for those who by grace who confessed faith in Jesus Christ the sacrament is for believers who are dealing with their sin we see that in First Corinthians chapter 11 those who are seeking to be faithful in terms of their sins before God and men as well we see the sacrament is a means of Grace ultimately to be sure but the actual elements don't change in Roman Catholics Catholic theology they change from one thing into another in Lutheran theology they kind of almost change but uh they don't like the Catholics but there is something more going on in terms of Lutheranism for us as reformed people they remain Bread and Wine though they are moved from a profane or non-sacred use into sacred use but they don't become something other the bread represents our savior's body the the wine represents the savior's blood so these things are not transubstantiated we're not engaged in a sacrifice of a atonement rather there is a memory aspect do this in remembrance of me but it is a means of Grace wherein God strengthens and encourages weary pilgrims and then ultimately the sacrament points us to Christ it's not the case that we are to focus or to be preoccupied with ourselves certainly we confess our sins we forsake our sins but we look unto the Lord Jesus Christ who is they the Savior for Sinners well we'll read the section in Matthew chapter 26 verses 26 to 30 after the brothers pass out the bread and while they pass out Brad we will sing number 4 36. number 436 and you may excuse me remain seated [Music] foreign [Music] there is reason s [Music] so it's amazing things thank you blessings [Music] foreign [Music] 26 we read and as they were eating Jesus Took bread blessed and broke it and gave it to the disciples and said take eat this is my body well let us pray a gracious God and Father we thank you for the mission of the Savior on behalf of Sinners and we thank you that he has come to seek and to save that which was lost and though lost by Grace we have now been found and we associate it with what Jesus announces in in Luke 18 where he must go to Jerusalem he must be Tried by Wicked man he must be put to death and be raised again the third day we know it's because of the Gospel that we are saved we know it's because of the power of the life and death and resurrection of our savior that we will enter into the kingdom of heaven and we just bless you we praise you and we thank you for the sending of your son and we pray now in Jesus name amen take together we may turn to 338 in your hymn books again please remain seated if your inclined juice is in the outer ring and the wine is in the inner ring juice in the outer ring and wine in the inner ring we'll sing number 338. I love you yes thank you foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign please [Music] please foreign [Music] foreign foreign [Music] we continue reading in verse 27 then he took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying drink from it all of you for this is my blood of the New Covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins but I say to you I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drank it new with you in my father's Kingdom and when they had sung A Hymn they went out to the Mount of Olives well let us pray Our God and Father we know that first Covenant was ratified with blood according to Exodus 24 and we know that the second Covenant the better covenant made by the better surety of the Covenant the Lord Jesus Christ was ratified by Blood we see that in the Lord's Supper we see that in his words of of giving this to the church and even now cause us to reflect upon this reality that it's through that blood we have the Forgiveness of sins and we rejoice in this we rejoice in your loving kindness and in your mercy to us and in the gospel of our salvation and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen we'll take together foreign 352 will stand as we sing praise to God to conclude our worship this evening three five two [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign foreign [Music] the God of Peace who brought up our lord Jesus from the dead that great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the Everlasting Covenant make you complete and every good work to do his will working in you what is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever amen Our Father we thank you for this day we thank you for the privilege to gather in your house to worship you in spirit and Truth we pray that you would go with us now and watch over us and keep us by your grace and For Your Glory and we ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation