Straight Talk About Real Change

Most of you know that two weeks ago, I went with Larry Lowrie and my friend Scott Crossley to Washington DC for the President’s inauguration. It was a great day, with warm temperatures and a big enthusiastic crowd. After standing for 3 hours on the Capital Grounds, and seeing the swearing in ceremony and hearing the music and speeches, we made our way off Capital Hill toward Pennsylvania Avenue to try to watch the parade. But the crowds were huge, especially on the east end of the parade route.

So we began to walk west, toward the White House, but everywhere we went, it seemed the crowds were thicker than before, but as we got about two blocks away, we spotted a thin spot in the crowd, and made our way to the street. Larry and Scott are both pretty tall – Scott is 6’4”, and they could see pretty well, but I’m only 5’9”, and I couldn’t see anything but the back of the guys head in front of me – then I noticed that the light post next to me had a concrete base about a foot high, and I climbed up on it. What a view! It was great!

As the parade came, and the secret service vehicles got near, I noticed that Bush had gotten out and was walking hand in hand with Laura. Like the hundreds of others in the crowd, I waved. Then our eyes met, and he said, “Pastor Bob! Come down off that light pole! We’re going to have dinner together!” So I climbed in the limousine, and we road together to the White House and had tuna sandwiches.

NOT! No, that really didn’t happen – but I wanted to give you that image because of I want you to get a feel for the story from the Bible we are going to look at today.

Pick up your Bibles, or if you don’t have one, pick up one of the Bibles on the chairs around you and turn to the biography of Jesus written by Doctor Luke. The Gospel of Luke is the third book of the New Testament, and we are going to be looking at a story of an extreme makeover that is related to us in the 19^th chapter of Luke’s biography. Please follow along as I read it to you:

1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 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." 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." 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 fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."[i]

Change. To some the word is fraught with danger. They hate change. They want things to be safe, they enjoy the status quo. Change means “uncertainty, unfamiliar, uncomfortable.”

Others love change. They are excited by new ideas – they love stretching the limits and setting out on new adventures. To them change means “opportunities, new horizons, improving conditions.”

No matter where you come down on the issue of change – it is a part of your life. It may be said that they only thing that does not change is that change happens. Some changes are for the better, some are not. But change is a part of life.

Right now, our culture is obsessed with change. If you have a television, then you cannot help but be confronted with the “Makeover” movement. From local morning television shows to Oprah to national networks, it seems like everyone has a makeover show, where they take a person and change them into something new. It has grown into a hugely popular shows like “Extreme Makeover,” “Ugly Duckling,” and others. People who are, shall we say, “aesthetically challenged” are transformed into “beautiful people.”

It has even grown into a whole new area where they don’t makeover people, but they completely make over homes! People, usually needy, are surprised by a team of experts who come in and completely remodel, and in some cases re-build their home in 7 days.

But the change that takes place, particularly those that deal with making over human beings, is limited to the external. Oh, sure, there is a change in the confidence level of a person when they suddenly are transported into the ranks of the lovely, but they are still essentially the same person. They still like the same foods, have the same fears, own the same problems.

Today, as we continue our series “Straight Talk About Real Life,” we are going to look at Straight Talk about Real Change. Change that goes far beyond the surface. Change that reaches into the core of who we are as people. Change for doesn’t simply make us look better on the outside, but change that makes us better inside.

Zacchaeus is often identified with kids because he is known as that wee little man who climbed up in a Sycamore tree. Kids are small and love to climb trees so there is a natural identification with Zacchaeus. But the story of Zacchaeus is not just for kids. His is a remarkable story of the power of Christ to change the hearts of men and women alike. It is even more remarkable when we realize that just before this encounter Jesus had just told His disciples, “It’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (18:25). Obviously, Zacchaeus is an example of a rich man who does just that – and was possible only because he experienced an extreme makeover on the inside.

I think that it is interesting that the name Zacchaeus means “righteous one,” yet Zack was anything but righteous. He was a tax collector – believe it or not tax collectors were even less popular then than they are now! Because tax collector in occupied Israel were working for the occupying Roman government. He was working for the enemy, but worse, his job for the enemy was to take money from his own people – and his wealth was based on how much he could gouge the people! Tax collectors were despised by the Jews, but he was loved by Jesus.

Zacchaeus is an example of an extreme makeover of the personal kind. The scriptures show us Zacchaeus before Christ, but also Zacchaeus after coming to Christ. Let’s take a before and after look at him.

In verses 2-4 we read that Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, so he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree. In the Middle East, running is something that was done by children, never by adults. It was very unusual for a man to run, especially someone with the wealth and power of a government official. But Zacchaeus was so excited to see Jesus that he became like a little child – he even climbed a tree to get a better view. Zacchaeus had this child-like curiosity that drove him to do the extreme to see Christ.

Can’t you see him? Running around – “Hey, what’s going on?” “Why the big crowd?” Who’s there, I can’t see?” “What am I missing?” Just like a child – and of course the people were not inclined to help him at all – they hated him!

But Jesus loved him – Jesus knew that Zacchaeus was like a child in a lot of ways – lonely, hurting, feeling rejected. Jesus also knew that Zack’s heart was in the right place – Just a few days before, Jesus had said, (look over in 18:17) “Anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Zack was right there. His childlike behavior, coupled with a child-like faith, resulted in an extreme personal makeover.

Zacchaeus thought that he was doing all he could to seek after Jesus, but it was actually Jesus who was looking for him! There is some amazing truth in verse 5 – when Jesus looked up and addressed Zack by name. Just ponder that for a moment…when I told that fictional account of me being called by name off the lamppost in Washington, you all knew that I was making it up – “Sure Bob, President Bush knew you and called you by name – sure he did!” But the reality is that Jesus Christ, God Himself in the flesh, knew Zack by sight, and called him by name. The one who was seeking to find Jesus was actually being sought by God!

You may feel like you are on a search for God – you may even think that that’s why you are here today. The fact is, God is seeking you – He has brought you here, He has directed your path to this place and this time – He has brought the circumstances into your life that have put you out on the limb you are on right now – so that He can get your attention, call you by name, and have a new relationship with you. God seeking you! Just dwell on that for a moment – look through your life through those lenses for a while – it will change your vision of the world.

You know, none of us can control our physical stature. Some of us are born “a short man” like me; others are born tall, like my friend Scott Crossley. It’s not our fault. It wasn’t Zach’s fault that he was short, but he did what he could to overcome the disadvantage by climbing a tree.

Spiritually speaking, we are all short. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” None of us, event he tallest, even the best, can measure up to God’s standards. If getting into heaven was like the height requirements at Six Flags – “You must be this tall to get in” – then we would all be refused admission.

But most people think that they are “big enough.” They think they are good enough. Just ask them! “Do you think you will go to heaven?” “Well, I hope so.” “Why do you think you will go?” “Well, I try to live a good life, I treat people right, and I’m not as bad as some.” They think they measure up!

But they don’t. Neither do I. Neither did Zach. But Jesus was able to change that. Over the course of this story, Zacchaeus is transformed from “a chief tax collector” in verse 2 – hated and despised, and “a short man” in verse 3, into “a Son of Abraham.” In verse 9. Zacchaeus became a child of promise, a child of faith, a child of God because of the extreme makeover that God did in his life.

Jesus invited Himself into Zach’s home, but Zach invited Jesus into his life. When Jesus entered the house, He was Zacchaeus’ guest, but by the time he left, He was Lord of the manor. Zach had given his heart and soul to Jesus, which is shown by the obedience and change in his life. The one who had been only interested in himself, and his own comfort and riches, was not driven to make things right with those he had stepped on. The self righteous people who were critical of Jesus for going to Zach’s house, it would seem were left in their old, broken down excuses for a life – but Zach experienced new life in Jesus because he experienced an extreme makeover – real change in his life that made all the difference in the world.

Zacchaeus was still the excited man we see climbing a tree at the beginning of the story, but his life had been radically changed. He woke up one morning hated by his neighbors and only interested in himself – but by that night, He had met the Son of God, had fellowship with Him, and had his life radically changed. Jesus concludes the story by telling us that He is seeking and saving the lost. Have you experienced real change in your life? Do you need an extreme makeover?

Luke tells us that “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Come down immediately, I must stay with you today!’ And Zach came down at once and welcomed him gladly.” This morning, we are going to answer the Master’s call. We are going to “celebrate” communion. We do this on a regular basis because Jesus has asked us to. He instructed His followers to regularly gather at the table, to break bread, and to share a cup in His memory.

The bread represents his body, striped, pierced and broken for us. The Bible says, “He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5. Jesus allowed his body to be beaten, punched, abused and pierced with nails and thorns, and each welt on his body, each bruise, each cut was there because of my sin, and yours. We remember his broken body in this bread.

The cup represents His blood, which was shed for us. The Bible tells us that without the shedding of blood there is not forgiveness of sins. Jesus allowed his blood to be poured out for your sins and for mine, so that we can have a way of being forgiven, and have peace with God.

We invite you to the Lord’s Table. Whether you are a member of this church or not, we invite you. The only requirement is that you know Jesus as your Savior – that He has done that extreme makeover in your heart. If you are still seeking Him – or better yet, if He is still seeking you, and you have not answered His invitation yet, then please refrain from partaking today – it’s OK – in fact, I want you to give that serious thought this morning. Has Jesus Christ remodeled your life? If not, you can ask him to do so right now, and then join us for this part of our service. But if you are not ready to accept his invitation, then I ask you to wait.

You know how they do the unveiling on those makeover shows? They get the family all together and then the reveal the results of the makeover work. Then everyone screams and cries for joy. Some laugh, some dance, some fall to their knees…Well, today, we are going to do communion in an extreme makeover way. We are truly going to celebrate what God has done for us. As the praise team comes up to lead us in a song of rejoicing and worship, I’m going to ask you to get up from where you are seated, come forward, help yourself to the bread and the cup, and partake of it. You may do so right here, or go back to your chair – it’s up to you. But we are here to celebrate the makeover God has done.

Today, Jesus is saying to you, “Come down immediately, I want to fellowship with you!” Let’s do so gladly!

Join us as we sing “I will worship,” and as you are ready, come down, to the Lords table, fellowship with him, and do so with a glad and joy-filled heart!