"Following Jesus means following the Lord who embraces all people at all times."

–Henri Nouwen

Shout out to our Kids Ministry Volunteers!

Here’s a cool story from Candy, our Kid’s Ministry Associate Director:

DCC KIDS has a number of kids with special needs who participate in our Sunday morning programming. One of our regular attenders is a child who has autism. He was struggling to transition from his 4K classroom to his Kindergarten classroom at the beginning of the school year. He thrives on consistency and routines, so making the jump from a preschool classroom to an elementary classroom is a big one! This past Sunday, with the support of a 1:1 volunteer buddy, he successfully participated in his new elementary classroom! This also means that his parents were able to attend service knowing he was safe and cared for downstairs.  

LUKE: Cost of Discipleship

Luke 19:1-10

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We’re diving back into the Gospel of Luke. After nine chapters introducing us to Jesus and His call, Luke now takes us with Him on the road to Jerusalem (Luke 9-19). Along the way, we’ll hear some of Jesus’ most famous teachings and stories, as He shows us what it truly costs to follow Him and why following Him is worth everything.

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The Big Idea

(What is the author's point?)

Salvation is freely offered to all!

Why It Matters

(Why is this relevant to us?)

Many sins blind us from seeing God. Some vices may be labeled as worse than others. If we see someone who is ensnared in a particular transgression, we may think they are beyond God’s redemption. We may see a speck in someone’s eye but neglect the log in our very own eye. The truth of the Gospel is that salvation is freely offered to all! Jesus came for the very ones we think are beyond redemption. The call of salvation is offered to all but requires an answer. The Rich Young Ruler failed to answer the call, but Zaccheus (another rich ruler) answered. Zaccheus was labeled beyond redemption by society. He was a Jewish tax collector working for the evil Empire of Rome. It's to him that Jesus offers the call of salvation. It is this same call he offers to all of us, to repent of our sins and follow him. No one, regardless of our occupation or upbringing, is beyond the call of salvation!

Good to Know

(What are some helpful insights into this passage?)

Verse 1: Jesus is continuing His mission to bring salvation to Jerusalem, and on His way brings salvation to Jericho, specifically to Zacchaeus. 

Verse 2: We are introduced to Zacchaeus. His name in Hebrew ironically means “pure” or “righteous.” He was a prominent, rich and Jewish tax collector. As a tax collector, that meant he worked for the Roman Empire and would have been viewed by his own countrymen as a traitor. Tax collectors were known for taking extra money off the top to fill their own pockets; nothing very righteous about that! 

Verses 3-4: Zacchaeus, despite having wealth and power, understood he was missing something and sought out Jesus. The crowds around Jesus were so large that Zacchaeus could not see Him. Whether he was physically short or the crowds would not permit Zacchaeus to see Jesus due to being a traitorous tax collector, is up for debate. Regardless, this did not stop Zacchaeus, and he used his crafty mind by climbing up a tree to see Jesus pass by. 

Verses 5-6: Jesus did not pass by Zacchaeus; rather, He spoke directly to him. Jesus “came to seek and save the lost.” Jesus supernaturally knows Zacchaeus’ name and calls out to him and said I “must” stay at your house, showing God’s divine intention to save Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus responded with joy and hurried to greet Jesus.

Verse 7: The crowd complains about Jesus spending time with someone like Zacchaeus, a sinner. This complaint is sadly ironic. They see the speck in Zacchaeus’ eye but fail to see the log in their own. 

Verse 8: Jesus’ decision to call Zacchaeus is immediately justified. Quickly, the complaint of the crowd is silenced by the reaction of Zacchaeus. When Jesus calls sinners, it changes us. As one pastor said, “An experience of God that cost nothing does nothing.” Zacchaeus shows a repentant and reconciled heart by giving back to those whom he cheated. This rich ruler responds correctly by giving back to others.

Verses 9-10: Jesus declares salvation to Zacchaeus’ house. Zacchaeus is a “son of Abraham,” the father of the faith. It is important to note Zacchaeus’ repentance was a response to Jesus’ call. He is a true son of Abraham/the faith because of his faith in Jesus.

Group Guide

Following the series with your group? 

• Start with some icebreaker questions.
• Read the passage together before you dive in. 
• Share any insights from the message. Use the questions below to get your conversation started.

Conversation Starters

1. Compare and contrast Zaccheus and the Rich Young Ruler. What do you notice as contrasts and similarities? 

2. What does Zacchaeus’ conversion teach us about repentance? 

3. What can we learn from Zacchaeus about making amends?

4. How does Jesus’s unexpected choice to visit Zacchaeus challenge the crowd’s judgment?

5. Luke doesn’t say anything about Zacchaeus’ motives; what does Luke's silence suggest about what matters most in the story?

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank you for the gift of salvation. Thank you that you came to seek and save the lost. We had all gone astray, pursuing our own ways, but you sought after us. Help us to seek the lost. Amen.

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