Climbing Above the Crowd to See Jesus, Humbly Coming Down to Serve Him

Luke 19:1-9

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.

• Jesus walked through a resort community and took note of a rich man.
• We set ourselves apart from the crowd to see Jesus.
• Jesus wants us to humble ourselves and receive Him joyfully.
• Coming to God through Jesus Christ is our Salvation.

Jesus walked through a resort community and took note of a rich man. “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.” Luke 19:1-2 Jericho was somewhat of an oasis city and called the “City of Palm Trees.” Today, Jericho sits inside the West Bank in Palestinian territory. Zacchaeus was a chief tax-collector, which means he worked for the Romans and makes himself rich by overcharging the amount owed. He was wealthy and living with the best of physical comforts. He is an example of those today who live for money, possessions, and physical comforts within the social network of the mark of the beast.

We set ourselves apart from the crowd to see Jesus. “And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.” Luke 19:3 The crowds will always be those who obstruct the ability to see Jesus. They live on the broad way of mainstream society and does not believe God and discards the need for Jesus Christ. People are not able to see Jesus because society makes sure to block the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.” Luke 19:4 If we are going to be able to see Jesus, we have to run from the rest, climb above them and focus on Him. We set ourselves apart from the majority and keep our focus on Jesus.

Jesus wants us to humble ourselves and receive Him joyfully. “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.” Luke 19:5 Jesus Christ will always take note of anyone who comes apart from the crowd to focus on Him. What He doesn’t want is for us to put ourselves above others, and He tells us to come down from that elitist attitude. In that humbleness, Jesus Christ comes into our house, our body, to make us the home of the Holy Spirit. “So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.” Luke 19:6 All we have to do is come down from a superior attitude over others, and joyfully receive Jesus. “But when they saw it, they all grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Luke 19:7 Those who have made their house the home of the mark of the beast doesn’t like it when others are humble enough to live for Jesus.

Coming to God through Jesus Christ is our Salvation. “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.” Luke 19:8 Zacchaeus was willing to give away to the poor the money and possessions that he gained while working for the Romans. He was willing to return even more to those he cheated by using his superior position. Any possessions and money that we have amassed by living for the mark of the beast, we should find a way to make it up to those who are living in destitution. Donating to institutional and community-based charities are probably not the way to do it. My mother used her “tithes” money to give to the needy that were all around her instead of giving to the church. She wanted her money to go where it would do the most good. “And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;” Luke 19:9 Salvation came to Zacchaeus because he was a son of Abraham, and Abraham is the father of everyone who believes God and comes to Him through Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11