 The Gospel described a chief tax collector who found and followed Jesus. Let’s see what happened to him, particularly his transformation. Luke 19:1-10.
Jesus went to Jericho. Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, was short and couldn’t see Christ over the crowd. What was he hoping to see? During those days, people hated tax collectors. Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, collected taxes and cheated people along the way. Luke19:8. It wouldn’t be surprising he would see judgment, anger, and hatred in everyone’s eyes. John 8 described teachers of the law and the Pharisees bringing a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. During those days, such a woman would be stoned to death. Christ asked any of them without sin to throw the first stone. Gradually, they all left. Then Christ told the woman to go and leave her life of sin. Jesus didn’t lead with accusation, contempt, or self-righteousness. He judges, but He is full of grace and mercy. He accepts us and He sacrifices Himself for us. May be that’s why the worst type of people and those on the fringe of society are attracted to Him and listen to Him. To see Jesus, Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed up a tree. When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and told Zacchaeus He must stay at his house that day. Zacchaeus gladly welcomed Christ. When the people started muttering about Christ going to a sinner’s house, Zacchaeus at once openly promised he would give half of his possessions to the poor and pay back four times the amount he cheated from anybody. This was Zacchaeus’ transformation. Christ came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10. We are sinners. Yet, Christ calls us and invites us to Him. Let’s learn from Him and follow Him. Take on His yoke and His way of life. In Him, we would find rest for our souls. Our life will be transformed, and we really will live. Summary of sermon by Eugene Lee https://menlo.church/series/the-way#/modal/message/5654/mlo 发现并跟随耶稣 福音书描述了一位税吏长发现了耶稣后接着便跟随祂。 让我们看看发生了什么，特别是他的转变 (路加福音 19:1-10)。 耶稣去了耶利哥。首席税收官撒该身材矮小，在人群中他看不到基督。那他希望看到什么呢？ 在那些日子里，人们都讨厌收税员。首席收税员撒该不只收税，他还哄骗别人的钱财 （路加福音19：8）。他不足为奇地在每人眼中看到了对他的判断，愤怒，和憎恨。 约翰福音8章描述了律法导师和法利赛人将犯奸淫的女子带到耶稣面前。在那时，这样的妇女会受到被扔死的惩罚。基督要他们当中没有犯罪的人扔下第一块石头。他们逐渐地散离了。然后基督叫那女子离开, 并且吩咐她停止罪恶的生活。 耶稣不会以指责，蔑视或自以为是来领导我们。祂的审判是充满了恩典和怜悯。祂接纳我们, 也为我们牺牲。或许这就是最糟糕的和处于社会边缘的被祂吸引和听祂的话的原因。 为了可以见到耶稣，撒该便跑到前面，然后爬上一棵树。 耶稣到了那里，跟着抬头告诉撒该说那天祂必须留在他家里。 撒该高兴地欢迎基督。 当人们开始嘀咕基督去罪人的家时，撒该便立即公开承诺，将他的一半财产捐给穷人，并偿还他从任何人那里骗取的四倍。 这就是撒该的转变。 基督来寻找并拯救失喪的人 （路加福音19:10）。 我们是罪人。然而，基督呼召我们并邀请我们到祂那里。让我们向基督学习，及跟随祂。承担祂的轭和祂的生活方式。在祂那里我们的灵魂会找到安息。 我们的生命会改变，并我们将确实地活过来。 Comments are closed.
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