The Gospel of Luke - Zacchaeus: “Lost…But Didn’t Know It”

This sermon analyzes the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19:1-10, highlighting the theme of seeking and saving the lost. Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, is ostracized by society due to his profession. Despite facing public shame, he actively seeks Jesus, even climbing a sycamore tree to see him. This act of seeking demonstrates Zacchaeus’s desperate desire for redemption. Jesus, recognizing Zacchaeus’s sincere desire, chooses to dine with him, signifying acceptance and forgiveness. Teaching Elder, Debbie Courtney, then explores the broader implications of this story, relating it to the concepts of honor and shame in ancient cultures, the nature of God’s love, and the transformative power of repentance and faith. She concludes by posing a poignant question: are we the crowd, blocking others from seeing Jesus, or the sycamore tree, elevating them to find him?