Sunday, 13 June 2021
Title: The story of Zacchaeus
By Elder Yu Chin Shie

Luke 19:1-10
“When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. ‘Zacchaeus!’ he said. ‘Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your house today.’” Luke 19:5 NLT

I am sure most of us know the story of Zacchaeus from our Sunday School days or Vacation Bible School (VBS). When I am reminded of the story of Zacchaeus, I can’t help singing (at least in my mind), the popular kids’ song with the catchy lyrics:

“Zacchaeus was a very little man
and a very little man was he.
He climbed up into a sycamore tree
for the Saviour he wanted to see.
And when Jesus passed that way
He looked into the tree
{spoken} and said ‘Now Zacchaeus,
you come down,
for I’m coming to your house for tea.”

When our three children were in preschool, I like to sing this song to them. I guess it was drummed so much into them that they could still remember it even now as adults. If you were to ask them, they could likely sing it for you!

The story of Zacchaeus has a lot of significance to me. It is not just a story for Sunday School kids. It speaks to all regardless of our age and station in life.

For those who are not familiar with Zacchaeus, his story is recorded in the gospel of Luke 19:1-10.

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector in the city of Jericho. He collected taxes from his people, the Jews, on behalf of the Romans. Hence, he was not popular and considered a traitor or sinner. Despite being very wealthy, he was vertically challenged. One day he heard that Jesus was passing by Jericho on the way to Jerusalem. He had heard much about Jesus, all His miracles, healings and His profound teaching. He was eager to have a glimpse of Jesus as He passed by. Due to his height limitation, he climbed up a sycamore tree to get a good view of Jesus. To the great surprise of all, when Jesus passed by under the sycamore tree, He stopped and called on Zacchaeus by name:

“Zacchaeus! Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your house today.”

You could read the remaining of the story from Luke 19: 6-10.

Essentially, the encounter with Jesus made Zacchaeus a new man. His life was totally transformed. Jesus said to him:

“Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” Luke 19:9-10

My testimony

I was in a Christian student camp in Melbourne in May, 1972. Despite being a youth leader in my church before I went overseas for study, I had back slidden. I was disillusioned with life and seeking for purpose and meaning. I did not have a personal relationship with God then and there were serious doubts I had about the Christian faith. I was invited to the camp by a few concerned Christian students from the Melbourne OCF.

On the last night of the camp, there was an evangelistic meeting. That was nearly 50 years ago, but I could still remember vividly what happened.

The speaker’s message that night was based on the story of Zacchaeus. Even though there were many students in the hall, it seemed like Jesus was speaking to me. I did not intend to be serious in reaching out to God. But the Lord, like in the story of Zacchaeus, asked me to come down from where I was (with my doubts and hesitation) to receive Him into my life. I remembered I was trembling all over during the sermon which I believe was due to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. When the altar call came, I was the first to go up front to acknowledge I have committed my life to Jesus. The rest as we say, is history.

My appeal to all who are seeking for meaning in life and have doubts and fears, (especially during this uncertain and difficult Covid pandemic time), to please come down from where you are.

Jesus is calling you today by your name. He doesn’t just know about you, He knows you! He knows your fears, your dreams, your regrets, your struggles, your every failure, your every pain and every sin. He loves you, He believes in you, and He wants to bless you. He wants you to climb down from your tree … to go from checking Him out to inviting Him in.

Will you respond to Him today?

Prayer –

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your great love for me by sending your Son, Jesus Christ to die for me while I was still a sinner. I want to submit my life to you so that You will be my Lord and Saviour.

In Jesus name I pray,
Amen

每日灵粮
星期日
2021 年 6 月 13 日
题目：撒该的故事
作者：余清熹长老
翻译：林良億姐妹

路加福音 19:1-10
5 耶稣到了那里，抬头一看，对他说：“撒该，快下来！今天我必住在你家里。”

我相信我们大多数人从主日学或假期圣经学校 (VBS) 听过撒该的故事。当我想起撒该的故事时，我情不自禁地唱起（至少在我的脑海中）一首流行的儿歌，歌词朗朗上口：

“从前有一个人名叫撒该
他是一个矮小的人
有一天他定要爬上桑树
要看耶稣究竟是谁

耶稣从桑树下经过
抬头看见他在那里
今天我必住在你家
今天我必住在你家。”

我们的三个孩子在上幼儿园的时候，我喜欢给他们唱这首歌。我猜灌输程度挺深的，因为成年后他们仍然记得它。如果你问他们，他们很可能会为你唱这首歌！

撒该的故事对我来说意义重大。这不仅仅是主日学的故事。无论我们的年龄和生活地位如何，它对所有人都有某种特殊的意义。

对于那些不熟悉撒该的人，他的故事被记录在路加福音 19:1-10 。

撒该是耶利哥城的税吏长。他代表罗马人向他的人民犹太人征税。因此，他很不受欢迎，被认为是叛徒或罪人。尽管非常富有，却身材矮小。一天，他听说耶稣在去耶路撒冷的路上会经过耶利哥。他听过很多关于耶稣和祂所有的奇迹、医治和深刻的教导。当耶稣经过时，他很想目睹耶稣的风采。由于身高限制，他爬上一棵桑树，这样就能很好地看到耶稣。出乎所有人的意料，当耶稣从桑树经过时，祂停下来，叫着撒该的名字：

“撒该！快，下来！我今天一定要到你家做客。”

你可以阅读路加福音 19:6-10 的其余故事。

本质上，与耶稣的相遇使撒该成为一个新人。他的生活彻底改变了。
耶稣对他说：9 “今天救恩临到这家了，因为他也是亚伯拉罕的子孙。 10 人子来是要寻找和拯救迷失的人。”

我的见证

1972 年 5 月，我在墨尔本的一个基督徒学生营里。尽管在出国留学之前，我是教会的青年领袖，但我属灵状态已退缩不前。我对生活和寻求目的和意义感到失望。那时我与上帝没有个人关系，我对基督教信仰有严重的怀疑。我被一些关心我的墨尔本海外基督徒团契（Oversea Christian Fellowship） 的基督徒学生受邀参加基督徒学生营。

在营地的最后一晚，有一个布道会。那是将近 50 年前的事了，但我仍然清楚地记得当时发生的事情。

那天晚上演讲者的信息是基于撒该的故事。尽管大厅里有很多学生，但耶稣似乎在对我说话。我无意认真接触上帝。但是主，就像撒该的故事一样，要求从我所在的地方（带着我的怀疑和犹豫）下来，接受祂进入我的生活。我记得我在讲道当时浑身发抖，我相信这是因为圣灵在我们中间。当讲道结尾召唤时，我是第一个站在前面承认我已将生命交托给耶稣基督的人。后來的事也不用贅述了。

我呼吁所有寻求生活意义并有疑问和恐惧的人（尤其是在这个不确定和艰难的疫情时期），请您从所在的地方下来。

耶稣今天以你的名字呼唤你。祂不只是知道你，祂还了解你！祂知道你的恐惧、梦想、遗憾、挣扎，你的每一次失败、你的每一个痛苦和每一个罪恶。祂爱你，祂相信你，祂想要祝福你。祂希望你从你的树上爬下来：从只想看看耶稣转为邀请祂进入你心。

你今天会回应他吗？

祈祷：天父，感谢祢在我还是罪人的时候差遣祢的儿子耶稣基督为我而死，感谢祢对我的大爱。我要把我的生命交给祢，好让祢成为我的救主。我奉耶稣基督的圣名祈求祷告，阿们！