Spending time with the Savior makes us like Christ

Luke 19:1-10

The Bible gives us several ways that we can become like Christ in this life.

One powerful way is through fellowshipping with the Savior.

Although we don’t have the privilege of physically spending time with Jesus as Zacchaeus does in this text.

But we can spend time with the Savior through studying, meditating, and applying God’s word to our lives.

Zacchaeus had an encounter with Jesus, and his life was never the same.
 
  1. There must be a desire to see Christ, to become like Christ- vs.2-3

“And behold there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was and could not for the press because he was of little stature.”

  1. He has everything the world would call successful.
  • A good job, chief tax collector
  • He is rich, probably living in a nice neighborhood
  1. But something was missing in his life
  • Life was not good, although he had good things
  1. Zacchaeus did not know exactly what was missing, but he heard about Jesus.
  • Indirect evangelism, somebody told him that Jesus can fix your life
He was a sinner, but he sought to see Jesus.
His life was empty; he desired a better life.
  • Money, positions, stuff, and things were not filling the void.
 
  1. We must put forth an effort to become like Christ- vs. 4-5

“And he ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him and said unto him, Zacchaeus make haste and come down for today I must abide at thy house.”

  1. Zacchaeus just didn’t do nothing, hoping things would change.
  2. He got in a hurry, filled with eagerness and determination to see Jesus
  3. He left his pride and his ego at the house and humbled himself, and climbed up a sycamore tree.
A lot of us can’t become like Christ, because we are too proud to admit that our lives are not what they ought to be and come to Jesus for help.

We don’t want people to know that we are miserable and not living on top of the world, but the world is on top of me!    

If you come to Jesus, he will not turn you away!

Jesus saw him, his emptiness, loneliness, and pain. And gave an invitation, Jesus offered Zacchaeus Himself

Zacchaeus make haste and come down for today, I must abide at thy house!
  • Jesus offered salvation with the ability to become like Christ
  • Everything we need to become like Christ is in salvation
 
  1. We must respond positively to God’s offer of Salvation- vs. 6

“And he made haste and came down and received him joyfully.”

  1. He heard the voice of Jesus and humbled himself 
  2. He came down from his high horse
  3. He received Jesus joyfully
  • He received grace from God
  •  Our life will never be right until we receive Jesus into our hearts as Lord and Savior
 
  1. God makes us like Christ when we spend time with the Savior- vs. 8-9.

“And Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord; behold Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him this day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham."

  1. Zacchaeus' standing is to indicate, he owned up to his sin; he confessed to them and repented
  2. Zacchaeus is changed; he is not the same crook he was; he met Jesus
  3. Zacchaeus is now like Christ after spending time with Christ.
If you hang around Jesus long enough, He will change your whole life.

Isa. 1:18. “Come now and let us reason together saith the LORD though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool.”


Look at the change since he met Jesus!
  1. He was cheating and robbing the poor, but now, Lord half of my goods I give to the poor.
  2. He was dishonest in collecting tax, but now, he says, if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.