Last week, we had a blessed gathering at Kijima Hotel; at the Keswick Convention. It was held after being supported by many peoples' prayers. I am sure that the main speakers, the Rev. Raymond Brown, of England, and Rev. Chon, of South Korea, are one of the best used speakers in the world. If you are interested, we could provide you with some tapes from the convention.

I still have a clear memory of my Israel visit. And, I would like to get back to that experience for now: When I visited Lake Galilee, I felt something filling me up inside. It was overwhelming. Just thinking of being at the location where the Lord Himself walked makes me feel excited. I was at that place.

Today, we read the verse in Luke that talks about when Jesus walked through the town of Jericho. Jericho is first mentioned to us from the Bible in Joshua 5:10

Commentary

II Kings 2:18

Commentary

The Israelites walked around the wall of the town for one week in silence. They never talked to each other. Someone has said that it is a hard thing to not talk at all for one week. So, on the seventh day, when they shouted, they shouted at the top of their voices! To add to the emotions of that experience, the wall collapsed, and they started to conquer that town and the places near by. In this town, Jericho, there was the river of Jordan, which became the river that Jesus was later baptised in. And, near this river there stands the 'mountain of temptation' where Jesus was tempted by Satan after His forty days fast. In so many points, this town, Jericho, is special to God's promise.

In today's scripture passage, Jesus is visiting this town before He faces His cross. This town is very special in His plan. Eph.1:4-5. We have not been saved by chance! It is God's plan to redeem us, and He made this plan even when we were in our mother's wombs. He made every single organ of ours in there. He indeed cares for us, and has a special plan for us.

Now Jesus fixed His eyes on a tax collector, Zacchaeus. He had been a very lonely man in all his wealth. You may have the same feeling once in a while, I am sure. Though surrounded by many people, you may feel lonely. Well, Zacchaeus always felt this way. It was necessary for him to meet Jesus. Luke 3:12,13.

After Jesus met Zacchaeus, a miracle began to happen (Mt.9:9); in a so-called sinner, a tax collector, Jesus' love began to tranform his desires! Jesus proclaimed that He had come into the world to find and save the sick and lost ones.

Zacchaeus may have met Matthew (Levi) at tax collector's meetings. I don't know but this is likely given the way that people work together. Perhaps he heard about Jesus through Matthew; how great He was, and how gracious He was. So, on hearing that Jesus was coming to his town, Zacchaeus longed to see Him for himself.

Luke 18:9. The Pharisees were thought to be the most faithful among the people at that time. However, we find the real truth expressed in this verse. St. Paul, who was a Pharisee, said that he was at the head of sinners. We are too, but can only really know this through the cross of the One who has forgiven us.

Jesus visited Jericho with the express purpose of saving Zacchaeus. He was Jesus' target. Recently, quite a few Christians have confessed that bringing people to Jesus is getting difficult. Though we try to spread the Gospel out to the people, they will not listen to our words. But, the other day, an idea was given to me by a lady. She thinks it is easier to introduce Jesus to those whom you feel comfortable with and can talk easily to; maybe those who have the same occupation, or interest, hobby or who are in a similar situation as you are. You can share more, and in a better way, with those who have things in common with you. When I was a high school boy, I became a Christian. Since I was a member of a tennis club, I naturally spread out the Gospel to other members of that club. Most of them accepted Jesus, and some of them are now pastors, or pastors' wives. Well, the same thing happened with the tax collectors. All those "sinners" believed in Jesus, and completely changed, having been forgiven.

In seeing Jesus approaching, Zacchaeus tried his best to get into a good position to see Him pass by. Finding a fig tree, he climbed it. (Now, the fig tree there was much stronger than the ones we have here in Japan.) To Zacchaeus' great astonishment, Jesus stopped, looked up in the tree and spoke to him. He said "come down to me" and Zacchaeus immediately came down.

God is calling us all the time to come to Him. In hearing the Father's voice, we naturally come running to Him.

Translated by Junko Okamoto - Edited for the Net by Shido For another sermon see: Oita Evangelical Christ Church For all sermon indicies see: cHaPeL nOaH sErMoN iNdEx