February 22, 2026

INVITATIONS: SEE WHAT YOU CAN SEE

February 22, 2026

Senior Pastor Jonathan Falwell

For those who were raised in “Sunday School,” hearing a sermon about the short Jewish man, Zacchaeus, from the town of Jericho, was like meeting an old friend. The song that described his meeting with Jesus was written so long ago that neither the author nor the words are known—yet most believers can sing it! He was a real man, in a real time, whose life Jesus changed. This is not a parable but the story of a person who wanted to meet the Savior, and he was so sincere that Jesus made a special trip through Jericho to find Zacchaeus and go to dinner at his house. The sermon is very pertinent to our local church in March, as we prepare to go to the homes in our area, giving out Bibles and offering love and prayers to the residents.

Focal Passage: Luke 19:1-10.

Anyone can see Jesus:

  • Read Luke 19:1-3. As Jesus and the disciples were leaving Galilee, where were they heading? Why? Read Matt. 20:17-18. Turn to the back of your Bible, and locate the map of Israel in Jesus’ day: Was Jericho on the way—or out of the way?
  • What do you know about Zacchaeus? What were some of the things known about tax collectors in that day? What was his financial portfolio like?
  • Why do you think he wanted to see Jesus? Why could he not see around the crowds? Can you imagine (from standing in lines or driving) how frustrated he must have gotten, wondering how he was going to see Jesus—and no one bothered to help him?

It might take some action on our part:

  • Read Luke 19:4. What options did Zacchaeus feel he had when he saw that the crowds were so large? He was a very rich man who had lived a sinful lifestyle; how much do you think pride figured in his life? Do you think he realized he could not change his height, so he would have to get creative if he was going to see Jesus?
  • In that Jewish culture, it wasn’t fitting for an adult man to be running down the road or climbing a tree; could his pride have prevented him from doing either of those things? Would most men think, “I don’t want people to see me doing this.”?
  • What if Zacchaeus had not climbed into the tree to see Jesus? Are you letting pride in any way affect your willingness to minister to your church –or your town?

But Jesus will always see you:

  • Read Luke 19:5. When Jesus arrived at the tree, what did He call out to Zacchaeus? Why did Jesus tell him that “it was necessary” for Him to go to his house that evening?
  • Had Jesus come through Jericho for only this one? Can you think of other instances from Scripture where He went out of His way in order to minister to one person? Read Luke 7:11-17. Did you recall that Jesus had gone to Nain for the widow’s son? How did the people respond? Read Mark 5:1-20. Why did Jesus need to meet this person?
  • Read John 4: 3-4, 7, 39. Did Jesus need to go to Samaria? For whom? What was the result? Luke 8:43-48, Matt. 8:5-13 and Mark 10:46-52 are more examples of His kindness in going out of the way for the one.

And He will always accept you as you are:

  • Read Luke 19: 6-7. How did Zacchaeus respond? When the Bible records that he welcomed Jesus joyfully, one wonders what was going through his mind. Did Jesus give him a chance to clean his house or change his clothes?
  • The crowd hasn’t changed since Jesus’ time, has it? Why can we say that? Why do people not see themselves as sinful when they’re judging others?
  • Who are some other examples of those whom Jesus loved when they were quite unlovely to those around them? Do you think that’s why Charlotte Elliott wrote “Just as I Am”?

So, turn to Him today:

  • Read Luke 19:8-10. Zacchaeus was so filled with anticipation that it seems as if he verbally started pouring out the sins those complainers listed. Was this genuine repentance?
  • How did Jesus respond? Was Zacchaeus a changed man? Is this the genuine outward sign of an inward change? Read 2 Cor. 5:17. Does everyone have an inward change? What if they had been “a good person”? Read Romans 3:23. Was this your answer?
  • Jesus tells Zacchaeus why He had come. Now He has commissioned us to help. Are we doing so?

Close: 

The account of Zacchaeus’s salvation is a beautiful illustration of someone who was totally willing to accept the Messiah who had come to earth to “seek and save the lost.” It has a storyline that can apply to almost everyone. For instance, how many rich people exist? So many that Jesus told His disciples that it is very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. We see Zacchaeus knew instinctively that he had acquired much wealth through unethical means, as he immediately began confessing those sins and was willing to return the ill-gotten riches. His repentance was so genuine that Jesus remarked that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house that day.

Zacchaeus also had a physical characteristic that caused him problems—and possibly shame. Have you ever hated the way that God made you? Perhaps your nose, height, weight, skin color, parents, etc.? He could so easily have given up trying to see Jesus when the crowd towered over him. Are you usually aware of shorter people who are trying to see, perhaps alongside ropes at a parade, in an arena—ad infinitum—and you let them stand in front of you, so they can see? Do you help anyone who is trying to “see Jesus”? Do you grumble at a dirty or scantily-clad person coming to church to see if this Savior they’ve heard of exists? Do you glare, hoping to shame them? Or do you love them and help them in any way you can so they can find Jesus?

We could go on and on. Make certain you are loving people as much as you say you love God.

By Sandy Day

February 22, 2026

/by