God’s Love: Radical. Relational. Right Now.

ILLUSTRATION: Discuss the popularity of the story of Zacchaeus in the context of children’s church — the song, the coloring pages, the Veggie Tales.

One of the most popular Sunday school stories was about a short man named Zacchaeus. We even sang a song that went: "Zacchaeus was a wee-little man, and a wee-little man was he. He climbed up in a Sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see."

My teacher seemed obsessed with his size. Kind of rude, right? He was little — we get it! It made sense to share this story with kids. Kids relate to tree climbing, feeling embarrassed, and shortness.

TENSION:

However cute and catchy the song may be, it encompasses so much more than a little man in a tree. It's also about the big love of our personal God.

• This bizarre encounter occurs while Jesus is on his way into Jerusalem, where he will ultimately be welcomed as king and then crucified as a criminal.

• Anticipation was flooding Christ's mind. Rumors of his journey echoed throughout the kingdom. The word on the street was that he was the Messiah, which meant that He would save everyone.

• They all assumed that meant He was going to save them from Roman occupation. They couldn't comprehend the true scale of His salvation.

• Notice in this Passage that Jesus went through Jericho. This was not the best way to get to Jerusalem. It was actually quite treacherous. He walked an extra 12 miles through a really bad part of town.

• Jesus did this because he knew that he needed to encounter this short man in a sycamore tree.

• Sometimes, you have to go out of your way for the sake of the gospel.

• After Jesus took this extra trip into Jericho, he was greeted by the kind of crowd you’d see at a Christmas Parade.

• People were packed in the city streets, shoulder to shoulder, just to see Jesus.

• Crowds gathered as Jesus entered Jericho. People were shoving each other to get a glimpse of the Messiah.

• The dense group created a problem for a curious man named Zacchaeus.

• He was too short to see Jesus over the crowd. He jumped up and down to try to get a glimpse. It didn't work. He might have even asked someone to pick him up, but that was a strange request.

• Then he saw his solution: a sycamore tree perched across the road. He hoisted himself up onto a branch to get a glimpse of King Jesus

• Branches cracked and leaves fell as this little man climbed up the tree.

• People looked up in disgust, as it was a major cultural faux-pas for a man to show his legs.

• (It’s pretty much impossible to climb a tree in a robe without exposing a little leg.)

• His plan paid off. Perched atop the tree, Zacchaeus was able to see Jesus.

• His sense of awe quickly became a sense of embarrassment when Jesus looked up into the tree. Their eyes met as he quickly tucked in his cloak. Jesus shouted from the street corner, "Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."

ILLUSTRATION: Tell the story of a time when you missed the point. For me, it was a time in my life when I assumed mission trips were just about travel.

• Jesus ministered to Zacchaeus without a church building or a temple courtyard. We can be at church and miss what it’s all about.

• We can sing music about how God loves us while refusing to love those around us.

• We can know a hundred Bible verses from going to AWANA, but miss something so valuable.

• It’s scary, but you can know the bible without knowing the author.

• We can know all about the stuff — but miss the most important thing

• You are not on earth to do nice Christian things…

• You are not called to just go to youth group.

• You are here to bring hope to the hopeless; to bring freedom to those in prison; to bring light to the darkness.

• You are ultimately called to show and share the love of God.

• We all love love! From the songs on the radio to the movies on the big screen, we love to watch a love story unfold. Our culture’s obsession with love has also made us grow detached from the true meaning. In the same breath, we can say we love biscuits and gravy while also saying we love God. Those two must be different, right?

• Let’s dig into God’s word and explore the nature of the most radical love of all time — the love of Jesus for you.

This story can teach us three things about the love of God:

1: God's love is radical.

• Zacchaeus was one of the most hated people in the entire city. He was a professional thief employed by the Romans to prey on the poor.

• Tax collectors were notorious crooks as they would extort people into paying them money in exchange for not sending them to prison.

• Tax collectors like Zacchaeus were completely outcasted from their culture.

• Nobody wanted anything to do with little him — except Jesus. He broke down cultural barriers to invite a hated man out to dinner.

• The love of Jesus is radical.

• He pushes past personality types, personal opinions, and even prejudice. Jesus loves people that culture turns their backs on.

• This includes the marginalized, disenfranchised, and ostracized. Jesus loves them. Jesus died for them. Jesus pursues them. You have never laid eyes on a person that Jesus didn't love.

• The radical love of Jesus transforms you from the inside out. It's contagious.

• When you experience true love, you want to share it with those around you.

• This is why the former crook chose to "give half of his possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, he will pay back four times the amount."

• When you encounter God's authentic love, you want to help other people experience it too. When you know Jesus, you will grow more generous, more compassionate, more forgiving, and more loving.

• Real love really changes you.

2: God's love is relational.

• With no friends or family, tax collectors often grew meaner as they grew lonelier.

• Constant rejection likely made them lash out even more. It created a vicious cycle that led to complete isolation.

• When Jesus looked up into that tree, He called Zacchaeus by name. It seems simple, but this shocked Zacchaeus to his core.

• Sure, he'd been called a lot of names, but it was rare for him to actually hear someone lovingly say his real name.

• People are bad at labeling others. We tend to identify individuals by their struggles, shortcomings, or social status.

• When culture calls us by our label, Jesus calls us by our name. He sees you and loves you.

• Zacchaeus had made some huge mistakes in life, so he certainly needed some correction. However, Jesus didn't lecture him.

• He just loved him. He didn't invite him to attend a class; Jesus invited him to dinner. This is a deeply relational and personal moment.

• In God's kingdom, there is room at the table for everyone.

3: God's love is right now.

• Jesus accepted Zacchaeus just as he was. He didn't demand him to clean himself up before dinner.

• Not at all. Christ loved him while looking up at Him in a tree. He didn't love a future version of him.

• Jesus just flat-out loved him right then in the present moment.

• God's love is both present and persistent. He loves you right now, just as you are — even with all your hiccups, emotional outbursts, blemishes, struggles, and angst.

• God doesn't love some new-and-improved version of you. He loves you — period. That's the end of the sentence.

• God loves you just as you are right now, but He also loves you enough to help you change. That's His persistence.

• Like a loving parent, Jesus wants the best for you.

• Thus, it's pivotal that you let God's love change your life.

TALK IT OUT Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Q1: What are some characteristics of God's love?

Q2: Tax collectors like Zacchaeus were automatically looked down on by society. How did Jesus view him differently?

Q3: What would it look like for all of us to love the people who society judges like Jesus?

Q4: Have you ever been treated poorly based on a label someone gave you? How would God label you instead?

Q5: Think of one person who may be going through a difficult time who you want reach out to this week. How can you care for them like Jesus showed his love for Zacchaeus?

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

John 9:13-34 1

John 5:1-12 1

John 5: 12-21

Psalm 71:15-16

Mark 5:1-20

Psalm 22:19-31 1

John 1:2-3

Do the following with each passage:

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.