LUKE 19 (PART 1): FAITH MUSTARD SEED

We are about to see
a really cool thing
happen at the beginning
of Luke Chapter 19

Get ready to observe
a mustard seed of faith
sprout into a root
before taking its shape.

Zacchaeus was his name,
and his soul contained
the Faith Mustard Seed.

He probably didn’t know
that it was even there,
until he heard the word
that Jesus was coming near.

He was the Chief Tax Collector
of the region of Jericho;
and this notorious rich man
found the eye of the needle!

This is the perfect representation
of the camel
who goes through
the eye of the needle,
that Jesus spoke about
in Luke Chapter 18
verse 25.

It may have been curiosity
that opened up his mind,
or it may have been loneliness
that opened his heart.

Regardless of the reason,
His desire to see
made Zacchaeus draw in closer
to the coming of the Lord.

He made it his mission
to get a good look at Jesus,
so he found an elevated position
that would overcome
his physical disposition.

His small stature
did not leave him much hope,
he was way too short
to see over the crowd.
So he ran ahead
and climbed a sycamore tree.
It was his heart’s desire
to be able to see.

Potential faith
is what this man had,
all beneath
a soiled facade.

The surprising thing
is that when Jesus came by,
He looked up
and called Zacchaeus
by name.

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

Zacchaeus quickly climbed down
and took Jesus to his house
in great excitement and joy,
his potential was found.

But the people who saw this
were highly displeased.
“He has gone to be the guest
of a notorious sinner,”
they grumbled ferociously.

Meanwhile,
Zacchaeus stood
before the Lord
and said,
“I will give half my wealth
to the poor,
and if I have cheated people
on their taxes,
then I will give them back
four times more!”

Jesus responded,
“Salvation has come
to this home today,
for this man has shown
himself to be a true son of Abraham.
For the Son of Man
came to seek and save
those who are lost.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:1-10‬

Isn’t this story of
Zacchaeus and Jesus,
the most beautiful thing
you have ever heard?

Here we see,
the Faith Mustard Seed
sprouting into a Man of Humility,
and my guess is
he stopped collected taxes,
but instead became
a servant to the Lord 
joyfully collecting souls for God.

The announcement of Jesus
brought crowds to the road,
but this was not enough
to keep this sinner away.
Although there was doubt,
Zacchaeus moved forward in hope.
His wonderment
drove him into position
to get the perfect look out!

He was strategic in placing himself
by acknowledging his disposition
and running ahead.

Then he must have waited
for Jesus to come,
patiently enduring
without losing his hope.

And when their paths crossed,
the most interesting thing happened,
Jesus knew his name
without even having an introduction.

Can you imagine?
The Lord knowing you
without ever having to be
formally introduced?

Isn’t God good?
It seems that just the act
of drawing in close,
is actually the process
that draws Jesus closer to us!

And not only
did Jesus know Zacchaeus by name,
but He said He must
be a guest in his house today!

I suppose the house
symbolizes our own human hearts,
and Jesus represents the Holy Spirit
living inside of us.

That has to be why
Zacchaeus had a heart change,
immediately when Jesus
called him by name.

All that he had done,
came straight to his mind;
He was totally convicted
of the damage he had caused,
and his desire was to repent
and pay it all back,
but not just what he took,
he wanted to pay back more.

Repentance is the reaction
for anyone who has
been accepted by Him;
and Restoration
is the response
of a Spirit-filled heart.

The story ends when Jesus says,
“Salvation has come
to this home today,
for this man has shown
himself to be a true son of Abraham.
For the Son of Man came to seek
and to save those who are lost.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭19:9-10‬ ‭

As I sit here soaking up this story,
I am completely entranced
by its beauty!
Every Parable
is an edible delight 
into the heart of Jesus.

The Faith Mustard Seed 
can be found in those who doubt,
and the Faith Mustard Seed
can be found in those who sell out.

A chief tax collector
had to be the worst kind of man,
he taxed the poor
to put money in the pockets
of rich men.
He served the government
of a worldly kingdom
that taxed to death
the citizen's that lived in them.
Yet we see beneath his occupation
that his heart is truly good.
He did not let the flesh
keep him away,
rather he focused on his faith
and believed that Jesus was coming.
He prepared a position
that would allow him to see,
the miracle worker
​that was heading to Jerusalem.