The God of the Mulligan - October 17, 2021

by Pastor Jayson Martindale

The God of the Mulligan

 

Text: Luke 19:1-10

Thesis: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21-23).”

 

1. Zacchaeus had notoriety in Jericho.

 

1. 1. 1. “A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy (Luke 19:2).”

 

1. 1. Zacchaeus had a poor reputation as a tax collector and sinner.

 

1. 1. 1. “All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner (Luke 19:7).”

 

1. 1. From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus dealt with misrepresentation and notoriety.

 

1. 1. 1. “Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip  (John 1:44-46).”

 

1. Jesus saw beyond Zacchaeus’ sins and shortcomings.

 

1. 1. Jesus invited himself over to dinner!

 

1. 1. 1. “When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today (Luke 19:5).”

 

1. 1. Jesus saw Zacchaeus not for who he was, but who he had the potential to be.

 

1. 1. 1. “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).”

 

1. Zacchaeus was changed by his encounter with Jesus.

 

1. 1. 1. “So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly (Luke 10:6).”

 

1. 1. Zacchaeus was given a Mulligan, an opportunity to make things right!

 

1. 1. 1. “But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount (Luke 10:8).”

 

1. 1. Zacchaeus went above and beyond what was expected to bring reconciliation.

 

1. 1. Zacchaeus’ sincere heart of repentance led him to Salvation.

 

1. 1. “A seeking sinner had met a seeking Saviour.” Beacon Bible Commentary

 

1. 1. 1. “Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

 

1. 1. When we partner with Jesus, we help fulfill his mission to save people like Zacchaeus.

 

1. 1. 1. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:18-19).”