Superbook

Lesson:

Jesus came to save each and every one of us and call us to repentance.

Extras

• Character Profiles

  • Zacchaeus

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    Zacchaeus

    

    Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector in Jericho and the surrounding area. He was a short man with few, if any, friends. Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus to find out what all the excitement was about. Jesus ordered Zachaeus to climb down the tree, for He must be a guest in his home! Zacchaeus' heart was changed that day; he was transformed. Salvation came to His home. He vowed to give half of his money to the poor and to return any money he had cheated from people; four times what he took!

    • Bible References

      • Luke 19:9
      • Luke 19:8
      • Luke 19:10
      • Luke 19:1

  • Jesus

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    Jesus

    

    Jesus is revealed in the Bible as the Son of God. He was first given this title by Gabriel, who spoke to Mary, saying: “So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). After Jesus was baptized by John, God said, “This is my dearly beloved Son, who brings me great joy." As the Son of God, Jesus was all powerful on earth. He healed the sick, cast out demons, walked on water, calmed the sea, and had the authority to forgive sins.

    • Bible References

      • John 3:16
      • Luke 1:35
      • Matthew 3:16-17
      • Genesis 1:1
      • Revelation 19:13
      • John 1:1-5
      • John 14:9
      • Mark 2:5-12
      • John 3:16
      • John 14:6
      • John 14:3
      • Acts 1:11
      • Revelation 19:13

• Adventure Guide

  • 

    Gizmo's Bible Adventures - Your New Journey with God

  • 

    Zacchaeus - Family Discussion Guide

• Q & A

  • What was Jesus' mission?

    Jesus was very clear about His mission on Earth. He came to seek and save the lost. The people in Jericho grumbled and complained that Jesus chose Zacchaeus, of all people, to visit with. After Zacchaeus received saIvation, Jesus declared why He chose to spend time with him. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke:19:10). Zacchaeus was not the only tax collector Jesus associated with; He called Levi Matthew to be one of His chosen twelve disciples. (Luke:5:27-32). As Jesus dined at Levi Matthew's home, the Pharisees complained to Jesus' disciples and asked why He would eat with such scum. Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” (Luke:5:31-32).
    
    Often, we choose to spend time only with other believers, but Jesus wants us to seek after those who need to hear the Good News. In Luke:15:3-5, Jesus told a story to illustrate this: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders." Jesus loves all of His followers and gave His life for them, However, He is constantly seeking after the lost to bring them home to Him. Zacchaeus repented of his sin and offered to pay back four times the amount he had cheated anyone. This is what Jesus was all about, coming to those who were lost so they may repent and return home. In the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, the heart and love of God in sending Jesus is so beautifully stated: "I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak." (Ezekiel:34:16).
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • Luke 19:10

  • What can block my view of Jesus?

    Zacchaeus heard the news like everyone else in town--Jesus was coming to Jericho! Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, but something was missing in his life. He needed to see what all the excitement was about. Yet, seeing Jesus wasn't going to be easy. The chief tax collector wasn't well liked, in fact, he was hated. By his own admission, he was a cheat! He would not be welcome among the people who lined the streets and followed Jesus. In fact, it was probably their chance to shove him aside and actually prevent him from seeing Jesus! Zacchaeus was also short in stature. He could not see over the crowd. Zacchaeus could have easily given up, but he refused to. He ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a tree to see Jesus. His determination did not go unrewarded. Jesus looked up into the tree and called Zacchaeus by name. Jesus wanted to be a guest in his home. Salvation came to Zacchaeus that day! (Luke:19:1-9).
    
    Zacchaeus overcame every obstacle that stood between him and Jesus.Are we willing to do the same? What is it that hinders our pursuit of Jesus? What gets in the way of spending time with Him each day? We must remove every obstacle that hinders us, as Zacchaeus did. There are many things that can get in our way; pride, status, possessions, relationships, self-righteousness, fear, religion, just to name a few. If we are open, the Holy Spirit will help us to identify what stands between us and a closer walk with Jesus. Then, we can ask for His help to remove these things. Proverbs:20:27 says, “The LORD's light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.” Are there things that we pursue for the wrong reasons? The Apostle Paul compares the Christian walk to a race and tells us to strip off every weight that slows us down, especially any sin that can trip us up. (Hebrews:12:1).
    
    We are bombarded by so many things in this world, good and bad. We must constantly be on guard to block or remove anything that hinders our relationship with Jesus. Ephesians:5:15 says, “So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.” Hebrews:4:12 also tells us that the Word of God will help us to identify and expose any wrong thinking or desires that that can affect a close walk with Jesus. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” This is not something we do one time; as things change in our lives and and as we grow older, we need God’s Word and Spirit to evaluate the things in our lives.
    
    Zacchaeus understood that his possessions and wealth were a hindrance to his new found relationship with Jesus. In Luke:19:8, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” God will help us to walk closer with Jesus if we are willing to listen and remove whatever stands in our way.
    
    
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    • Hebrews 12:1

  • What does Jesus see in me?

    The people in Jericho could not believe that Jesus would stop to talk with Zacchaeus. Didn’t He know that Zacchaeus was a notorious sinner who cheated them at tax time? Why would Jesus choose him and not ask to be a guest at the home of a Pharisee or other religious leader? Didn't Jesus see how they kept the law and all the good things they did? Why did He choose Zacchaeus, of all people in Jericho? (Luke:19:5-7).
    
    Jesus doesn’t care about "outer things" He looks inside to see people’s hearts. He knows everyone’s thoughts and deepest desires. He sees their fears and their passions. Jesus saw something in Zacchaeus that no one else could see from the outside. He saw Zacchaeus’ emptiness despite all his possessions and wealth. He saw Zacchaeus’ determination and desire to see Him, in spite of what people were thinking. Jesus knew He could fill the emptiness inside of Zacchaeus and change His heart.
    On the other hand, the Pharisees believed their good deeds and obedience to the Law were all that was needed to be saved. They didn't need Jesus; they were doing quite well without Him. He was a distraction that needed to be removed.
    
    Jesus often rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, self-righteousness, and placing importance on outward appearance. (Luke:11:37-54). The Bible tells us that man is concerned about the outside, but God looks inside at the heart. God focuses on what we can become in Him, instead of what we are right now. (1 Samuel:16:7). It doesn’t matter how we view ourselves, or how others see us, God knows who we really are, what we are about, and what we can be. He knows why we do what we do and how we think. Proverbs:16:2 says, “People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives.” God has a plan and a purpose for each of us to fulfill,; He formed us and knows all about us; more than anyone else. (Jeremiah:1:5). Jesus changed Zacchaeus that day. He saw in him what others could not see.
    
    
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    • Proverbs 16:2

  • Does Jesus know my name?

    Luke 19:5 says, “When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Try for a moment to put yourself in Zacchaeus' shoes. You are a hated tax collector in the midst of a huge crowd that probably is calling you every name BUT Zacchaeus! Then in the midst of all the chaos, Jesus calls out your name. How would that make you feel? The Bible says that he was filled with excitement and joy as he quickly climbed down the tree to meet Jesus. Jesus had such a profound impact on Zacchaeus that His life was turned upside down. Salvation came to Zacchaeus’ household that day.
    
    Did you know that nothing has changed; Jesus still knows everyone's name? Think about that; Jesus is the Son of God; He was with God when the world was created. Everything was created through Him and for Him. (Colossians:1:16 ; John:1:1-5). He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. God gave Him the name above all other names. Every knee will bow before Him and declare that He is Lord. (Revelation:19:16 ; Philippians:2:9-11).
    
    And yet, He knows my name; He knows our name. Isn’t that fantastic? John 10 tells us that we are sheep and Jesus is our Good Shepherd. “But the One who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for Him, and the sheep recognize His voice and come to Him. He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. After He has gathered His own flock, He walks ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” (John:10:2-5).
    
    He calls us by name; we know His voice and He knows ours. Jesus knows us intimately and cares for us as a shepherd cares for his sheep. He even lays his life down for them. (John:10:11; 1 John:3:16). When we believe in Jesus, our names are written in the Book of Life. Jesus told His disciples that this is reason to rejoice! (Luke:10:20). In the last days, Jesus will announce our names before God and the angels of heaven and declare that we belong to Him! “All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are Mine. (Revelation:3:5)
    
    
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    • Luke 19:5

  • Does anything change by believing in Jesus?

    Zacchaeus could not have known what would happen that day. It probably began as every other day. There were taxes to collect from angry people; and there was money to be made. Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was walking through Jericho that day. Everyone seemed to be talking about it. Maybe he could get a glimpse of this man and then of course, go right back to work. There were so many people and no one was willing to help him. So, Zacchaeus scampered up a tree to see Jesus as He walked by. Then, the unexpected happened. Jesus called out his name.
    
    He was immediately filled with excitement and joy; Jesus was coming to his home! Zacchaeus would never be the same. He was a new person; transformed by Jesus! How do we know? “Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” (Luke:19:8) The old Zacchaeus who was driven by success and wealth could not have declared this. He was indeed turned upside down! Jesus declared in Luke:19:9: “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.” The change was genuine; Zacchaeus was truly transformed by Jesus and would never be the same!
    
    Knowing Jesus changes everything. 2 Corinthians:5:17 says, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” Doesn’t that sound like Zacchaeus' experience? God actually changes our old heart into a new one by His Spirit. “And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart.” (Ezekiel:11:19). When someone accepts Jesus as their Savior, they are changed and their new life and purpose begins. “ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians:2:10).
    
    
    Discover God's love and plan for you

    • 2 Corinthians 5:17