So, as the message tonight, I wanted to open up with an idea of traffic tonight. Many have drove a vehicle from time to time, or maybe even a rider, and if you were in a construction zone, you got back up traffic, right? And if you're the driver, what do you do in a construction backed up like a parking lot? You honk your horn. You play the waiting game, right? You're waiting for the traffic to move. And for me, it's very annoying. Just the last week or two, traffic is getting really bad. And I'm leaving towards the last minute to get to work. And sometimes I'm early, sometimes I'm not. And I'm looking, why is this traffic stopped? And sometimes we could be in a crowd of people as well. Crowd is so full. Let's say, I don't know what necessarily a mob is now, but when I was in security training, I think it was like 100 people was considered a mob. Maybe it's 1,000. I don't know the exact number, but if there's a mob of people, it's kind of hard, if you're in the back, to see what's going on in the front. Right? You all agree? And if it was you in the back of the group, you probably would try to do what I do is try to look around and see what is the issue, right? Well, there's a mob of people for some reason. It's probably some kind of crime going on. So I'm not going to even get involved in that. I'm kind of going back away from that. But I just wanted to bring this as a picture tonight out of our text. that we can relay this to in Luke chapter 19. Luke chapter 19. And if we all stand for one verse here, as we respect God's word. Luke chapter 19 and verse 10. The Bible says, for the son A man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. These are in red letters. Jesus himself is saying this to us. that he has come to seek and to save that which is lost. Let's pray. Father God, as we come to your Word tonight, we thank you for this Son of God that has came to die on the cross, to pay for the sins that we cannot pay for ourselves, that we may have eternal life with Jesus. Lord, we thank you for that promise again, Lord. We pray for this hour here, Lord, as we get into your word and study your word, that we will take the value of it and apply it into our lives, Lord, that we may see you in a different way that will help our growth with you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. I've given you like a little background what I would do there in these scenarios. And I know some people get angry because the traffic stopped. And sometimes that gives me a minute to just come to myself. Sometimes I turn the radio on if there's no ambulances or fire trucks going on or emergency vehicles. coming around just to kind of just relax and make time go away, right? I have seen truckers even get out of the truck and go around their trucks and do whatever they're doing and people getting out and walking around and they Looking for something or they're trying to find out when I was a child. I guess we have asked some truck drivers in the past What's going on up there? You guys have radios you can hear right? I mean you can hear somebody got in an accident Why not well this week alone? It was a case where there was an accident on 465 and all traffic was to a halt and There is like three barrier semi-trailers, whatever, blocking the 465s. And there were cop cars on the other side of it. And I saw, as I was getting off the exit, what held up the traffic. And what held up the traffic was there was a semi, that was jackknife, and then you got three or four cars along the side of the highway there. There was some blankets over the vehicles and and whatnot and you guys could probably already know why there was blankets over the vehicle Something that wasn't a pleasant to look at Later find out that the person did deceased I Hard to see. Hard to see. There's things that are hard to see in a Christian life as we're out and about and running and doing things from what the world has to offer. And to see other Christians joining that, it's hard to see. We are not to seek those things, but you know, Jesus loves people. He loved people so much that he died on that cross. Many, many here on this earth is still lost, seeking for something. What are they seeking for? Today's title. I have titled, Who Wants to See Jesus? Luke 19.10, for the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. And chapter 19, verse 1 I read, it says, and Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. So here he is, he's coming. He entered a place. And he passed the place. Now he's come through Jericho after explaining to the disciples and to do some miracles and he was doing some of the parables. And here comes Jesus and he says, and behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. Which was a chief among the publicans. And he was rich. Wow. I'd love to be rich in a way. Not financially. Because money could be a tool, but money could be a root of all evil. I don't want to be rich and all evil, but this passage here says, and he was rich. It takes me back to wonder, why was he rich? Because he was a tax collector, right? Tax collector takes money. When I pay my property tax, that collector takes it, right? Now, not necessarily that person will take the money and put it in his own pocket, but it will pay for different things that happens through the city and different things. But here, Zacchaeus was rich. He was carrying monies from people. He was taking advantage of people. Zacchaeus was probably known to carry other things that had some value, like perfumes and different things that had some value, so he was a wealthy man. The Bible says that he was a chief among the Republicans, and he was rich, and he sought to see Jesus, who he was, and could not for the press because he was a little of stature." He was a short man, wasn't he? If you look up on the internet and you'll probably see about 5'8 is a short man. I said, well, if that's the true source, then I'm a short man. I'm the sort of statue that cannot see beyond I guess the six-foot man, right? So it says that he was rich and he was also a shortened statue or a little of stature. Then it says, and he ran before and climbed up into the sycamore tree to see him for he was passed that way. So this little man ran ahead of the group. Ran around, ran ahead of the group, and he found a sycamore tree, and he climbed up the sycamore tree. He says, well, why did he do that for? Well, I'm sure the group there said it was pressed, so they probably was pushing their way through. And they were kind of wrapped around Christ. Where he couldn't get to them, he couldn't see them. I'm not having a flash, right? So he says, well, if I climb up this tree, I could see him. He didn't say he wanted to go and to shake his hand or to really greet him. In other words, but he went to because he wanted to see him. There's many people out there that want to see people. And sometimes it will go way too far. If I went to go see somebody, I'm hoping that it's not in a way of idols, being an idol. People could be idols. In this case, we know Jesus is God. He is one. And if I was going to go look for somebody, this would be the most top of my priority, is to find God. We could do that, folks, today. How? Get in His Word. Find His Word. Go up in that tree. Open your Bible in the tree. Read His Word. You'll see Him. You can go in your closet and see Jesus. You can see him right here where you're sitting, in his word. So he ran and climbed into the sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him. It said unto him, Zacchaeus, Make haste. If we broke down that word haste, it means with hurry or urgency. Make haste and come down, for today I must abide at thy house. Hurry up, Zacchaeus, come on down. I must go to your house. Well, that's an order, isn't it? If I was going to go to somebody's house, I would knock and I will wait till somebody invite me in. That's our culture today, right? Or somebody invite me in by calling me on the phone. But here's Jesus coming and he's seeking those that are looking for something. And he, Jesus had urgency among him. You know, we have urgency to get right with God. So those barriers don't get broken. That we could have a clear, I mean, clear from these barriers of sin. But it also says that, it says, and calm down for today I must abide at thy house. It says, and he made haste and he came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured saying that he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. Wow, he's a sinner. That brings me back to different illustrations in our Bible. I'm not even going with my outline stuff. But there's illustrations in the Bible where there is a lady, a woman, being called a sinner. She went upon Jesus' feet and got down on the floor, the ground, took her hair, and washed Jesus' feet. Poured perfume and different things in her tears. Just went all over his feet and washed. And the guy's like, what's she doing? And Jesus had a response. See, Zacchaeus was a sinner just like she was. The Bible has illustrations of people making a way for Jesus to come. Like John the Baptist in Mark chapter 1, in verse 34 it says, And he healed many that were sick of diverse diseases, and cast out many devils, and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out and departed into Solitary Place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, and said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next town, that I may preach there also. For therefore came I forth. and he preached into the synagogues throughout all Galilee and cast out devils." How about the illustration of Jesus with the young man or young boy? Or Jesus as a young man, or we could say he was a boy still, missing from his family. While they were on a three-day journey, He was left behind into the temple. What was he doing in the temple? He was listening to God's Word. He was telling about God's Word, and when the family came back, they found him, and pretty much they had some words, and he says, I'm doing my father's business, right? Well, we're learning, he's doing his father business tonight, even through Zacchaeus. In Luke chapter 2 and verse 43 through 51, it says, And when they had fulfilled the days, As they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem, and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey, and they sought him among their kinfolk and acquaintances. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass as after three days, they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at the understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed, and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is that ye sought me? wast ye not that I must be about my father's business? And they understood not the saying which he had spake unto him. They understood who he was, he was God. Zacchaeus knew who Jesus was. When they saw him and came down, He obeyed them. Other people were looking for Jesus. Jesus was being looked for after Peter denied him. And John 18, seven through nine, then asked them again, who seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus answered, I told you that I am he, if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way, that the saying must be fulfilled, which he spake of them, which thou gavest me, have I lost none. Luke chapter 8 and verse 41 through 48 the borders of Jesus garments Was touched as people sought him and the healing was already of they already dead So a woman here went to touch Jesus garment And we'll see is like who touched my garment well, we know that he knows who touched his garments But that woman had faith she believed. Says, and behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus' feet and besought him that he would come into his house. For he had one other daughter. about twelve years of age, and lay dying. But as he went, the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all of her living upon the physicians, neither could be healed of any, came behind him and touched the border of his garden, and immediately her issue of blood stanched. And Jesus said, who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him. Master, the multitude thronged thee, and pressed thee, and saith thou, who touched me? And Jesus said, somebody had touched me. For I perceived that virtue. is gone out of him. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling and falling down before him. She declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort. Thy faith hath made thee whole in peace. Luke chapter 7 verse 36-50, we see where I was alluding to Jesus' feet being washed by the ointments. at the Pharisee's house. John chapter 3, Nicodemus' interview. Jesus was there at night, by night, the Bible says. John chapter 3. There was a man named of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. So a fella in high order of education, right? So another important person, I say. We got the tax collectors important. Now we got the ruler of the Jews. It says in verse 2, the same came to Jesus by night and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher from God, for no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born, he cannot see the kingdom of God. So here's somebody else in high places looking for something. Did he miss it through his Jewish history? His books? How about King Herod tonight? Everybody know who King Herod is? Looking for Jesus. as a baby because he heard that he was being born, he was born. He was looking to kill all the infants just to find him. He sent out the spies, he sent out people to look for the baby Jesus. We see the account in Matthew chapter 2. In Matthew chapter 6 tonight, If you go with me to there real quick, Matthew chapter 6. And verse 33. Let's go ahead and jump up a little bit to verse 32. Says, for after all these things do the Gentiles seek, for your heavenly fathers knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Luke 19.10 again is our passage today. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. So verse six, and he had made haste and came down and received him joyfully. It is exciting to see but to actually meet and greet. It's exciting to have guests at my house. We cling for our guests as best we can. Miss Heather doesn't necessarily like it too much. She likes to disappear a lot when we have guests. We are opposite. I'm a people person, and she's the TV person. And so when we clean, if I put the TV in the room that needs cleaning, I think I'd be okay. But if I bought Miss Heather a mop, she said, I didn't buy it for her. And I said, yes I did, I bought that mop for you. and she didn't like it, so I ended up having to use it. But I'm getting excited. I hear the door knock, and we all run. Now the kids run to it and say, somebody's at our door. I say, well, who is it? Sometimes I do know, and sometimes I don't. So I hear a door knocking, and we're all excited. They're running around, exciting. So-and-so is here. They see out the window. Jesus is here. He's knocking on your door. Behold, behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, will you enter in? Zacchaeus, up in the tree. Come down, for I'm coming to your house today. Hurry. Let's go. Let's move. Let's do it. It's an emergency. Open that door. Open the door of heart. Why? Because hell is a real place. He's seeking you. The Bible says in John 3 also, in verse 17. John 3, in verse 17, it says, sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. that he is believed, he was joyfully believing. Verse 7, And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying that he was gone to be a guest with a man that was a sinner. I was a sinner, Christ came to me. Guys, there's nothing to murmur about, there's nothing to gossip about. Jesus saves today. And Zacchaeus stood and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have taken anything from any man by false accusations, restore him fourfold. I will restore him fourfold. I would kind of like to be the one that was taken by Zacchaeus and give me that money. Come on, come on, break it in, right? I got several pockets here. Come on, bring it. He did it joyfully. He returned what was not his. He reconciled. We need to reconcile. We're taking stuff that's not ours. We're taking stuff that's God's. Our bodies are not ourselves. We don't give it to him, we take in something from God. We need to make sure we are restored and then give all of our life to Christ. Says, and Jesus said unto him, this day is salvation. Come to this house. For as much as he also is the son of Abraham, for the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. The Abraham here, the significance of it, the father of nations. promise salvation and deliverance. That's what he came for. And don't matter if you're a Jew or Gentile, if you are a person, Jesus came to seek you because you were lost. And he's hoping that you will find him tonight. The Bible says today is a day of salvation, right? Tomorrow's not promised. Tomorrow's not promised. 2 Corinthians 6 says, For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in that day of salvation have I restored thee. Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. John the Baptist made a straight way To for Jesus and Jesus came and he made a straight way to God. This is his straight way. It's through the church people He's making a straight way because you're here tonight. We're giving you the gospel Are you gonna accept it God has given gifts and talents to Zacchaeus just like he has placed in us in different situations that we are in at this specific time for a unique ministry. Having discovered that Jesus loves people just as they are and longs to bring them into his family, They may be very clean to him. Finally, he may want to see Jesus because of a growing sense of disaffectation. Through wealthy or secure, Zacchaeus may have known there was something missing. He knows there was something missing. He didn't have Christ. He went to see it. He found it. and we can rejoice. Like in Matthew chapter 5, like I introduced this, that the blessed is happy. I was happy when I found Christ. If you're not happy today, are you looking for something? You're looking for Jesus. You're not looking for drugs, alcohol, pornography, other things that the world has to offer. You're looking for Jesus tonight. Zacchaeus was a wee little man. A wee little man was he. He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see. And as the Savior passed him by, he looked upon this in the tree and he says, Zacchaeus, you come down from there, for I'm going to your house today. for I'm going to your house today." Zacchaeus came down from that tree as happy as he could be. He gave his money to the poor and he said, what a better man I'll be. A sinful heart was certainly changed when Jesus the Lord passed by. He wants to change your sinful heart to this truth you cannot deny. If you desire to see the Lord, the Bible tells the way. For it says, believe Christ died for you. He will come into your heart today. Yes, He'll come into your heart today to stay. This bow, heads bowed.