Introduction
A. The entrance of sin in the Garden over a tree
a. Brought hiding – Where are you?
b. Brought running – I heard you, but…
c. Brought fear – I was afraid
B. The fraternal twins of the fall of humanity - Sin and hiding
C. While we may be hiding due to our sin God is seeking us out
D. A Great Example of this in the Bible comes in the true story of Jesus and His encounter with a fascinating little man named Zacchaeus in Luke 19.
I. Jesus Came to Find - Luke 19:1-5
A. No matter who we are He knows us
a. Chief Publican – in charge
b. Rich – from ill gain
c. Worked for Roman Government
B. No matter what we are doing He cares for us
a. Greedy
b. Conniving
c. Schemer - Liar
C. No matter where we are He can find us
a. In Jericho
i. City built under a curse – Joshua 6:26, I Kings 16:34
ii. Safety there because only priests dwelt there
b. In a Tree
In a Sycamore Tree That is a very important little detail in this story. The Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible says this about the sycamore fig tree: "Because the branches of the sycamore-fig are strong and wide-spreading, and because it produces many lateral branches, it was an easy tree for Zacchaeus to climb, and in which he could easily be hidden."
II. Jesus Came to Forgive - Luke 19:6-7
A. Hurry Down – Today is the Day of Salvation
a. Timely call - Now
b. Personal call - Zacchaeus
B. Honors Him – Today I want to be with you
a. Eat with him
b. Stay with him
C. The Hostility – The crowd was hostile
a. No matter the crowd it is personal with God
b. Others may not understand but God does
III. Jesus Came to Free - Luke 19:8-10
A. Free From Guilt – He was carrying around the guilt of sin
B. Free from Greed – He wanted to restore and repay
C. Free from Goods of this world – Restored as a thief - Exodus 22:1-2
Conclusion
A. If it had not been for the Tree in Garden – would man have fallen?
B. If it had not been for the Sycamore Tree – Would Zacchaeus have known Christ?
C. If it had not been for the Tree at Calvary – Where would we be?
Christ came to SEEK and to SAVE those that are LOST! Verse 10
