Merry Christmas to the Stock Family!

This is the first of a few posts on Christmas. 

We want to thank all our friends and family who warmed our hearts with their Christmas cards and letters.

The Long-Awaited Immanuel (Matthew 1:18-25)

I had an opportunity to preach my first advent/Christmas sermon a couple of weeks ago. Here is the manuscript and have a Merry Christmas!

Introduction
Have you ever had to wait for something? What was it? What was the longest time you had to wait? What was the hardest? And what did it feel like? For me, it has to be the waiting of getting engaged and marriage. Actually, it started with just waiting to find a girl who would say ‘yes’ to a date. One date. And then, when Mandy and I got engaged, the tension of wanting to be married now, and yet knowing that in the future, it will be so right and good. The anticipation. The build up. The hope of it all of coming true.

In our passage, the story of the people of God is that of waiting for centuries upon centuries for God to be with His people. They have waited hearing of promises of Immanuel, God with us. To understand their anticipation and hope of Immanuel, we must go all the way back to the beginning of the story. There we will see what the people of God once had, Immanuel. God with and among them.

In the beginning, God created everything. He lit up the heavens and set the earth spinning. He separated the sky and land and made all the trees and plants grow as edible ornaments across the earth. He filled the sky with glimmering stars, the sea with multi-color fish, and the land with animals of all kinds.

At last, in concert with the Trinity, the crescendo of creation, God made man, male and female. After His image, He made them and gave them dominion over creation. Adam and Eve, as we are, were made to reflect our Maker like a son wants to be like his dad. And even more amazing was their relationship with God. They were created to know and enjoy Him forever. And for a while, this is exactly what they had. In the cool of the day, the first man and the first woman walked with God in the garden as He designed it for them. No shame. No tears. Pure peace and harmony with God and each other. Immanuel. God was with them. He was their God and they were His people. All was very good.

But however long that blissful communion lasted, it didn’t last long. The tempter came in the form of a serpent, and Adam and Eve gave in. God made man upright, but he turn and went his own way. They disobeyed the one command that God told them. They listened to the serpent rather than God and all was lost. In disobeying God, they sought out to be their own god. No longer could God be with them for now they are rebels. The moment they broke the skin of the fruit, all of creation groaned. Lust, shame, fear, guilt,
mistrust, blame-shifting, and loneliness rushed to their hearts. There was no more peace between God and them nor each other. Immanuel was no more. Sin had entered into them. Every part of them was now corrupt and all of creation suffered. They couldn’t mend it back together even though they tried. At the end of the worst day in history, the man and the woman were kick out of the place of Immanuel, the garden, and God shut the door. God was still God, but not their god. They tried to make themselves their own gods.

Right from the beginning, we see man’s deepest longing, that is to be with God. To live for who they were made by. And to live with the one who made them, Immanuel. And we see man’s deepest problem, sin. Call it what you will, rebellion, disobedience, brokenness, sin all against God. It severs Immanuel right in two.

But because of His great love for them, God, who is rich in mercy, didn’t leave them. He is the pursuing God. They were still His people, but now on different terms. Before God removed them from the garden, He speaks with them and the tempter. What He says to the tempter was most important to their ears,
and ours, as God planted a promise seed of redemption. Let us read, Genesis 3:15, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”1 God prophesies here. God comes and says, “Sin has now come into human history. I will send a Savior for sinners. I will restore Immanuel.” What shall we look for? From the woman, from the line of Adam and Eve, from the human race, will ultimately come the seed. And he shall destroy this serpent, this devil, who holds people captive under sin, shame, and guilt. He will crush the serpent’s head. This work will restore Immanuel. But as you see, this is foretold at this point. It will be in the future. How long will the human race have to wait?

The Long-Line of Sin
As we turn to our passage, Matt. 1:18-25, we learn something very quickly from the passage before about the waiting period. The story continues. The road outside the garden was a dark path of war and strife. Generations after generations after generations failed. There is a long-line of sin.

But God never gave up on His promise to His people along the dark path were flickers of light and lampstands and luminaries in spite of the people’s darkness. He showed Immanuel in the ark of covenant, representing the presence of God. He showed Immanuel in the temple when the glory of the Lord would fall. He showed redemption in the blood of a spotless lamb. He revealed His plan to the prophets:

Ezek. 37:23
They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Jer. 31:33
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people… For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

The light in which God continued to shine through the story of the Old Testament was, “I will forgive you and I will be your God and you will be my people.” To restore Immanuel. God with us in peace. Tell us who? And how shall this be? The lights which God gave to His people were through the words of promise. The people of God had heard of this rescue coming through the blood line of Abraham and they had read of Isaiah, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.” The echos of Gen. 3:15 are ringing. So, for them, it was anticipation. This groaning was growing after generation after generation. Knowing their deepest longing was only met by God being with him. Fully. Holy. They yearned for him. They waited for fulfillment, God come down. They waited at the edge of their sit where excitement and containment meet. They waited… like a child waiting for their dad to come home from work… They waited like a groom, eyes fixed on the back of those double doors of the church. And they waited, waited with hope. Hope in the God who rescued them along ago and has spoken to them… spoken of great promises of Immanuel.

And so, when the people of God pick up a copy of the gospel of Matthew and their eyes read across the first line “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham,” they ears perked up. And when they read, “she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit”, one born from a
woman, yet a virgin. Their heart began to pound harder. They began to dream bigger (cf. Ps. 126). Dream of the great things the Lord had done. Expectations heighten. And then an angel appears to Joseph and pronounces, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” And the prophet Isaiah, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”. Born of a woman, a virgin and it will be a son. Oh for joy! And what would they read as we do as well but “all this took place to fulfill”. The angel of the Lord announces the Long-awaited Immanuel. He is here. He’s here.

The Long-Awaited Immanuel
The announcement of the angel brought news, good news, which had long been expecting since our first parents were kick out of the garden because of their sin. All the lights which God had placed along the path were now coming to fulfillment in Jesus, Savior of sinners, Immanuel, God with us.

He was the descendent from Eve sent to crush the serpent’s head. He was the heir of Abraham’s line through whom all the nations would be blessed— born of a miracle and filled with laughter. He was Isaac’s ram caught in the thicket, God’s perfectly timed provision of a substitute. He wrestled with Israel and wouldn’t let go, giving Jacob the gracious gift of a limp to remind him of his weakness. He was the king the Lord promised David, a ruler from his own body whose Kingdom the Lord would establish forever, ancient and strong. He was Immanuel—God with his people. He would turn the hearts of fathers to their children and their children’s heart to their fathers. Where there was despair, he would be hope. Where there was brokenness, he would bring healing. Where there was sadness, he would bring joy. Where there was
bondage, he would set people free. And above all, where there was sin, sin which severed Immanuel for us. Now, Jesus, as the God-man, he came and restored Immanuel by being Immanuel. How will Jesus restore Immanuel? He restored Immanuel for us in two ways: first, by saving us from our sins, and secondly, restoring us back to God.

SIN: CROSS
The angel announced, “He will save his people from their sins.” What always separates us from God ultimately is sin. All of us at one time were or are apart from God. All were without God. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All are dead in transgressions and sins. Enemies and haters of God are the line we came from. Fully of pride. Filled with unrighteousness. Our blood-line is filled with rebels, murders, liars, sleazy crooks, idolatries, haters, popish kings, lovers of fleeting pleasures, and immoral in all kinds of way. And don’t we fit right in. You just fit right in? I just fit right in. If it was left to us, even in the sight bit, we would fail as we have so clearly in the past. Our restoration of Immanuel comes alone from God. And
by sweet mercy, He has come.

This announcement from the angel, at the beginning of His birth, tells the world, “Behold, Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Taking away sin is His mission. The whole world, every nation and tribe, listen up. This is good news to all peoples: God has come in Jesus Christ and He is gathering a people from all peoples. Put down your weapons of enmity against God, your idols of this world, confess your rebellion and in mercy, trust in Christ. He has brought forgiveness to you if you would believe. And
it is through the cross. The passion of Jesus Christ was how this would be accomplished. He shed His blood to bind a new covenant, a covenant of grace, which offers total forgiveness. He said, “for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” On the cross, Jesus took your sin. All the punishment, all the pollution are now on Him. It is to His account. The sin which kept you from God can now be forgiven and life, abundantly life, Immanuel, can be found. As 1 Peter 3:18 clearly proclaims, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God”.

Immanuel:
The ultimate goal of salvation by Jesus is that he might bring us back to God. Forgiveness is not the end goal is nor redemption but God is. And God came down as God in human flesh. He didn’t come as a politician though His is a great king. He didn’t come as a therapist though he understands and cares for your deepest needs. He didn’t come as a businessman though he leads us with a servant heart. He didn’t come as a military leader though he fights against his, and our, arch enemy. No, He came as God.

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’”. The gospel of God is the good news that at the cost of His life, Jesus did everything necessary to secure for us that God will always be there with us and He will to us our everlasting satisfaction of our deepest longing. To be with God, in his presence, know His love, enjoy His array of beauty, delight in Him forever. He will be with us now, as Matthew 28:20, sets its promise forward, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” And in the new age to come, Rev. 21:3, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” This is what we Christian long for, isn’t it? We
know in part, we see in part, but on that day, we will know fully, even as we have been fully known by Him.

And so, brothers and sisters in the Lord, celebrate His coming for our salvation and trust in Him! And, what is the hardest thing for us to wait for? His return… to see Him face to face. I long for that day. May we wait with hope. May we wait in anticipation with eagerness and expectation! Continue to press on and finish the race well. It will be well worth it!

And to those who do not hope in Christ, may I ask… what do you hope for? Can I say that at the end it is fleeting? At the end, you will hope for something that doesn’t fulfill your deepest desires, what you were made for? You were made for God and He, as we have seen in His word, has provided away back to God. Jesus came down, took your sins, and will bring you to God… if you repent and believe? Believe on Him today.

Craft Time!

Anyone who knows me knows I am not crafty (neither in the sly way, or in the "Let's make our own tree skirt!" way). I cannot sew. I do not own a hot glue gun or make-your-own-jewelry kit. I made my own cloth diaper wipes before Lydia was born with Sarah (my super-crafty friend) and jammed her surger at least 4 times. I needed constant supervision and help.

Yet, alas, Lydia loves crafts. And if you've ever hung out long with an almost-two-year-old, you might know they like to keep busy. Craft-time brings a bit of structure, a little creativity (mostly on my part), and some tactical skills. Thankfully Lydia is patient with me while I attempt to cut, glue and glitter.

Here is what we have done so far (suggestions welcome!)....oh, and I know this post would be infinitely more interesting with pictures, but uh, we are currently without a camera. I'm not supposed to know but I think Brian is getting me one for Christmas.

1. Kite made from a cereal box and wooden grilling skewers, decorated with Christmas stickers. It will catch wind if you sprint!

2. Christmas tree with "sprinkles" (little dots of paper).

3. Monkey stickers glued to cardboard to simulate a favorite book, "Five Silly Monkeys Jumping on the Bed".

4. Paper bag mask...which she refuses to put over her head.

5. Leaves stuck to paper. Really have no title for this one, but we had a lot of fun...and it was about at my level.

Tomorrow: snowman made from cotton balls!

Doubt, Materialism and my Honda Civic

By:Mandy

Every so often it hits me. What are we doing?! Moving overseas means leaving behind Chick-Fil-A, baby changing tables, my Honda Civic...not to mention clean drinking water. In these moments of panic, I doubt. I worry about this whole missions thing working out. I do not like threats to my comfort, my convenience, my STUFF!

If you've never been a missionary before, let me tell you, lots of it is great. I mean, random people will say "Good for you!" and "Wow, you must be brave." (much like Tony, the Firestone guy, told me yesterday) and honestly, sometimes I believe them. And when doubt and fear come, I convince myself I'm better than that, braver than that...good for me.

I recently listened to the Desiring God missions conference as we drove up to Virginia for Thanksgiving. One speaker talked about the Great Commission. You know, Matthew 28:18-20. Missionaries LOVE these verses, most times because we think we get it. We get this commission thing, we are going! Good for us.

But one small point really hit me hard. He read the verse before. "And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted." Isn't it amazing that Jesus gave the Great Commission to even doubters?! Now, I have no idea what they doubted...his deity, his authority, his actual rising from the dead? Or is it more like my doubt...his being better than anything? His promise to sanctify me and shed, tear, rip off, and break through this materialism that captivates me?

Jesus is with me in my going. By grace, he woos me back and shows me my comfortable American life is not bad until it (or my clinging to it) stalls my worship. And He will renew me in gift-giving and receiving, shopping at consumer-driven malls, and soon as we leave so much oceans away...until we leave this place and go Home.

Thanksgiving

This year the Stock family headed up to Virginia Beach to Mandy's sister. It was a great trip from the trip up and back to our time there with Mandy's family. We talked, watched football, ate and ate some more, and played red-neck golf (or pitch the pea). Here are snapshots of our time there:

Say Cheese!

Nana and Lydia!

The bird... This year the turkey had apples and onions which made it moist and favorful. Great job mommy and aunt Becky!

Papa Joe and his great-granddaughter learning about all the animals in God's creation.

"A, B, C, D" with daddy!

Cookie!

Presenting the Thanksgiving Princess: Lydia Anne Stock in her pretty gold dress!

On the beach in November! We had great weather!

Lydia is feeding Papa Joe mac 'n cheese... who says you can't have mac n' cheese on Thanksgiving?

Fun with Nana after Lydia's bath!

Home and Halloween

Fall weather FUN! About a month ago, my schedule changed at work so that I get home now around 4:45 most evenings. This has brought play time with Lydia to be quite enjoyable. We have two plus hours to play outside and in. We love to play "Daddy hide" around the pine tree and go up and down the hill in our yard.

Happy Halloween! Last Friday, I brought home a pumpkin. I know that Mandy loves pumpkins (I have pictures to prove it). But we came to find out that Lydia also loves pumpkins as well. She even hugged and kissed it! That evening, sitting on our kitchen floor, daddy, mommy, and Lydia all cleaned out and craved a pumpkin. For Lydia, she dived right into the slimy insides of a pumpkin as well. We were very proud of her. Then, this past weekend, Lydia cheered on Clemson as she was the cutiest Clemson cheerleader ever! Nana and Papa came up to trick or treat and we had a spooky-fun weekend!

Ordinary Objects | Extraordinary FUN!

What would make a little girl flap her arms up and down and make her dance around with the biggest smile on her face? For our little girl, it is pink packing peanuts (try to say that three times fast). Last week, Mandy and Lydia came home to a package from Nana. Soon the ordinary object of pink packing peanuts became extraordinary hours of fun.

Then, last night, Lydia got the enjoyment of sharing her pink, packing peanuts with her friend, Mazie.

This weekend the Stock family had a much needed vacation. We actually had our first staycation. It was a great success as we had a lot of fun and laughter. As you will see, Lydia, in this first picture is just being her normal happy, cute self.

But really, she is throwing you off guard with her cuteness to beat you in a round of fencing! On-guard!

And what couldn't be more fun than a Moleskine to organize your week, month, and life. Lydia loves it because she likes to be like her mommy!



Funniest in the Family

A few weeks ago we took a vote, all three of us (Brian, Mandy and Lydia) to settle a raging debate within the Stock Household: Who is the funniest? Well, in the interest of full disclosure, here are how the ballots came out.

Brian: Lydia
Lydia: herself
Mandy: herself

In the end, it was a clear victory for Lydia, 2-1 over Mommy. Now, I (Mandy) contest this ruling quite frequently. I mean, first of all, Lydia already holds many titles in our Household: Smallest, Cutest, Stinkiest Feet, Messiest Hair, Best Grits Eater, etc. Does she really need another accolade? And what makes her so funny anyways? Here are the extent of her jokes: "Applesauce" and "Oat". These two words said with perfect comedic timing always seem to get a laugh from all of us, but this is obviously a limited repertoire! She makes a turkey noise "Dabble Dabble" and sticks her tongue out like a lizard and all of the sudden she is a laugh riot! Ok, so she spins in circles and dances. She puts blankets on her head and walks around. No big deal! Really, I feel like the judging was skewed. I also think Daddy is her campaign manager.

I demand a recount!

"Sweet Wheels" - Tim Mills

She just gets cuter and cuter...

She's sittin' cool...

She peaks out the side window...

She's in daddy's arms...

She's has the wind in her hair and having fun!

Schmoonoos

On special occasions (you know, like a Thursday), Lydia and I make smoothies. She wakes up from her afternoon nap, a little hungry, a little grumpy. But don't worry, little one! Mommy has the blender all ready to go. Just add a little fruit, yogurt and sometimes a spoon of peanut butter. Tada! Smoothie...or as Lydia lovingly refers to them: "Schmoonoos".

Notice the still-waking-up look. The Schmoonoo has not taken its full effect yet. And yes, you're right. Our child is not wearing any pants.

A Beautiful Thing: Mommyhood and Worship

By:Mandy

A few weeks ago, I read the passage in Matthew about Jesus getting anointed. It's just a few days before He will face the cross and He's spending time with His friends. Mary comes up to Jesus with "an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment" and she pours it on His head. The disciplines consider this a waste. Why dump all that on one guy's head when you could have sold it to feed the poor? Good question. But Jesus simply says, "Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me." (Matthew 26:6-14)

There has been much written and said about this passage. In fact, Jesus next statement ("For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.") has been a personally motivating verse as I've pursued missions. What God pointed me to this time was simply the phrase "beautiful thing." That has been a continual gentle reminder these past weeks as I sit down with my Bible each day during Lydia's nap time. I reflect on the morning of reading books to a toddler, preparing meals, cleaning the highchair tray (again), cleaning, stacking blocks and kicking the ball around. Is that a waste or a beautiful thing? I think of the post-nap-hours ahead. We will play in the garden, find caterpillars, fold laundry, and sing songs. Will that be a waste or a beautiful thing?

My time is God's time, just like Mary's alabaster flask was God's. We are stewards. And I think that it matters more what my heart is behind the caterpillar-hunt with my 1 year old, than the hunt itself. Can even that be an act of worship, a beautiful thing? Can I love Jesus and fill my house with sweet-smelling perfume even while I reassemble cloth-diapers for the 100th time?

Answer: YES, by grace.

Grace is a beautiful thing.

Aquarium

A few weeks back, Mommy and Lydia visited the Georgia Aquarium with our good friend, Erika Mobley. Here are some of the pictures Erika took:

  

  

14%

We have started raising support; that is meeting with friends and church family to give them the opportunity to hear about what God is doing in our hearts and in South Asia and find out how they can come alongside of us as partners in this work. A lot of seasoned missionaries have told us how hard this will be, and maybe it will get there. But so far, we have had a lot of fun, been encouraged, and have seen God work in our hearts and the hearts of our friends. We are at %14 of our goal and are so humbled and happy God is moving around and in us!

Here are some interesting and encouraging things we have heard thus far:

"Thank you for going for us."
"Why wouldn't we want to store up treasure for ourselves in Heaven? This is an opportunity to do that!"
"So...you guys are going as spies?" -Owen, 8
"I can't give $50 a month, but I can give $1 a month."- Katie Beth, 12
"God has already been working on our hearts about this."
"Thank you guys for sharing with us."
"But they [Hindus] shouldn't believe that [reincarnation] because it isn't real. Jesus is." -Bentley, 7
"I really want to be intentional to pray for you guys."
"That story [about a local pastor] just gives me chills. It is so exciting!"
"Do you guys eat goat?"
"Can we come visit you?"

Every meeting has been a time of refreshing for us and renewed passion for this calling God has put on our lives.

Lydia: 18 Months

Lydia Anne Stock is a toddler.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, no longer a baby, but a bona fide little walking-talking-following instructions toddler. It's amazing really. We finally got to the doctor for our 18-month check-up for Lydia's latest "stats".
Drumroll, please....

Height: 33 inches
Weight: 21.5 pounds
Body: Healthy
Cuteness: Off the charts!

Her feet have seemingly hit a growth spurt and she jumped to size 4 basically overnight. Her verbal ability is above-average. (Wonder who she got that from) But her "climbing ability" is taking longer to develop...which I am not too disappointed about. She loves her family and friends, ice cream, cheese, fruit of any kind, oatmeal, eggs, any animal (including insects), pushing the cart, her tunnel, helping clean, coloring, singing, and reading her Bible.

Jesus Seeks and Saves

Jesus Seeks and Saves

Luke 19:1-10

July 10, 2011 @ Christ Community

Introduction

Please open your Bible to Luke 19:1-10. Today, our passage is the famous encounter with Zacchaeus and Jesus. We like Zacchaeus. I mean he even has a kid’s song which forever cartoonizes him. We like Zacchaeus because he was a wee little man, a wee little man was he. We like the little guy, we root for the little guy. And he wanted to see Jesus, but he was vertically challenged, he was too short. Yet, he used his clever wit and climbed a tree. And then, Jesus saw him and he had Jesus over at his house for a meal. What’s not to like about this rotten, dirt crook who steals from the poor and keeps it for himself.

This is a familiar story. It has been “Disney-ize” for masses. Today, when we examine the story, we a see a sinner, an idolater, who we can identity because we are much like him, and he is in need of a Savior much like us. By all outward appearance, he is unsaveable. His sins are too many. He is too far from God. And this Savior seeks and saves that which is lost. Let’s read our passage.

Read passage. Luke 19:1-10

He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today." 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, "He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner." 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

There are three characters in this story which we will meet: Zaccheaus, the crowd, and Jesus.

Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He has his sight on the cross, to die for sins, and rise in victory over them for us. And he passes through a city named Jericho. Jericho was a significance city in the story of redemption as the Israelites marched around it seven times and by the power of God, the walls came tumbling down and they took the city. The city now was a prominent city of beauty, riches, trade and culture. Jesus is walking through the city with a large following. This is the end of His ministry and by this time He has accumulated a massive crowd with Him. He was the well-known, must-see preach of His day. His popularity was at its height. Think if like U2 came to the Marietta square. Think of the massive amount of people which would come out and see them. And as Jesus was walking on the streets, there was a man who Jesus came to seek. He is our first character and his name was Zacchaeus.

The Wee-little Crook

Zacchaeus was a man of power and wealth. He sought after these things his whole life. Now, we can identify with him, men, can’t we? If I ask, “would you rather have power or no power?” Yeah, power. How about wealth and riches? Yeah, I will take some of that. Now, power and influence is not wrong nor is riches or wealth, but for Zacchaeus it was his idol. We know this by the choices he made and how he attained his power and wealth.

Zacchaeus was the chief tax-collector. Verse 2, “He was a chief tax collector and was rich.”As some of you know, being a tax collector was not like an accountant or working for the IRS today, but it meant that you were rejecting your Jewish heritage and joining up with Rome and became a dishonest, rotten crook. And Zacchaeus was the worst. He was the chief crook tax collector. His parents were not happy about this decision, I’m sure. And the way this worked would have been that Zacchaeus started as a low-end tax-collector and as he ripped off more and more people, he would move up the chain until he was became the chief. And he lived in Jericho. And back then, it was one of the three major regional tax-centers for Roman. This left Zacchaeus a very powerful man. He was a powerful man sitting on top of a massive unethical and deceitful pyramid system. You see, he received a commission from all those who were under him plus whatever he could get for himself. Simply, he pursued his idols, gained his wealth by stealing it and leaves many poor and needy. Zacchaeus was viewed in society as the sinner of sinners, an abhorrent criminal, a stench in people’s sight and beyond friendship with others and any grace from God. He was unsaveable to society.

So, Jesus has entered into Jericho. Everybody in the town wants to see this popular preach. They are lining the street, on rooftop, and anywhere they can see Jesus. This includes Zacchaeus. The text says that Zacchaeus was “small of stature”. He’s short. He is probably mid-age and a little sleazy. We also know that he is rich and powerful. Mandy pictures him looking like Danny Devito so that’s what we will go with. So, we have this Danny Devito looking man trying to look over the crowd to see Jesus. As he moved down seeking a spot to see Jesus, there are no openings for him to squeeze into so he runs ahead of the crowd and climbs a sycamore tree. Nothing really special about that. Jericho was known for its trees which lined its streets and there were probably many children up in trees. Though, it would be totally awesome to see Danny Devito try to climb a tree.

As Zacchaeus was sitting in that tree, what happened next staggered him. Although Jesus had never met him before, He stopped in the middle of thousands of people, looked up in the tree, And here’s what he does, friends. He called him by name. Verse 5, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus”. How did Jesus know Zacchaeus name? Did the Holy Spirit supernaturally give it to him? Did Jesus hear of Zacchaeus corruptible ways? However it happened, Jesus called his name. Zacchaeus was curiously looking to see Jesus like you would if the President came to your home town, but Jesus was seeking Him and makes it personal. He calls his name. Jesus seeks this lost man out to save him to have a relationship with him.

Friends, Jesus always, always does this. He's always calling people out by name. When I was 17 years of age, he called for me, “Brian.” And by that personal invitation, followed by a letter of salvation the Holy Spirit changed by heart, changed my life, I became a Christian. Those of you who are Christian, Jesus called you. He called you by name. And Jesus still calls by name. And if you're here today and you're not a Christian, let me say this: Perhaps Jesus is calling you by name. He's calling you unto himself. He's calling you to know him. And when Jesus calls Zacchaeus, he calls him to a friendship, a relationship. He says, continuing in verse 5 “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today” (19:5).

One truth that has amazed me as I have studied this passage is how Jesus goes about bringing salvation to him. Jesus does it in the way Zacchaeus most needed and longed for. He friended him, and wants to hang out with him over a meal. Now this might not matter as much to you, but it mattered so much to Zacchaeus. You can see this in his response, v6, “So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.”

Because of Zacchaeus’ choice of job, a tax-collector, personal character, and being rich, Zacchaeus didn’t have any friends. Zacchaeus was lonely. His money bought him loneliness. He couldn’t buy a friend. He lived alone, ate alone, drove alone, sleep alone, and work alone. When the crowds heard what Jesus did, they grumbled. There were no shout and smiles. No “good-for-Zacchaeus”. No one, not even someone, was happy for Zacchaeus. He didn’t have any friends… until now. Jesus friends him. Jesus seeks him in the way he needed to be. Yes, soon after, Zacchaeus must and will see Jesus as more than a friend, as Savior, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Sovereign, the Creator, but Jesus engages Him first with friendship.

In your relationship with non-Christians, do you know where you can enter into their lives? Where Jesus would meet them best? It is the place where their need is both sore and sensitive. Jesus invites Zacchaeus into a relationship/friendship, a place no doubt that was filled with loneliness and longing, so that He could know He was His Savior as well. If you don’t how to engage somebody like Jesus did, ask Him, pray to Him and he will show you and guide you.

That’s awesome! Isn’t He? Jesus is awesome. But, the crowds didn’t think that was awesome.

The Religious Crowd

“Zacchaeus come down from that tree” Jesus said. “I’m coming over. I want to be your friend. I want to know you and I’m seeking you to save you!” Zacchaeus rejoiced. The crowds did not. They are our second character in the story. Maybe you can identify with them. They begin grumbling. The whole crowd grumbled. They were like “Jesus, you must be mistaken. You’re talking to a crook. Nobody talks to him. He is a loser.” This reveals the crowd doesn’t understand grace. Does that wee-little dirty, crook need to clean up his act and pay us back first, and then he can be saved and be friends with Jesus. They didn’t understand grace. They are a religious crowd.

Last fall, on several occasions, the weekend would come and Mandy and I would attend social gatherings hosted by friends who were Christians. And at these gatherings there were Christians there, and … non-Christians as well. I wanted to get to know the people I didn’t already and most of them were the non-Christians there. Well, the majority of the time, we would talk about life and stuff. And most of the time I left so frustrated with these non-Christians. Don’t they know they aren’t supposed to be living together as a couple, and not be married? They just need to stop that because it is wrong and unloving and they are going to hurt each other. I had a “moral barrier” as Jerram Barrs puts it. Maybe you have thought something like that? Something which keeps you away from people in general and non-Christians in particular. Is it a moral, social, ethnical, or religious barrier? What barrier and who is it? Which sinner have you not called out but only grumbled about?

I was hindered and couldn’t be their friend because they sin in this way. And I couldn’t engage in good conversation with them. I was like the religious crowd. I had a problem understanding grace and by the grace of God, I’m repenting of this.

See grace is opposite. The crowds and I had it backwards and Jesus was right. Grace is, as Romans 4:5 states, “And to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the wicked, his faith is counted as righteousness.” Is it not that God justifies the wicked so that they can stop being wicked?

That is, sinners don’t stop sinning and then receive grace. It is sinners receive grace and then that grace enables them to stop sinning. So, why do I think that those who don’t have the grace of God act like they have the grace of God. God justifies the wicked, counts them as righteous and good with the righteousness of Christ. That stops them living together or stealing or coveting or a thousand other sins. They know the grace of God.

This is what is happening in our story today. Verses 8-9, “And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.” Jesus seeks by grace and saves by grace Zacchaeus. Jesus doesn’t owe Zacchaeus anything especially salvation. And Zacchaeus doesn’t deserve anything good from Jesus. But, in grace, Jesus friends him and saves him. He gives him grace. And what is Zacchaeus’ response, my friends? Repentance and restitution. [Grace enabled]. He sees what he has done is wrong and publicly confesses and practices restitution as evidence that he’d received God’s forgiveness.

Don’t misunderstand what Zacchaeus did? He didn’t practice penance. Penance is the false teaching that you need to pay God and others back so that you can be forgiven. Restitution has nothing to do with forgiveness in the sight of God. Restitution is making right to those that you’ve sinned against as a response to the work of Jesus in your life. You see this in the earlier chapters of Luke with John the Baptist where John instructs the crowds, after their baptism signifying their salvation, to show evidence of their repentance by giving back what they earned unjustly. It’s not penance. It’s a part of true repentance. Restitution reveals repentance. This leads to two application questions:

1) What sins have you tolerated, and what does repentance look like? Manage, Left in your life for a while but not dealt with it. Christian, we do not manage sin, but kill it.

2) And two, Where does restitution need to happen in your life? Who have you sin against which you need to show the grace of God by make right the wrong you committed?

The Seeking Savior

Jesus brought salvation to Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus responded in a repentant faith. This was Jesus’ task while He was in Jericho and it is a part of His overall mission to “seek and save the lost.” Jesus is the seeking Savior, our third character and the star of the show. We read, in one of the most valuable, most glorious, and most important truth ever found in Scripture, verse 10, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” As far as we are concerned, this is why we are saved, because God is a seeker and a saver of those who are lost. This is true to the nature of God. He sought us in the garden. He sought us in Egypt. He sought us in the wilderness, the promise land, and exile. He forever sought us, the lost, in the incarnation. The Son of Man, Jesus, broke into this world to do one overall mission, “to seek and save the lost.”

He reveals this truth while He was only a week or so away from entering into Jerusalem as the Passover lamb, taken on our sin, to die on a cross, and then be buried. And on the third day, He arose from the grave conquering Satan, sin and death. There He completely accomplished His mission which was to seek and to save the lost. Now, by the Holy Spirit through the Word, He is gathering all those who He has saved on the cross. All of those who He took their sin on and gives forgiveness and mercy to them, He seeks since He has saved them. Who are those? They are all those who, like Zacchaeus, repent of their sins and put their trust in Jesus.

Some of you are lost and today for some, Jesus has come to find you. “Today is the day of salvation”. Jesus is calling your name and today salvation will come. It was true for Zacchaeus and it could be true for you. Like Zacchaeus, you’re not unsaveable, but you do need a Savior and His name is Jesus. He seeks you and calls you to repent of your sins and put your trust in Him as Lord. Would you receive this invitation? Repent of your sins? Follow Christ as Lord?

And for the church, those you have been found, we turn to this table before us. First, let us rejoice in gladness of who are Savior is and what He has done. He has found you. You were lost in your sin and misery. You were on a path of destruction like Zacchaeus was. But, Jesus came and sought you out. He called you by name. Let us rejoice with Him. And by this table, Jesus is seeking you, not as someone who is lost, but to draw you closer to Himself. He asks of you to repent of your sins, bring restitution to your life and others, and trust Him as Lord all the more. He is bringing more restitution by repentance. At this table, repent of your sins, the Holy Spirit will prompt you during this time. And trust in Christ’s saving work for you. Let us pray.

App. Questions:

Which sinner have you not called out but only grumbled about?

Do you know where you can enter into your non-Christian's friends?

What sins have you tolerated, and what does repentance look like?

Where does restitution need to happen in your life?

Happy "Half" Birthday

On July 16th, we celebrated Lydia's half birthday. Yep, she has passed the 18th month mark. Here is a video to capture this fun day! The video is a little longer than normal (around 9 minutes). The first part is us singing and the second part is reminding Lydia what she can do at this point in her life. We love her! Happy "Half" Birthday little girl!

Our Table Display

Taking on a project with design and craftsmanship doesn't exactly fit the Stock household. We have many, and I think, good ideas. But to put those ideas into reality are difficult to say the least for us. But, we work as a team, Lydia cheers us on by sleeping quietly, and we eventually have something put together. And now that we are missionaries and have to "brand" ourselves to all who would listen, we have taken the past couple of weeks to create a few things.

Here is our latest project we just finished tonight. It is our table display for when we go to churches and a booth in the lobby/fellowship hall.

After a week or so and many trips to Home Depot, the finished product!!!

Come right over, and hear about what God is doing in South Asia!

BONUS: Mommy and Lydia having a little fun with the camera.