They called him, "Sir," to his face. By his position in the community, he was the man they most loved to hate. The tax collector. The CHIEF tax collector. They had to deal with him through his associates. But the people knew he took his cut.

Behind his back, he must have collected other names. Like "Shorty," or worse. His wife undoubtedly had more endearing names for him. But when it came to cutting off from the community, only one name stuck. And it hurt. "Sinner!" You can say it, hissing through your teeth, hissing like a snake. The word carried with it the pain of being cut off from worship with the rest of the community. Oh, he could worship, but Zaccheus worshiped alone. There must have been some of that other tax collector in him. Jesus talked quoted that fellow’s prayer: "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!"

Zaccheus knew what he was - he lived with himself only be gathering riches. Then he heard of the man from Nazareth. That fellow seemed to touch deep things within the chief tax man that no rabbi ever touched before. He knew of Jesus only by reputation. But that stirred him, moved him to wonder if he would ever have the opportunity to see Him, hear Him, or even talk with Him. Then the day came. The Man causing so much stir around the nation made His way passed the place Zaccheus lived.

Jericho had been destroyed years before by Joshua and the Israelites. Rebuilt, the city still carried the curse of its past. Called "The City of Palms." They made the best of where they lived. Zaccheus was not concerned for past history of his city. He wanted to see Jesus. Today was to be his day, whether they called him Sir, Shorty, ... or Sinner.

As Jesus passed by, our tax man bobbed up and down like a fighter. Then he wove in and out of the crowd like a dancer to get closer. No good. A tree! Yes! But a man of his position in the community - up a tree? Never! But when someone is captured by the possibility to see someone great...well, put dignity aside!

The people knew WHAT He was, but so did Jesus. Zaccheus was one of those Jesus was looking for. LOST! He did not need to be reminded that he was a sinner. Zaccheus knew that. Jesus always goes further than we dare. You see, Jesus knew WHAT he was and WHO he was. He did one more thing - Jesus called him by name.

"Zaccheus, come down. Hurry! I must stay at your house." "Can you beat that? He invited Himself to the sinner’s house. Our houses may not be as fancy, but He should choose one of us. The guest of a sinner! Who does this Jesus think He is?"

Zaccheus fairly flew from the branches. Something happened that day. Jesus knew him and called him and invited himself to stay as a guest. The guest of a sinner. Then, the sinner spoke: "Half of all I own - to the poor! And if I have defrauded anyone...four times back to him!" He faced the rest of the city after that, a changed man.

Then Jesus went further. Jesus knew WHO Zaccheus belonged to. He was a son of Abraham. Certainly a Jew by birth. But Jesus knew Zaccheus belonged to Him! He belonged BY FAITH! Remember, Abraham belonged to God before Israel came to be!

Others called Zaccheus Sinner - Jesus called him lost UNTIL THAT MOMENT.

Others cared not to know Zaccheus - Jesus called him by his name.

Others thought Zaccheus did not belong - Jesus told him that he did belong to Him.

How many here see themselves in Zaccheus? Jesus passes by today. He knows WHAT you are. He knows WHO you are. He gives you opportunity to discover WHO YOU BELONG TO. That’s what happens when Jesus passes by. Aren’t you glad that He does? Zaccheus wanted only one thing: to be with Jesus. What a way to live! Free!

Today, we witness something of a Zaccheus moment. Two persons join us today and will be baptized. They have to confess they are sinners. But they also confess that they know the Savior...the One who declared, "This day, salvation has come!" Then, we welcome fellow believers from other places. With them, we are invited to come to the table. But please notice one more thing.

The guest of sinners can become HOST OF YOUR HOUSE AND MINE! He is Host for this feast. "For He who knew no sin, BECAME SIN FOR US, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." Because of Christ, we are no longer lost, but found. Because of Him, we learn that He knows our name! Because of Him, we can belong to Him, JUST LIKE ZACCHEUS! We welcome Him. We begin to change, because of Him. We declare Him Lord and no longer just our guest. And we who love Him, know that the best is yet to come. This meal! Come for all is ready!