Zacchaeus Encounters Jesus | Benjer McVeigh | February 8, 2026

Worship with us 9 + 11am 390 N 400 E Bountiful, UT 84010 https://www.flourishinggrace.org/plan... Today's sermon centers on the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus, a passage that reveals the heart of the gospel and the transforming power of grace. Preaching from the Gospel of Luke 19:1-10, Pastor Benjer explores how Jesus seeks out sinners, calls them by name, and brings salvation that does more than forgive. It reorders allegiance, exposes sin, and gives new purpose. The message confronts a deeply personal question many carry beneath the surface: Is Jesus willing to come near to someone like me. Zacchaeus is introduced as a chief tax collector and rich, meaning his wealth was built on betrayal and injustice. He had aligned himself with the Roman oppressors and enriched himself at the expense of his own people. His sin was not subtle and his reputation was deserved. The sermon makes clear that Zacchaeus represents more than an individual story. He reflects the reality that our sin and our allegiances often stand opposed to God. We build identity, security, and control around things that cannot save us. Yet Luke tells us Zacchaeus was seeking to see who Jesus was. His curiosity was more than intellectual interest. He had grown dissatisfied with the answers his old life provided. Willing to look foolish, he climbed a tree to catch a glimpse of Christ. The message highlights that true spiritual curiosity often begins when previous sources of meaning no longer satisfy. For those who are skeptical, wounded, or unsure, this moment reveals that honest seeking matters. The turning point comes when Jesus stops beneath the tree, looks up, and calls Zacchaeus by name. Rather than waiting for Zacchaeus to clean himself up, Jesus says, “I must stay at your house today.” The sermon emphasizes that while Zacchaeus was looking for Jesus, Jesus had already been pursuing him. Salvation begins with divine initiative. Christ moves toward sinners with presence and fellowship before transformation has occurred. The crowd grumbles because they know Zacchaeus’s history, and their complaint is not unfounded. He has harmed real people. Yet grace does not deny the seriousness of sin. It confronts it honestly. When Zacchaeus calls Jesus Lord, his allegiance shifts. He gives half of his possessions to the poor and promises fourfold restitution. This generosity is not an attempt to earn salvation, but evidence that salvation has already begun to reshape his heart. He now sees the weight of his sin and the worth of his Savior. Jesus declares, “Today salvation has come to this house,” and identifies Zacchaeus as a son of Abraham, pointing back to God’s covenant promise to bless the nations. The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. This sermon invites listeners to examine what sits on the throne of their lives and to consider whether they want Jesus to reassure them or to rule them. It is a call to surrender, repentance, and trust in Christ alone. Whether you are exploring Christianity or have followed Jesus for years, Luke 19 reminds us that no one encounters Jesus and walks away unchanged.