Powerful stories don't just inspire you, or captivate you. Inspiring stories invite you into the story.

Throughout our new series, "The Stories of Your Life", we are looking at the pages of Holy Week. But instead of simply reading the story, we are entering into the greatest story in human history. This is your story, This is my story.

Each week we will look at a glimpse through the eyes of one character along the journey.
What can we learn?
What can we apply to our lives right now?
How is this story from thousands of years ago still alive today?

-The first two things we know about Zacchaeus: he was a tax collector and he was wealthy (verse 2).
-As a tax collector, he worked for Rome. He was hated by his own people.
-The fact that he was wealthy meant he took a cut of tax skimmings from people, many of whom couldn’t afford food.
-This man was not just an outsider. He was the worst of the worst.
-But there's one more thing we learn about Zacchaeus: he wanted to see Jesus (verse 3).
-Despite how unworthy this man was, he wanted to see Jesus.

The story of Zacchaeus may be most important because it culminates in Jesus declaring His mission statement: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

So why here? Why now?
Why begin our journey to Easter Sunday, our journey to the empty tomb, with this story?

So where do you find yourself in this story?

OPTION 1: Maybe you're part of the crowd, but you don't take action.
-You watch from a safe distance, but you don't pursue Jesus. You haven't pursued him.
-You're held back by religion. You're skeptical. You're afraid to trust and truly believe.

OPTION 2: Maybe you're one of the 'mutterers'.
-In response to Jesus acting this way towards an outsider? You mutter. You grumble.
-You might be very religious (many in the crowd were, no doubt). You might be faithful. You might be involved in the church. But you can't believe Jesus would welcome someone so unworthy.

OPTION 3: Maybe you're not a part of the crowd at all.
-You've never felt like you're truly a part. You feel like an outsider.
-You believe the lie: no one could truly love me. In fact, you’re thinking right now: "If you really knew me, you would never accept me."

Jesus uses Zacchaeus as an example of His saving work – for all to see.
On His way to the cross, Jesus stops to shine a spotlight right here.
He came to seek and save the lost.

Verses for further study/reflection:
Luke 15:1-2