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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Luke 19:1-10 True Joy is to Encounter God 路加福音 19:1-10 真喜樂是遇見神

Wednesday, 7th February 2024

Rev Daniel Xi An Poon

V1-4 Everyone Longs to Encounter God 人都渴慕遇見神

“Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.”

「耶穌進了耶利哥，正經過的時候， 有一個人名叫撒該，做稅吏長，是個財主，他要看看耶穌是怎樣的人。只因人多，他的身量又矮，所以不得看見。就跑到前頭，爬上桑樹，要看耶穌，因為耶穌必從那裡經過。」

What is true joy? Is it when we have received everything we want? Is it when everything is going smoothly for us? What is true joy in a Heavenly perspective? True joy is to encounter with God. Zacchaeus was not just a normal tax collector, he is the chief of all the tax collectors. He had power, he had wealth, and he had authority, but when he heard about Jesus, he also wanted to meet Him. In the Jewish community during that time, they all knew about the Messiahs, someone who would save them and perform miracles.

什麼是真正的喜樂？是不是當我們已經得到了我們想要的一切的時候？是不是當一切都進展順利的時候？從天國的角度來看，什麼才是真正的喜樂？真正的喜樂是與神相遇。撒該不只是一個普通的稅吏，他是稅吏長，所有稅吏的領袖。他有權力，他有財富，他有權威，但當他聽到耶穌來了時，他也想見耶穌。在那個時期的猶太社會，他們都知道有一位彌賽亞，一位拯救他們並行神蹟的主。

Zacchaeus had everything in the world, but there was still the desire in his heart to encounter with God. But did he really know God? So often we just want a supernatural power that solves all our problems but do we really know the God we are seeking? The world tries to confuse us, the false gods try to take our eyes away from the One True God, we thought we are seeking for peace, but the world takes away our peace.

撒該擁有了世上的一切，但他的內心仍渴望與神相遇。他真的認識神嗎？很多時候，我們只是想要一種超自然的力量來解決我們所有的問題，但我們真的了解我們所尋求的神嗎？世界試圖迷惑我們，假神試圖將我們的目光從獨一真神身上移開，我們以為我們在尋求平安，但世界卻奪走了我們的平安。

V5-8 Life Transform in the Lord’s Presence 有主同在生命轉化

“And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him: Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house. So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying: He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord: Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

「耶穌到了那裡，抬頭一看，對他說：撒該，快下來！今天我必住在你家裡。他就急忙下來，歡歡喜喜地接待耶穌。眾人看見，都私下議論說：他竟到罪人家裡去住宿！ 撒該站著對主說：主啊，我把所有的一半給窮人，我若訛詐了誰，就還他四倍。」

Zacchaeus was not popular among the Jewish, but Jesus looked up and saw him, He didn’t need Zacchaeus to do anything for Him. Jesus brings us life, the world may put labels on us, but we are being treasured by God, He loves us and He wants to come near us. Jesus knew our desires, He knew the emptiness inside our heart, that we all want to seek God. Jesus has compassion over us, He sees us as who we are, we don’t need to do anything to prove our worth. The Kingdom is full of love, and with the presence of God, lives will change.

撒該在猶太人中並不受歡迎，但耶穌抬頭看見了他，祂不需要撒該為他做任何事。耶穌帶給我們生命，世界可能給我們貼上標籤，但我們被神所珍惜，祂愛我們，祂想靠近我們。耶穌知道我們的願望，祂知道我們內心的空虛，我們都想尋求神。耶穌對我們充滿同情心，祂看見我們是誰，我們不需要做任何事來證明我們的價值。天國充滿了愛，隨著神的同在，生活將會改變。

may not know how to accommodate Jesus only wanted Zacchaeus to rest, to come down from the tree, and Jesus would visit his house. Where do we find rest? Where do we find affirmation? Jesus wants to come to our lives, to enter our house, to interact with us, and to be with us. Zacchaeus did not know how to accommodate Jesus, but he was full of joy and excitement. Do we remember the pure joy we had when we first know Jesus? Before we attended any Bible study or any religious courses, the pure joy of not knowing anything but the transformation of life.

耶穌只是想讓撒該休息，從樹上下來，耶穌就去他家拜訪。我們要到哪裡去休息呢？我們要到哪裡去尋找肯定呢？耶穌想要來到我們的生命中，進入我們的家，與我們互動，與我們在一起。撒該或許不知道如何接待耶穌，但他卻充滿了喜樂和興奮。我們還記得第一次認識耶穌時的真喜樂嗎？在我們參加任何聖經學習或任何宗教課程之前，除了生命的轉變之外什麼都不知道的真喜樂。

People around Zacchaeus saw him and didn’t understand his transformation. They judge and they criticise, but they fail to see the blessings of God. Zacchaeus was no longer living in self-accusation and shame, he could lift up his head and he could stand before Jesus. Our identity is the sons and daughters of God, we don’t have to worry about how others see us, because no one can define who we are. And when we truly know who we are, and when we have the presence of God, then it will be so easy for us to give and to offer. Jesus didn’t ask Zacchaeus to give away his money, but because of his encounter with God, Zacchaeus was willing to offer so naturally.

撒該周圍的人看到了他，但不理解他的轉變。他們論斷、批評，卻看不見神的祝福。撒該不再活在自責和羞恥之中，他可以抬起頭來，站在耶穌面前。我們的身分是神的兒女，我們不必擔心別人如何看我們，因為沒有人可以定義我們是誰。當我們真正知道自己是誰，當我們有神的同在時，我們就會很容易地給予和奉獻。耶穌並沒有要求撒該捐出他的錢，但撒該因著與神相遇，所以很自然地願意捐獻。

V9-10 Salvation is to Seek and Save the Lost 救恩是尋找拯救失喪的人

“And Jesus said to him: Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

「耶穌說：今天救恩到了這家，因為他也是亞伯拉罕的子孫。 人子來，為要尋找、拯救失喪的人。」

Jesus’ salvation comes to save those who are lost. Do we know that we are the lost? Even though we become Christians, we still work as slaves. We must live out our true identity, as the children of God. This doesn’t meant that we can do whatever we want, but to have the fear of the Lord, to know the Heavenly missions we are given on this earth, to understand the Heart of the Father, and to receive the true love from above.

耶穌的救恩是來拯救那些失喪的人。我們知道自己是迷失的嗎？即使我們成為基督徒，我們仍然像奴隸一樣工作。我們必須活出我們身為神的兒女的真實身分。這並不是說我們可以為所欲為，而是要敬畏主，知道我們在地上所受的天上使命，明白天父的心，並接受從上頭來的真愛。