Most memorable invitation? 最难忘的邀请 ? Luke路加福音19:1–10 Preacher: Rev. Sylvia Griffiths

11th October 1982: something VERY exciting happened in Bathurst (NSW) 11th October 1982: something VERY exciting happened in Bathurst (NSW). It wasn’t the “Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000” V8 Super Car race! 1982年10月11日， 在新南威尔斯的巴瑟斯特，发生了一件令人非常兴奋的事。 不是 “ 巴瑟斯特1000超平汽车 “ V8 超级汽车大赛 !

1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 1 耶稣进了 耶利哥 ，正经过的时候， Luke 路加福音19:1–5 1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 1 耶稣进了 耶利哥 ，正经过的时候，   2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 2有一个人名叫 撒该 ，作税吏长，是个财主。

3 他要看看耶稣是怎样的人；只因人多，他的身量又矮，所以不得看见， 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 3 他要看看耶稣是怎样的人；只因人多，他的身量又矮，所以不得看见，   4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 4 就跑到前头，爬上桑树，要看耶稣，因为耶稣必从那裏经过。

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 5 耶稣到了那裏，抬头一看，对他说：「 撒该 ，快下来！今天我必住在你家裏。」

Zacchaeus: Jewish tax collector working for the occupying Roman government. Tax Collector’s wage was amount collected above Roman taxes. 撒该 : 犹太人税吏，效忠于当时统治的罗马政府。 罗马税款以上多收的金钱就是税吏的工资。

In comparison, Jesus was a poor, roaming evangelist, teacher / miracle worker, challenging the Jewish legalistic opinions. 比较起来，耶稣是个贫穷，漂泊的传道人，教师 /行奇迹的人，.挑战犹太人的律法主义。

Point 1: Jesus INVITED Zacchaeus 要点 1: 耶稣 邀请 撒该

2001年6月29日: 我驾驶满车子女生由悉尼浸信会圣经学院到坎培拉，往她们的大使馆。沙利 - 辛巴威; 海伦- 中国; 曼妮沙– 印度 29th June 2001: I drove a car load of girls from Sydney’s Baptist Bible College to Canberra to visit their Embassy’s. Sally – Zimbabwee; Helen – China; Manisha – India. 2001年6月29日: 我驾驶满车子女生由悉尼浸信会圣经学院到坎培拉，往她们的大使馆。沙利 - 辛巴威; 海伦- 中国; 曼妮沙– 印度

How often do we hear and accept Jesus’ invitations to us throughout each day? 每天我们有多少次听到又接受耶稣的邀请呢?

6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 6 他就急忙下来，欢欢喜喜地接待耶稣。 Luke 路加福音19:6–7 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 6 他就急忙下来，欢欢喜喜地接待耶稣。   7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 7 众人看见，都私下议论说：「他竟到罪人家裏去住宿。」

“Zacchaeus scrambled down out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him.” (The Message by Eugene Peterson, Luke 19:6) 撒该从树上爬下来，简直不相信好运临到，欣然接待耶稣回家

Zacchaeus, in tree, wearing a tunic – Quite undignified. 撒该在树上，身穿外衣，有点儿不庄重。 How did the crowd respond to Zacchaeus? 群众对撒该反应如何? How did Jesus respond to the crowd? 耶稣对群众反应如何?

Point 2: Jesus ACCEPTED Zacchaeus 要點 2: 耶穌 接納 撒该

Zacchaeus was good enough for Jesus. 耶稣认为撒该是宝贵的。 We are good enough for Jesus. 耶稣也看我们为宝贵。

Luke 路加福音19:8–10 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 8 撒该 站着对主说：「主啊，我把所有的一半给穷人；我若讹诈了谁，就还他四倍。」  

9 耶稣说：「今天救恩到了这家，因为他也是 亚伯拉罕 的子孙。 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 9 耶稣说：「今天救恩到了这家，因为他也是 亚伯拉罕 的子孙。   10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 10 人子来，为要寻找、拯救失丧的人。」

Point 3: Jesus SAVED Zacchaeus 要點 3: 耶穌 拯救 撒该

Leviticus利未记6:4–5 4 when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, 4 他既犯了罪，有了过犯，就要归还他所抢夺的，或是因欺压所得的，或是人交付他的，或是人遗失他所捡的物，

5 or whatever it was they swore falsely about 5 or whatever it was they swore falsely about. They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering. 5 或是他因甚么物起了假誓，就要如数归还，另外加上五分之一，在查出他有罪的日子要交还本主。

故事 –一位母亲在山火时为了保护她幼小的儿女，用自己的身体遮盖他们。 Story of a mother who protected her small children from bush fires by covering them with her body. 故事 –一位母亲在山火时为了保护她幼小的儿女，用自己的身体遮盖他们。

Zacchaeus was saved because of his faith in Christ. 撒该因對基督的信靠而得救。

不论我们的年龄，性别，种族，社会地位 - 耶稣对所有人仍不断接纳及伸出救恩的邀请。耶稣只关心我们是否愿意接受衪的邀请。 Jesus continues to accept us and issue the invitation of salvation to ALL people – irrespective of our age, gender, race or social standing. All that matters to Jesus is whether or not we accept his invitation. Have you accepted his invitation? 不论我们的年龄，性别，种族，社会地位 - 耶稣对所有人仍不断接纳及伸出救恩的邀请。耶稣只关心我们是否愿意接受衪的邀请。 你是否已经接受衪的邀请呢?