A MOST UNLIKELY CANDIDATE

•    Zaccheus resourceful, learned to compensate for limitations
•    despised as a turncoat: collaborator with hated Romans
•    morally corrupt: chief cheater in collecting taxes
•    Jesus specializes in saving ‘chief’ sinners: Zaccheus, Saul of Tarsus, ...

COMING UP SHORT, OURSELVES

•    crowd murmured: quick to criticize, falsely accuse (sycophants)
•    media capitalizes on shortcomings of those in high office
•    Bible repeatedly cautions against slander; be humble

THE SAVIOUR’S SEEING AND STAYING

•    Jesus sees more in Zaccheus than others do: divine appointment
•    grace of Christ rescues write-offs: came to call sinners to repentance
•    church endeavours ought to reflect Jesus’ saving priority

OUR GOODS: GRATEFUL GRACE GIVES

•    real faith results in action: restitution beyond what’s required
•    the repentant grow to excel in ‘this grace of giving’

RUPEES THAT REBOUNDED

•    poor church planter’s generosity resulted in blessing for many
•    bicycle project, earthquake response help credibility of Christianity in Nepal