<p> Walking with Jesus</p><p>“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith…” - Hebrews 12:2</p><p>In a group of two or three, using your bibles, read the texts and answer the questions below as you take a look at one man’s encounter with Jesus and how it changed his life.</p><p>Zacchaeus Read Luke 19:1-9. 1. In what city did this story take place? Identify one story from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament that also take place in or near this city. (You may need to use a concordance or other bible study helps to find answers.)</p><p>2. During what part of Jesus’ ministry did this story take place – the beginning, middle or end? (You may need to look at the verses and stories before and after it to find the answer.)</p><p>3. What might the timing of the story tell us about Jesus? About Zacchaeus? (refer to the answer for #1)</p><p>4. What four concrete details about Zacchaeus are mentioned in the text? (see verses 2 and 3)</p><p>5. What was the perception of Zacchaeus among the people? (See verses 7 and 8.) Why might this have been the case? </p><p>6. Had Jesus had any interactions with other tax collectors? If so, who? (See Matthew 9:9-13) Knowing this information, how might this have affected Zacchaeus’ decision to see Jesus?</p><p>7. Verse four says that in order to see Jesus, “he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree”. What else might this tell us about Zacchaeus? </p><p>8. Why do you think Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus so badly? 9. When Jesus reached the place where Zacchaeus was, what did Jesus say to him? </p><p>10. How do you think Jesus knew who Zacchaeus was?</p><p>11. Ellen White says that the Holy Spirit had already been working on Zacchaeus’ heart, which led to the commitment in verse eight. (Desire of Ages, 555) What did Zacchaeus promise he would do to make up for the wrong he had done? </p><p>12. Was this promise made publicly or privately?</p><p>13. Put yourself in the place of Zacchaeus. If you had been him, would you have done the same thing? Why/why not? If not, what would you have done instead?</p><p>14. How do you think other people might have reacted when they heard what Zacchaeus promised to do? How would you have felt if you had been one of the persons Zacchaeus had wronged? </p><p>15. Ellen White says, when writing about this story, “No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation.” (Desire of Ages, 555) What do you think that means? How does it apply to this story?</p><p>16. After Zacchaeus’ commitment and promise to make things right, what reassurance does Jesus give him in verse nine? Is this reassurance for Zacchaeus alone? </p><p>17. Jesus also reassures Zacchaeus of something else in verse nine. What is it? Why might that have been important for Zacchaeus to hear?</p><p>18. The story ends with Jesus explaining the purpose for which He came. What is this purpose? </p><p>19. If you could write an ending to Zacchaeus’ story, how do you think it would go? What do you think happened after Jesus left his home? 20. What might be the message God wants you to learn from this story? Walking with Jesus (By Jessica Williams)</p><p>“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” - Luke 19:10</p><p>In a group of two or three, using your bibles, read the texts and answer the questions below as you take a look at one man’s encounter with Jesus and how it changed his life.</p><p>Zacchaeus Read Luke 19:1-9. 1. In what city did this story take place? Identify one story from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament that also take place in or near this city. (You may need to use a concordance or other bible study helps to find answers.) Jericho. OT – Story of Rahab, Israel marching around its walls. NT – Story of the Good Samaritan, healing of Bartimaeus (blind man/men)</p><p>2. During what part of Jesus’ ministry did this story take place – the beginning, middle or end? (You may need to look at the verses and stories before and after it to find the answer.) End (shortly before his crucifixion)</p><p>3. What might the timing of the story tell us about Jesus? About Zacchaeus? (refer to the answer for #1) Jesus was about to die; it was probably His last trip through Jericho. There was urgency for Zacchaeus. If he didn’t act now, he might never get the chance to meet Jesus. </p><p>4. What four concrete details about Zacchaeus are mentioned in the text? (see verses 2 and 3) 1) chief tax collector 2) wealthy 3) short 4) wanted to see Jesus</p><p>5. What was the perception of Zacchaeus among the people? (See verses 7 and 8.) Why might this have been the case? He was probably not well-liked. Tax collectors were known to cheat people and take more than what was owed. </p><p>6. Had Jesus had any interactions with other tax collectors? If so, who? (See Matthew 9:9-13) Knowing this information, how might this have affected Zacchaeus’ decision to see Jesus? Yes. Matthew, one of the 12 disciples, was a tax collector. This probably gave Zacchaeus hope that he could be forgiven and accepted too.</p><p>7. Verse four says that in order to see Jesus, “he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree”. What else might this tell us about Zacchaeus? Answers will vary but may include: resourceful, determined, driven, etc.</p><p>8. Why do you think Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus so badly? Answers will vary. </p><p>9. When Jesus reached the place where Zacchaeus was, what did Jesus say to him? “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”</p><p>10. How do you think Jesus knew who Zacchaeus was? Answers will vary. </p><p>11. Ellen White says that the Holy Spirit had already been working on Zacchaeus’ heart, which led to his commitment in verse eight. (Desire of Ages, 555) What did Zacchaeus promise he would do to make up for the wrong he had done? Give half of his possessions to the poor and pay back four times the amount to whomever he had cheated. 12. Was this promise made publicly or privately? Publicly</p><p>13. Put yourself in the place of Zacchaeus. If you had been him, would you have done the same thing? Why/why not? If not, what would you have done instead? Answers will vary.</p><p>14. How do you think other people might have reacted when they heard what Zacchaeus promised to do? How would you have felt if you had been one of the persons Zacchaeus had wronged? Answers will vary.</p><p>15. Ellen White says, when writing about this story, “No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation.” (Desire of Ages, 555) What do you think that means? How does it apply to this story? Answers will vary.</p><p>16. After Zacchaeus’ commitment and promise to make things right, what reassurance does Jesus give him in verse nine? Is this reassurance for Zacchaeus alone? Salvation had come to his house. No, it was for everyone in his household. </p><p>17. Jesus also reassures Zacchaeus of something else in verse nine. What is it? Why might that have been important for Zacchaeus to hear? That he also is a child of Abraham. Zacchaeus probably felt excluded/ostracized because of the wrong he’d done. Jesus’ words welcome him back as a child of God.</p><p>18. The story ends with Jesus explaining the purpose for which He came. What is this purpose? To seek and to save what was lost.</p><p>19. If you could write an ending to Zacchaeus’ story, how do you think it would go? What do you think happened after Jesus left his home? Answers will vary.</p><p>20. What might be the message God wants you to learn from this story? Answers will vary.</p>