God’s Glory Received: THE RACE IS FOR ALL
READY
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.”
Luke 19:8
SET
Stretch your imagination for a moment—picture Jesus as a running coach.
Perhaps it was a tempo run or interval session, and His team happened to be running through Jericho that morning.
The streets were buzzing with onlookers as they watched the group pace themselves, checking their watches at the start and end of each interval.
All eyes were on Jesus—how effortlessly He ran, how composed He looked despite the speed.
His form, rhythm, and endurance stirred awe.
People lined the route like fans at a marathon, fascinated not just by what Jesus taught, but by what He could do.
Some marvelled at His fitness and speculated about His next personal best.
Others weren’t sure what to make of it—was He just another performer, or could He really run with the elite and go the distance for the ultimate prize?
But someone else was watching—Zacchaeus.
Unfit. Untrained. Not a runner.
To the crowd, he was the least likely candidate to get attention from the “elite coach.”
Overweight, despised, the town’s joke.
Yet he showed up—not to spectate, but to be changed.
Zacchaeus didn’t climb that sycamore tree to get a better view of Jesus’ talents; he was reaching for something more.
His heart was hungry.
He knew he needed transformation.
Jesus, recognizing that desperation, paused the training run and made a surprising detour—He chose to dine with Zacchaeus.
That moment became the new training session.
This is where God’s glory is received.
Not just in witnessing greatness, but in welcoming Jesus into our mess and being changed by Him.
Two Kinds of Crowd
- The Spectators:
Like fans at a race, they cheer, admire, and maybe snap a picture for social media.
Their interaction is surface-level, driven by hype and highlight reels. - Zacchaeus:
He wasn’t content being a bystander.
He didn’t just want a glimpse—he wanted Jesus.
And because of that, Jesus saw him.
Stopped for him.
Dined with him.
Transformed him.
From Out of Shape to On the Track
Zacchaeus, once a spectator, now becomes a runner in the race of faith.
He receives the glory of God—not because he earned it, but because he opened his heart.
His story is proof that the race is not only for the fit or elite.
It’s for anyone who dares to climb a tree to get a glimpse, anyone who desires something deeper.
GO
Will you let Jesus turn your moment of curiosity into a life-changing encounter?
Are you only drawn to Jesus for what He does, or do you long to truly know Him?
Have you ever felt “too unfit” spiritually to join the race? What might Jesus be saying to you today?
Is your past causing you to stay on the sidelines—or is it pushing you to climb the tree like Zacchaeus?
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