Wednesday Night Class - Encounters with Jesus
Teachers
Lesson Summary
Teacher Shelby Krider led the congregation through an examination of Jesus's encounter with Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector of Jericho, found in Luke 19:1-10. The class highlighted how despite being the shortest and most hated man in town—despised for his practice of skimming taxes—Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus. What made this encounter remarkable was Jesus's direct, purposeful approach: He called Zacchaeus by name, demonstrating His divine knowledge and personal attention. The teacher emphasized that Jesus was unmoved by the crowd's murmuring and complaints about His association with a sinner, remaining focused on the tax collector's pure heart. Zacchaeus's immediate response—repenting and pledging to give half his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he'd cheated fourfold—revealed the transformative power of this encounter. The class concluded that this encounter exemplifies how Jesus always pursues those with genuine, seeking hearts, and that His knowledge of our hearts should motivate us to keep them pure. The encounter benefited everyone: Jesus reached His target, Zacchaeus found salvation and purpose, and believers today are reminded of the kind of Lord we serve.
Key Scriptures
Jesus was going through the city of Jericho. A man was there named Zacchaeus. He was a very important tax collector, and he was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because he was too short to see above the crowd. He ran ahead to a place where Jesus would come, and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus. When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down. I must stay at your house today. Zacchaeus came down quickly and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to complain. Isn't that like people? Jesus is staying with sinners. Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, I will give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times more. Jesus said to him, Salvation has come to this house today because this man belongs to the family of Abraham. The son of man came to find lost people and to save them.