Out of the Mouths of Babes

The following sermon was given by Tatiana Kopchuk, age 11, on Youth Sunday at her church in Canada.

Text: Luke 19:1-10

In today’s gospel reading we hear about Zacchaeus and Jesus. Zacchaeus was a tax collector so nobody really liked him. We may think Zacchaeus was all bad, but every single one of us collects our own taxes, our own sins.

Zacchaeus was too short to see Jesus, like we are when we sin. We cannot see Jesus when we sin and must climb our sycamore tree, which is what confession is for.

Jesus called Zacchaeus down from the tree and told Zacchaeus he would dine at his house tonight. Jesus invited Zacchaeus just as he invites us. “So he made haste and received him joyfully”. When we repent we should do the same. With repentance and confession we grow taller to see Jesus, until our sins become too great and we repeat this all over again.

We know that our sins cause us to shrink away from Jesus. When we confess we are healed, we see Jesus and receive him joyfully.