Mal tadeto ísť
1Zostaňme na chvíľu stáť pri čítaní Božieho Slova. Rozmýšľal som o tom celom úvode, naozaj by som musel žiť skutočný život, aby som to prežil, však? To je človek, ktorý vás miluje. V Knihe svätého Lukáša, v 19. kapitole, chcem prečítať len časť Písma, prvých päť veršov.
A vojdúc išiel cez Jericho.
A hľa, bol tam nejaký muž, menom Zacheus a to bol nadcolný a bol bohatý.
A žiadal si vidieť Ježiša, kto je. Ale nemohol ho vidieť pre zástup, pretože bol malej postavy.
A predbehol napred a vyšiel na planý fík, aby ho videl, lebo tade mal ísť.
A jako prišiel Ježiš na to miesto, pozrel hore a povedal mu: Zachee, sídi rýchle dolu, lebo dnes musím zostať v tvojom dome!
A sišiel rýchle a prijal ho radujúc sa.
A vidiac to všetci reptali a hovorili: K hriešnemu človeku vošiel nocovať.
A Zacheus si stal a povedal Pánovi: Hľa, polovicu svojho majetku, Pane, dávam chudobným a jestli som niekoho v niečom oklamal, vraciam štvornásobne.
A Ježiš mu povedal: Dnes sa dostalo spasenie tomuto domu, pretože je aj on synom Abrahámovým.
Lebo syn človeka prišiel hľadať a spasiť to, čo bolo zahynulo.
Modlime sa.
2Náš Nebeský Otče, sme Ti dnes ráno vďační, pretože Ty stále hľadáš, aby si zachránil synov Abrahámových, tých, čo sú stratení. Modlíme sa, Nebeský Otče, aby si prijal našu pokornú modlitbu a požehnal naše dnešné spoločné zhromaždenie. A nech to nie je márne, ale nech nás ten veľký Duch Svätý učí ceste Života, vediac to, že jedného dňa musíme stáť v Jeho Prítomnosti, aby sme podali správu o tom, čo sme urobili s týmto životom. Požehnaj nás teraz, ako spolu ďalej čakáme na Teba. V Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
Môžete si sadnúť.
3Iste som šťastný, že mám dobrých priateľov, ľudí, ktorí veria a veria tomu úsiliu, ktoré sa snažíte vynaložiť. Keby som mal nejaký iný cieľ, len aby som bol odlišný, bol by som skutočným hriešnikom. Ale mojím cieľom je zvelebovať Ježiša Krista.
4Je niečo, čo je v človeku, že keď máte posolstvo od Boha, nedokážete sa zastaviť. Je vo vás niečo, čo pulzuje. Stále to napreduje. Nemôžete to spomaliť, zastaviť alebo naštartovať. Ono zastaví, naštartuje a spomalí vás. Rozumiete? To je Ten, ktorý má kontrolu.
5Ďakujem týmto skvelým bratom za svedectvo o našom Pánovi Ježišovi. Nehovorili o mne, samozrejme, že nie. Oni hovorili o Ňom.
6Ako som nedávno čítal jeden článok o pánovi Moodym. Povedal, že Chicago išlo... noviny šli o ňom napísať úvodník. A niekoho poslali von, aby zistil, prečo sa ľudia zhromažďujú, aby počúvali pána Moodyho. Úvodník; Pán Moody je ako ja, nemal dostatok vzdelania na to, aby čítal úvodník, a tak ho musel prečítať jeho manažér. Pán Moody bol predtým obuvníkom a bol povolaný od Boha pre posolstvo tej hodiny. A tak ten manažér čítal úvodník a tam bolo napísané, „Prečo by niekto išiel počúvať Dwighta Moodyho?“ Povedal, „V prvom rade je to najškaredší človek, akého som kedy videl.“ A povedal, „Je plešatý a má dlhé fúzy, a tak ďalej.“ A povedal, „A keď reční, tak kňučí. Jeho gramatika je tá najhoršia, akú som kedy počul.“ Aha. A, ó, on len takto pokračoval.
7Povedal, „Pán Moody len mykol plecami. Povedal, 'Samozrejme. Oni prišli, aby videli Krista.'“
8Myslím, že to je odpoveď. Je to Kristus, ktorého chceme vidieť. „Ak budem vyzdvihnutý, pritiahnem všetkých ľudí ku sebe.“
9Premýšľal som, potom, čo som navštívil ľudí tu v meste, a zistil som, že oni sú takí milí, také príjemné stretnutia tu máme v tejto strednej škole Denham Springs, alebo v tejto školskej aule. Rozmýšľal som, že tí ľudia sú niečo ako káva. Oni sú... Ó! To nie je o kvantite, ale o kvalite. Len v jednej šálke je tak veľa.
10Pamätám si, ako som prvýkrát pristál tu na letisku. Sedia tu bratia, ktorí ma prišli vyzdvihnúť. A obsluhovalo tam nejaké francúzske dievča apožiadal som ju o hamburger a šálku kávy.
11Vôbec som ju nepil, až kým som nemal asi tridsaťosem rokov; mal som vedieť viac. Ale potom brat Brown, myslím, že je dnes ráno niekde tu. On tu sedí. Jemu sa to tak páčilo a dostal ma... Ja by som mal ministerské raňajky o siedmej, o ôsmej a o deviatej. Nemohli by ste to všetko zjesť, tak naliali kávu. A ja som to usrkával a následne, začal som piť.
12A tak som sa opýtal toho dievčaťa, povedal som jej, „Chcem hamburger a šálku kávy.“ Keď priniesli tú malú šálku, pomyslel som si, „Ó, ó, oni sú tu pri káve naozaj úsporní.“ Prvý nápoj, prvý dúšok, ktorý som si dal, ó, musel som lapať po dychu. Vidíte?
13Tá drobné dievča povedalo, „Ty musíš byť Amík.“ [„Yankee“ - rodák zo severu USA – pozn.prekl.] Povedala, „Dám ti 'Amícku' šálku.“
14Tak takto nachádzam ľudí, možno nie ako najväčší zástup, ku ktorému som kedy hovoril, ale skutočnú kvalitu. Som za to vďačný, počúvajúce publikum, niekto, kto sedí a dáva pozor na to, čo hovoríte. Ja...
15To je to, čo chcem, aby ste robili. Preskúmajte, čo človek hovorí skrze Slovo Božie. A ak to nie je správne, potom to nie je správne. To je všetko. Ak je to Slovo Božie, potom Boh musí svedčiť o Svojom Slove, pretože to zasľúbil. Tak to je to, ako chceme skúmať tieto veci, aby sme to zistili.
16No, dnes ráno som pochopil, že toto majú byť raňajky obchodníkov, Obchodníci Plného Evanjelia, ktorých som členom. A myslím, že toto... Povedali, že boli tu niektorí z nich. Niektorí z nich sa nedostali. Možno, oni sú obchodníci, majú svoje záležitosti, ktorým sa musia venovať. Každopádne ich ospravedlním, takže tak to je v poriadku. Povedal, že mnohí z ich ľudí tu každopádne sú, tak to je veľmi dobré.
17Teraz len malý vtip. Povedal som to, ale možno... Toto nie je miesto na žartovanie, samozrejme, ale je to len trochu zmyslu pre humor. Keď hovoríte, tak, ako sme to pred chvíľou povedali, možno ľuďom prinavrátite zmysel pre humor.
18Pamätám si, ako sme raz boli s kamarátom v škole. Volal sa Wilmer Snyder. Jeho brat je baptistickým kazateľom a on píše do tejto „Hornej Miestnosti“, do stĺpca v „Hornej miestnosti“. Boli sme spolu školáci. A ja som študoval službu a on sa stal poisťovacím agentom. A tak prišiel jedného dňa ku mne domov, aby ma navštívil. A teraz tu môžu byť nejakí poisťovací agenti. A teraz nehovorím nič o poistení. Dúfam, že si o tom nemyslíte nič zlé, ale vy sa chytáte toho, čo som... tak, ako som to povedal. Takže môj brat tiež... má „Prudential“ a on predáva „prudenciálne“ poistenie [„diktované opatrnosťou, prezieravé“ - pozn.prekl.].
19Tak som raz urobil niečo v jednej poisťovacej spoločnosti, že... Myslím, že veľmi neviem, že... oni mi tú poistku čítali zle a bolo mi to skreslené a ja som... jednoducho som to nikdy nevybral. Ja...
20Tak jedného dňa prišiel za mnou Wilmer a povedal, „Ako sa máš, Billy?“
Povedal som, „Dobre.“
Povedal, „Počujem, že si mal zhromaždenia!“
Povedal som, „Áno, mávam zhromaždenia.“
21Hovoril som mu, čo mi povedal jeden človek. On povedal, „Počuj, ty si kazateľ. Čo to robíš, že sa motáš okolo týchto obchodníkov?“
Povedal som, „Ja som obchodník.“
A on povedali, „Ó, v akej veci?“
Povedal som, „Uistenie.“
22A viete, on to nepochopil. Vôbec som nepovedal, „Poistenie.“ Povedal som, „Uistenie.“ Rozumiete?
A tak som povedal, „Uistenie.“
23On povedal, „Ó,“ povedal, „rozumiem.“ On povedal, „Aké poistenie predávaš?“
24Povedal som, „Predávam poistenie večného života.“ A stále to predávam. Tak by som mal záujem... Každý, kto má záujem, rád by som sa s vami porozprával o tejto poistke, hneď po zhromaždení, ak je to v poriadku.
25A tak povedal, „Večný život?“ Povedal, „Nemyslím, že som o takej spoločnosti niekedy počul.“
26Povedal som, „Ó, nikdy si o nej nepočul?“ Povedal som, „Je dobre známa.“ A on povedal... Ja som povedal, „Je to starý podnik.“
A on povedal, „Kde je ústredie?“
Povedal som, „V Sláve.“
27Wilmer mi povedal, „Billy, myslel som, že prídem a predám ti nejaké poistenie.“ Povedal, „Počul som, že nemáš žiadne poistenie.“
A povedal som, „Ó, áno, mám istotu.“
28A on povedal, „Ó, je mi ľúto.“ On povedal, „Hádam, tvoj brat, máš to s ním.“
Povedal som, „Nie, nie celkom s ním.“
29Moja žena sa na mňa pozrela, akoby chcela povedať, „No, ty si tu vymýšľaš?“ Vedela, že nemám žiadne poistenie. Ale ani ona to neuchyila. Povedal som, „Uistenie,“ nie „poistenie.“
On povedal, „Aké máš poistenie, Billy?“
30Povedal som:
Požehnané uistenie, Ježiš je môj!
Ó, aká predzvesť Božskej slávy.
Ja som dedič spasenia, kúpený od Boha,
Zrodený z Jeho Ducha, obmytý v Jeho Krvi.
31On povedal, „Billy, to je veľmi pekné. To je veľmi pekné.“ Povedal, „Nemám nič proti tomu, ale,“ povedal, „to ti nedá miesto tu na cintoríne, keď budeš preč.“
32Povedal som, „Dostane ma to z neho von. Nestarám sa dostať sa tam.“
33Nehľadám dostať sa na cintorín; ale ide o to, dostať sa z neho von. A tak... Tak toto je jediná vec, o ktorej viem, že vás dostane von. Tak, ak máte záujem dostať sa von, pohovorme si o tom.
34Ako sa dívam dnes ráno na obecenstvo, dlho vás nezdržím, len chvíľu. A mal som text, z ktorého som išiel kázať, tak som si pomyslel, no, radšej to nebudem robiť. Mal som len takú malú drámu, niečo v Biblii.
35Uvažujem tu o vážnych veciach. Že, zatiaľ čo tu sedíme ako Kresťania, myslím, že väčšina z nás, vedeli ste, že toto môže byť poslednýkrát, kedy budeme spolu raňajkovať? Napadlo vás to niekedy?
36Uvedomujete si tie malé slová, ktoré tu mám povedať, že Boh ma bude brať na zodpovednosť tam hore v Deň súdu? Rozumiete? A ja tu mám duše, nezáleží na tom, či je to malá skupina, ale ja ich stále mám. Sú to slová, ktoré hovorím, dobre, budem sa musieť za ne tam hore zodpovedať.
37Tak možno už nikdy nebudeme spolu raňajkovať, ale dúfam, že budeme jedného dňa spolu večerať. To je posledná večera, tam s Ním, bude to prvá tam.
38A potom, keď tu dnes ráno sedíme a dívam sa na týchto mužov, niektorí sú veľkí služobníci, ktorí študovali. A ja tu vychádzam len z krovín, žiadne vzdelanie, sedím tu s človekom, ktorý je spôsobilý kázať, a s teológmi. Cítim sa veľmi malý, keď stojím a hovorím pred takýmito ľuďmi. Ale predsa musím vyjadriť, čo cítim. A ich veľká vďačnosť a láskavosť, že ma nechali stáť a robiť toto. Vážim si to, bratia, spolupráca na zhromaždení a spoločné stretnutie. Som tu, aby som vám pomohol. Urobím všetko, čo môžem, pre každého jedného z vás, z milosti Božej.
39A potom, keď to všetko skončí, jedného dňa, ak už s tebou nebudem raňajkovať, keď to všetko skončí, budeme sedieť pri stole jeden vedľa druhého, to je ten čas, ktorý očakávam. Niet pochýb, že nám po lícach budú stekať slzy a budeme sa dívať cez stôl a chytať sa navzájom za ruky. To potom bude niečo znamenať. Poďme pracovať, kým je čas pracovať, zatiaľ čo je slnko hore. Po chvíli to bude dole; klesá veľmi nízko. Potom, pomyslieť na to, že zatiaľ čo tam budeme sedieť a budeme sa držať za ruky a trochu si poplačeme, potom ten veľký Kráľ vyjde v celom Svojom nádhernom rúchu, zíde dolu ku každému a zotrie nám všetky slzy z očí a povie, „Dobre ste vykonali, moji dobrí a verní služobníci, vojdite do radosti Pánovej, ktorá je pre vás pripravená od založenia sveta.“ Zatiaľ čo slnko je hore a je dosť svetla pracovať, pracujme.
40No, tento krátky text sa tu môže zdať trochu divný, ale budeme hovoriť na túto tému: On mal prejsť touto cestou.
41Musela to byť pre toho drobného človeka strašná noc. Nemohol vôbec spať a celú noc sa len otáčal a prehadzoval. Svitalo.
42A všetci vieme, čo znamenajú tie nepokojné noci, keď nemôžete spať. Máš niečo na mysli alebo ti niečo lezie na nervy.
43A tento malý človek bol obchodníkom, možno v meste Jericho, ktoré bolo niečo, ako tu máte vy, obchodníci a ženy, a on mal nepochybne rozrastajúci sa obchod. On stál v dobrom s... všetkými klubmi, a tak ďalej, a bol členom cirkvi, rady Sanhedrinu, a mal vynikajúceho kňaza a veril tomuto kňazovi.
44A zvláštna vec v tomto prípade je jeho žena. Budeme ju volať Rebeka. „Ona zablúdila na nesprávnu stranu,“ pomyslel si, a tak isto aj kňaz. Nasledovala človeka, ktorý mal byť prorokom z Nazaretu, muža menom Ježiš. Ľudia, tá chudobnejšia vrstva ľudí, verili, že je prorokom alebo Mesiášom, ktorý bol zasľúbený, ale On nespĺňal kvalifikáciu Sanhedrinu.
45Zvláštne, že niekedy Boh robí veci mimo toho spôsobu, o ktorom si myslíme, že by to malo byť. „Tento chlap, vidíte, sa narodil ako...,“ podľa ich názoru, „bolo to nelegitímne narodenie. Jeho matka Ho porodila predtým, ako sa ona a jej manžel stali manželmi.“
46Ďalšia vec, On nemal žiadne vzdelanie. Oni nemali žiaden záznam, že On kedy chodil do školy. On nebol kňazom, ani nebol rabínom. On si to len sám nárokoval.
47Ako brat Don dnes ráno povedal to veľké vyhlásenie, „Bolo to zahnutie za roh.“ Oni to nespoznali. Obyčajne sa to tak stáva. Nastal čas rohu.
48Ale tak nejako, jeho žena bola presvedčená, že On je tým prorokom, ktorý má prísť, a ona Ho nasledovala, uverila Mu.
49A ona sa to snažila povedať svojmu mužovi. Ale on bol tak unesený vo svojom podnikaní a s... Patril do cirkvi. „Nestačí to?“
50Niečo ako bohatý mládenec, viete. On mal tiež obchod. Ale on si uvedomil, že je členom cirkvi, ale nemal večný život. A on sa opýtal... Videl v Ježišovi niečo, čo iný človek nemal. A on povedal, prišiel k Nemu a povedal, „Ja...“ On chcel vedieť, či... čo by mohol urobiť, aby mal Večný Život. A Ježiš mu povedal, aby zachovával prikázania. On povedal, „Robil som to od mladosti.“ Vidíte, to ukázalo, že bol veriaci, ale on vedel, že Ježiš mal niečo, čo tí kňazi a rabíni nemali.
51A keď človek niekedy prichádza do kontaktu s Ježišom Kristom, je od ľudí odlišný. Nikdy nie si ten istý, keď Ho raz uvidíš, ak je v tebe nejaká Božia iskra.
52Tak Rebeka našla tohto Ježiša. A On bol pre ňu presne tým naplnením zasľúbenia, ktoré Židia očakávali na svoj deň.
53Tak sa dostala správa, že On bude mať raňajky alebo večeru alebo niečo také, dolu v Jerichu, takže ona mala plné ruky práce s modlením sa za svojho obchodníckeho manžela.
54Potrebujeme viac Rebiek, všade, vidíte. Vidíte, modlitba mení veci. Ak predložíte svojho muža alebo svojho nespaseného blízkeho pred Boha a potom sa budete modliť, Boh urobí niekde cestu, pretože On to zasľúbil.
55Tak to je to, čo Rebeka, ktorá je neochvejne veriaca a nasledovateľka Pána Ježiša, a musela byť veľmi milou osobou, a ona sa... zaujímala o svoju domácnosť.
56A myslím, že to znovu odráža, že ak niekto niekedy stretne Ježiša a nájde Ho skutočne vo svojom srdci, zaujíma vás nielen vaša vlastná domácnosť, ale aj Božia domácnosť, všade. Zaujíma ťa, či Ho poznajú. „A poznať Ho je život.“ „Poznajte Ho,“ vidíte, nie vedieť, ako čítať Slovo, alebo tak nejako. Ale, „Poznať Jeho je Život.“
57Tak veľmi sa modlila. A priblížil sa deň, keď mal Ježiš vstúpiť do mesta. A bezpochyby, ale deň predtým mohla vidieť, či sa jeho postoj nejako zmenil. Tak povedala, možno, „Zacheus, ideš ráno na tie raňajky?“
58„No, to určite nie. No, tá skupina ľudí! A ty ma očakávaš... Mám najlepšiu reštauráciu v meste a oni ich majú u Lavinského.“ Dúfam, že tu nie je žiaden Lavinský. Ale jednako, „Tam na tom druhom mieste, vidíš. A, no, mám najlepšie miesto v meste a oni si vybrali to miesto tam dolu. No, nemali by. Mali by prísť ku mne, vidíš.“ On nešiel.
59Potom sa začala skutočne zúfalo modliť. Tak potom v ten večer si ten chlapík nemohol vôbec oddýchnuť.
60Viete, niečo na tom je, ak sa idete skutočne zúfalo modliť za niečo, Boh pracuje na oboch koncoch. On odpovedá.
61Tak ten malý muž, on musel v ten večer premýšľať, „Zaujímalo by ma, či by som mal ísť dolu a vypočuť si tohto človeka? No, Rebeka hovorí, že On je prorok. No, vieme, že sme už stovky rokov nemali žiadnych prorokov. A ja som sa na to opýtal kňaza, on povedal, 'Nič iné ako nezmysel! Ak by bol nejaký prorok, ktorý povstane, či by neprišiel cez cirkev? To je ten spôsob, ako by musel prísť. On by prišiel k nám, k farizejom alebo sadúcejom alebo k našej skupine, inak by nebol prorokom.'“ Viete, stále existuje taký postoj. Oni si myslia, že to musí prísť určitým spôsobom, inak to nie je správne. Tak povedali, bezpochyby, ale v tomto veľkom čase, že... Každopádne tomu verila.
62A on to prediskutoval s kňazom. Kňaz povedal, „Teraz sa pozrite, tie dni prorokov boli už pred mnohými, mnohými rokmi. Máme zákon. Máme to všetko napísané. Situácia je pod kontrolou a máme to v rukách a vieme o týchto veciach.“
63Ale potom, samozrejme, Zacheus, nehľadiac na to, len absolútne sa domnieval, bral to ako samozrejmosť. Slovo domnievať sa je „odvážiť sa bez autority.“ No, on si myslel, že to je v poriadku; pokiaľ patril do cirkvi, to je všetko, čo by mal robiť.
64Ale potom, keď začala prichádzať noc, prišla v jeho srdci náhla túžba. „Možno, ak je táto osoba v meste, On tu už možno nikdy viac nebude. Mal by som ísť a preskúmať tú situáciu a sám sa presvedčiť.“
65No, to je dobrý nápad. Sami sa na to pozrite. Nechoďte kritizovať. Vezmite Slovo a skúmajte Slovo podľa toho.
66Tak ona, Rebeka, ako žena sa snažila vysvetliť, ako len mohla, že to, čo povedali proroci a čo povedal Mojžiš, že táto osoba bude, a keď On príde. Tak ona si musela myslieť, snažila sa mu to vysvetliť, ale kňaz mal na neho predsa len oveľa väčší vplyv, ako mala jeho žena Rebeka.
67Potom, keď začalo svitať, no, ten malý muž bol... Rebeka, viem si ju predstaviť, vidiac ju, ako ho šťuchla a hovorí, „Zacheus, chceš tým povedať, že tam nechceš ísť?“
„Nie, ja s tým nechcem mať nič spoločné.“
68Vieš, nebuď, Reb... Nebuď znechutená, Rebeka. Niekedy je to dobré znamenie. Vidíte, práve, keď je tá osoba taká skľúčená, keď o tom hovoríš, a podobne. To je niekedy celkom dobré znamenie.
69A tak sa Rebeka po chvíli správala, akoby spala. Len ona sa modlila. A ona zistila, že Zacheus vyliezol z postele, naozaj potichu, viete, a ide tam, celý sa upravuje, učesal si vlasy a obliekol si svoj najlepší odev. A ona nakukovala jedným okom, aby videla, čo robí. Ona hneď vtedy vedela, že Boh odpovedal na modlitbu. Vedela, že niečo sa stane. Tak Zacheus chodí po špičkách a nedáva Rebeke vedieť, kam ide, viete. A on sa vyšmykne, vyjde von a obzrie sa späť.
70Ona zodvihne záclonu a díva sa von, aby ho videla, ako ide von. Ona hovorí, „Ďakujem ti, Pane, teraz je to všetko v poriadku.“ Vidíte?
71Tak, ako to urobil Eliáš, keď povedal, „Vidím to, je to oblak veľký ako ľudská ruka.“ Len prvý malý dôkaz, niečo sa musí stať.
72A tak ide von a dolu ulicami. On povedal, „Teraz vraj vojde južnou bránou, tak radšej pôjdem tam a postavím sa.“ A povedal, „A nájdem si miesto a budem stáť rovno tam. A keď On vojde, uvidím, akým veľkým Prorokom ten chlapík je. A pôjdem rovno tam a položím svoj prst pod jeho nos a ukážem Mu, keď príde. A poviem Mu, že všetky Jeho nezmysly spôsobili, že moja manželka... a tieto modlitebné zhromaždenia a také veci... Začína mi z toho byť zle a som unavený. Idem. Idem o tom niečo povedať, vidíte, a poviem Mu. A potom viem, že ma rabín iste pohladí po pleci a povie, 'Zacheus, ty si tu dobrým členom tejto cirkvi. Iste si dobrý človek.'“ Tak on povedal, „Budem tam v predstihu,“ tak tam šiel.
73Keď sa dostal asi na jeden alebo dva bloky od brány, zistil, že to miesto bolo preplnené. Viseli na stenách a všade. Tak či onak, aj keď o ňom všeličo hovorili, stále bol niekto, kto Ho rád počul. Niekto by počúval.
74A tak povedal, „No, ako Ho niekedy uvidím prichádzať do brány?“ Pamätáte sa, Biblia hovorí, že bol malého vzrastu. A on povedal, „Som príliš malý.“ Tak on sa všade tlačil, „Uvoľnite mi tu trochu miesta!“ Môžete povedať, že ešte nie je kresťanom, vidíte, takto sa správať. Kresťania nemajú taký postoj, vidíte. „Uhni! Vieš, kto ja som? Ja som Zacheus. Vlastním tu hore reštauráciu. Choď, odstúp mi z cesty!“ Rozumiete? No, to nie je kresťan. Každý vedel, že ním nie je. Možno niektorí z nich vedeli, že Rebeka sa modlí.
„No,“ povedali, „hej, ty uhni.“
75A tak on vedel, že Ho nikdy neuvidí v celom tom dave, tak nebude schopný vyjadriť Mu svoje myšlienky. A tak si pomyslel, „No, čo budem teraz robiť? Možno sa vrátim domov a zabudnem na celú vec.“
76Ale, viete, niečo na tom je, že keď sa rozhodnete, že Ho chcete vidieť, nič vám nezabráni Ho vidieť. Je mi jedno, čo to je, vy ste vytrvalí a ako tá malá Grékyňa bola vytrvalá, aby sa dostala k Ježišovi. A niečo na tom je, že kedykoľvek sa rozhodnete, že Ho uvidíte, nič vás nezastaví. Ale pamätajte, keď sa rozhodnete, potom diabol urobí všetko, čo môže, aby vás zastavil. On je rozhodnutý, že vy tomu nebudete rozumieť, že to nebudete vidieť. Predhodí pred vás každú čiernu plachtu, ktorú len môže, aby vás držal preč od toho, len aby ste to nevideli.
77A tak tam bola jeho prvá barikáda. Tak potom začal, povediac, „No, myslím...“
78A pozrel sa tam a tam stáli niektorí z jeho konkurentov a oni, on vtedy vedel, že niektorí z tých ľudí sú z cirkvi. Tak tam si robil toľko žartov z tohto Ježiša z Nazareta, že bol prorokom, potom tu stáli niektorí z jeho členov, hľadeli na neho, boli rovno tam v tej istej skupine. On sa jednoducho nemohol skryť. Bol identifikovaný.
79No, Zacheus, už si bol identifikovaný, tak len... vieš, ak by tu náhodou nejaký bol. Sme už teraz zmiešaní v skupine, takže oni už vedia, kto, sme tu, tak by sme sa tiež mohli zoznámiť, poznať jeden druhého.
80Tak on povedal, „No, je to tu zvláštne.“ A on sa poobzeral, videl tu jedného stáť. „A vieš, koniec koncov, oni sú asi takí ako ty, oni chcú niečo zistiť.“
81Človek vie, že prišiel odniekiaľ spoza; a keď odchádza, ide niekam späť. A on sa vždy snaží nájsť niečo, aby zistil, odkiaľ pochádza a kam ide. Je len jeden, ktorý má odpoveď, to je Boh. Každý človek sa chce pozrieť cez tú oponu. A keď vidíte čokoľvek, čo... čo vám môže ukázať, čo je za oponou, kde ste boli a kto ste a kam idete. Existuje len jedna Kniha zo všetkej napísanej literatúry z miliónov ton. Toto je Kniha, ktorá vám hovorí, kto ste, odkiaľ prichádzate a kam idete. Nie je žiadna iná kniha, ktorá by to dokázala; tá Biblia! „A Slovo je Boh,“ hovorí Biblia.
82No, zisťujeme, že tento človek, so všetkým naokolo, bol v rozpakoch, keď zistil, že je uprostred ľudí, ktorí kričali a plakali a hulákali a správali sa ako blázni. Tak, ale on... Tam sedel, stotožnený s nimi, tak on len musel zostať, to je všetko. Teraz povedal, „No, ak som prišiel tak ďaleko, mohol by som pokračovať, kým Ho skutočne nenájdem.“
83No, Zacheus, to je dobrý nápad. Dostal si sa sem na raňajky, tak poď ďalej. Vidíte, všetci sme tak ďaleko.
84Tak teraz zisťujeme, že ako oni išli, povedal, „No, ak tu zostanem, nemôžem Ho vidieť, lebo som príliš malý. Tak, vieš čo, myslím, že sa dostanem von z tohoto zástupu a pobežím dolu k rohu, kde budem stáť sám, nájdem si miesto rovno na okraji chodníka. A keď On príde, potom vystúpim rovno tu na ulicu a poviem Mu, čo si o Ňom myslím. Ja Mu ukážem, ako sa veci majú. “
85A tak odišiel preč od toho zástupu a išiel dolu. Pomyslel si, „Teraz ktorou cestou On pôjde?“ No, on išiel dolu „alejou Haleluja.“ To sú obyčajne miesta, ktorými On putuje, vidíte. A išiel dolu ku „rohu Amen“, kde sa odbočuje sem, aby išiel dolu k tomu miestu na jedenie.
86To je to, kam ideš, viete, „alej Haleluja“ a „roh Amen“, a potom ste pripravení jesť Slovo. Rozumiete? Rozumiete?
87A tak išiel dolu k tomuto rohu a postavil sa tam a povedal, „Teraz tu nikto nie je. A keď...“ Viem, že to znie smiešne, ale len... Počkajte chvíľu. Tak potom, prvá vec, viete, prišiel k tomuto rohu a povedal, „Tu nie je nikto, tak sa tu postavím. Keď príde, zistím, koľko je prorokom. Vykročím rovno tu na cestu a niečo Mu poviem.“
88A tak tam stál a začal premýšľať, „Počkaj teraz chvíľu. Vieš, ak by som tam bol, som príliš malý, ten zástup by pravdepodobne išiel všade za Ním, a ja nechcem, aby niekto vykrikoval, keď s ním budem hovoriť. Chcem k Nemu prehovoriť tak, aby ma počul. A oni vždy vykrikujú 'Amen' a 'Haleluja' a 'Sláva Bohu', 'Hosana prorokovi, ktorý prichádza v mene Pánovom'.
Ó, oni ma vôbec nebudú počuť, celá tá hlučná skupina. Takže je len jedna vec... Potom sa budú tlačiť všade okolo mňa a potom Ho nebudem môcť vôbec ani vidieť."
89A tak sa obzrel, stojac na rohu, a bol tam starý známy javor. To je dobrý strom v Indiane. Tak stojac na rohu, pomyslel si, „No, ak by som sa mohol dostať na tú vetvu a sadnúť si tam, potom by som bol hore a podarilo by sa mi k Nemu prehovoriť, keď príde.“
90Tak tam išiel, obchádzal to tam. A on bol príliš malý; nemohol sa dostať hore na konár. Tak on povedal, „No, teraz je len jedno, čo môžem urobiť.“ Tamto na rohu stoja mestské smetiaky. A tak si pomyslel, „No, ak pôjdem a vezmem jeden smetiak a prinesiem ho sem, potom sa budem môcť dostať hore na strom. To mi pomôže.“
91A tak tam ide. A smetiari v to ráno ešte neprechádzali a bolo to dosť ťažké. Tak on bol malý a nemohol to zdvihnúť. Jediný spôsob, ako by to dokázal, bolo oblapiť ho. A mal na sebe svoj najlepší odev. Tak, viete, vždy existujú prekážky, keď sa snažíte vidieť Ježiša. Ale to nezáležalo na tom, či to bol dobrý odev alebo nie, on chcel každopádne vidieť Ježiša. A tak objal ten smetný kôš, aby ho tam mohol privliecť. A prevrátil sa mu a tak mal všade na sebe odpadky. No, bolo mu to jedno; On Ho jednako chcel vidieť.
92Tak, zatiaľ čo ten smetiak tlačil, rukami ho objímal, počul, ako sa niekto smeje. A poobzeral sa a čo to: stojí tam Lavinski, jeho konkurent, a hovorí, „No, pozrime sa! Zacheus si našiel novú prácu vo svojej reštaurácii. Pracuje ako smetiar!“
93Viete, diabol chce len vidieť, čo všetko môže urobiť, aby vám postavil do cesty každú možnú vec, aby vám zabránil vidieť Ježiša. On vám povie, „To je banda náboženských fanatikov.“ Oni vám povedia, „To je banda idiotov.“ On povie, „Nič na nich nie je. Sú to len tie úbohé mestské smeti,“ spraví všetko, čo len môže. Ale ak si rozhodnutý vidieť Ho, Boh ti urobí cestu, aby si Ho videl. Len to majte na pamäti. Niečo sa stane, ak ten hlad začne vchádzať do tvojho srdca, to niečo. Každopádne Ho uvidíš.
94Ale jemu to nevadilo. Jeho tvár sa začervenala, bol v rozpakoch, ale aj tak pretlačil ten smetiak, dotrepal ho tam a vyšplhal sa hore na strom. To je v poriadku, nie, vyšplhať? Vy, južania, viete, čo je to „vyšplhať sa“, to je vyliezť hore na strom, dostať sa hore na strom. A on sa tam dostal a zistil, že je tam miesto, kde sa schádzajú dva konáre a stretávajú sa v kmeni stromu. Tam si sadol.
95No, to je dobré miesto na sedenie: tam, kde sa stretávajú dva spôsoby; tvoj a Boží; tvoja idea a tá Jeho. To je ten správny čas sadnúť si a premyslieť si to. Tvoje vlastné myšlienky o Ňom; a čo Jeho Slovo hovorí, že On je. To, čo si myslíte, že On je; a to, čo Slovo hovorí, že On je. Čo je to Posolstvo hodiny podľa tvojho myslenia; a čo je Posolstvo tejto hodiny podľa Jeho Slova. To je ten rozdiel. Sadnite si tam a chvíľu o tom popremýšľajte.
96Satan si nepochybne sadol na jeho rameno a povedal, „Vieš čo? Si tu na pohľad dobre viditeľný, sedíš tu a vyberáš si z rúk triesky. A si noblesne oblečený a zároveň špinavý od odpadkov. A teraz bude tvoje meno v tomto meste zverejnené, budú o tebe hovoriť vtipy, lebo pozri sa, čo za vec si urobil, ako tu sedíš.“
97Vidíte, satan, keď začnete, potom sa vám pokúsi povedať, „Urobil si chybu.“
98Sedel tam v takom stave! On povedal, „No, Rebeka povedala, že je prorok. Dám Mu skúšku. Uvidím, či je prorokom.“ Teraz povedal, „Keď sem príde, zamaskujem sa a On vôbec nebude vedieť, že som tu hore. Najprv sa na Neho pozriem. A potom, keď Ho uvidím, potom zoskočím z tohoto stromu a potom pôjdem tam dolu a poviem Mu.“ Teraz povedal, „No, ak je prorokom, ako Rebeka povedala, že je, mal by vedieť, že som hore na tomto strome, ak je to pravda. Tak, človeče, ja Ho napravím.“ A tak zatiahol všetky možné listy okolo seba a celý sa zamaskoval, takže ho nebolo vidieť; a nechal iba jeden list, aby mohol nakúkať, viete, aby Ho uvidel, keď bude zabáčať pri rohu.
99A potom, ako tam sedel, premýšľal o tom všetkom. Po chvíli začul za rohom nejaký zvuk.
100Je to zvláštne, kdekoľvek On je, tam je vždy veľa hluku. Viete, hluk je známkou života. Rozumiete? Pamätáte na najvyššieho kňaza, keď sa obliekol a vošiel do Najsvätejšej svätyne? Na konci svojho rúcha mal granátové jablká a zvončeky a ten hluk v Najsvätejšej svätyni bol jediný spôsob, ako tí čakajúci vedeli, či je nažive, alebo nie. Vydávalo to hluk. A kde nie je žiaden hluk, ó, potom by mohol byť mŕtvy. No, myslím, že to je to, čo sa deje v mnohých našich cirkvách dnes, nie je v tom dosť hluku, nie je dosť nadšenia, niečoho nie je dosť. A tak, kde je Ježiš, tam je vždy hluk.
101Raz, keď prišiel do Jeruzalema, kričali a hulákali, „Hosanna Kráľovi, ktorý prichádza v Mene Pánovom!“
102A niektorí z tých kňazov, ktorí tam stáli, povedali, „Hej, utíšte ich, nech sú ticho.“
103Povedal, „Ak budú ticho, skaly budú kričať.“ Niečo sa musí hýbať, keď je On nablízku. Všimnite si. A potom tí, ktorí Mu uverili.
104A potom počul, ako ten hluk prichádza spoza rohu, kričia a pokračujú ďalej. Tak si pomyslel, „No, On sa musí približovať.“ Tak nadvihol ten list a zodvihol sa, aby sa pozrel. „Teraz Ho už určite mám. Zistíme, na koľko je prorokom.“ Tak, keď tam sedel so svojimi listami, díval sa zhora, z tohto stromu, bol hore nad ich hlavami, kde by prechádzali popod tento strom.
105Tak, keď zbadal prvého človeka, ako prichádza spoza rohu, musel to byť apoštol Peter, pretože on bol veľkým, silným a statným mužom. Môžem ho vidieť, ako zatláča zástupy späť a hovorí, „Priatelia, je mi ľúto. Náš Majster mal včera večer veľkú službu, odišlo od Neho mnoho sily. Všetci to pochopíte. Či by ste sa len postavili nabok, aby Majster mohol prejsť? Prosím, urobte to.“ A tu prichádzajú Matúš, Marek, hovoriac, „No, nechceme byť drzí, nie sme tu kvôli tomu, ale náš Pán je strašne unavený a ani neraňajkoval, tak sme... Chceme, aby ste ustúpili, ak dovolíte.“
106Stál tam nejaký muž, na ktorého sa možno Zacheus pozrel.
107Niekoľko dní pred tým, na jednom zo zhromaždení medzi obchodníkmi, bol tam jeden lekár a povedal tomuto malému človeku, ktorý mal jedno malé dievčatko, ktoré bolo skutočne choré s horúčkou, a ona by nežila, ak by nejaké... Urobil pre ňu všetko, čo mohol.
108A Zacheus, keď zodvihol svoj list a pozrel sa, videl tohoto muža s týmto dieťaťom zabaleným v tejto prikrývke, ako prichádza spoza rohu. On si pomyslel, „Čo za nerozumnú vec ten otec robí, snaží sa nasledovať toho takzvaného Proroka! Tu prichádza spoza rohu s týmto dieťaťom a s horúčkou a stojí v tomto vetre.“
109Ale viete, práve tak, ako Zacheus, keď skutočne veríš, nič ti nebude prekážať.
110A ona chcela dostať to dieťa k Nemu. A zakaždým, keď sa otočili pri rohu alebo zmenili smer, on bol odsunutý dozadu. Ale bol vytrvalý a pokračoval ďalej. Nakoniec pri tomto rohu vybehla jedna matka s dieťaťom na rukách a ona musela spadnúť a povedala, „Pane, buď milostivý môjmu dieťaťu.“ A tam stál otec dieťaťa a plakal tiež, bol to Zacheov priateľ.
Povedal, „Čo zmenilo jeho postoj?“
111Tak nemohol rozoznať, kto je ten človek, On bol dole v tom zástupe. Zrazu vidí vystrieť nejakú ruku a dotknúť sa vrchu tejto malej prikrývky. A to dievčatko bolo rozbalené a odišlo a poskakovalo dolu ulicou.
„No, niečo na tom musí byť,“ povedal Zacheus.
112Nakoniec prichádza na rad On. A jeden pohľad na Neho, Zacheus zmenil svoj názor. Len jeden pohľad na Neho! A bolo hotovo. Nevyzeral ako človek. Na Ňom bolo niečo iné. Krotký, mierny, láskavý; a pritom vyzeralo to, že ak On prehovorí, svet sa skončí. Bol odlišnej postavy, ako si myslel. Jeho postoj začal... Všetka jeho naškrobenosť sa začala vymývať, keď Ho uvidel. Prichádza a kráča dolu ulicou. Premýšľal; díval sa cez tento malý lístok, pozeral sa, čo sa deje. A ako kráčal, dostal sa rovno pod to miesto, kde bol Zacheus.
113A povedal si, „Vieš, ten človek môže byť prorokom. Možno mala Rebeka pravdu. Ona mohla vedieť o Písmach viac ako ja.“ Tak On kráča rovno dolu, so sklonenou hlavou, kráča ďalej, pokorne, jemne, ako to vždy robil. A učeníci držali ľudí mimo Jeho cesty.
114A keď sa dostal rovno pod ten strom, zastavil sa. Zacheus, dívajúc sa cez to lístie, niečo také. Pozrel sa hore na strom a povedal, „Zacheus, poď dole.“
115Nielen, že vedel, že bol hore na strome, ale vedel tiež, že sa volá Zacheus. On mal oveľa menšie problémy dostať sa dolu zo stromu, ako keď šiel hore. On ho poznal; stal sa na ňom zázrak. Vidíte?
116On povedal, „Pane, mýlil som sa, som pripravený priznať, že sa mýlim. Ak som niečo vzal, urobil niečo zlé, ja to splatím, dám polovicu svojho majetku chudobným.“
Ježiš povedal, „Dnes prišlo spasenie do tvojho domu.“
117Čo ho zmenilo? Čo bola tá zmena, brat a sestra? Zamyslite sa len na chvíľu. Tá zmena bola v tom, že uvidel Niečo skutočné.
118On počul všetky zasľúbenia, ktoré boli dané, kňaz hovoril o tom, čo bolo: Veľký prorok Mojžiš, veľké toto, to alebo tamto, sľuboval niečo veľké do budúcnosti, ale ignoroval, čo sa deje teraz. To je spôsob človeka.
119Videl niečo skutočné, niečo, čo mohol vidieť on sám. Stal sa mu zázrak. On bol tým Prorokom. Pretože, On ho nepoznal, ani by ho nikdy nevidel hore na strome. Ale keď sa dostal rovno pod ten strom, zastavil sa, pozrel sa hore a povedal, „Zacheus, zostúp, dnes prišlo spasenie do tvojho domu.“
120Bratia, to je to skutočné, čo mení myseľ človeka, mení jeho postoj. Niekedy je to tlak, istotne, aby sme sa k tomu dostali. Ale ak sa dnes ráno priblížite ku Kristovi, s tou myšlienkou vo svojom srdci, „Nebudem kritický, ale budem študovať Písmo a uvidím, čo On je.“
121Ak On dnes večer príde na zhromaždenie; predtým, ako prídeš, študuj a vidz, čím On je. Čokoľvek bol, On musí byť tým istým aj dnes. Jeho... Ako som hovoril včera večer, ak ste tam mnohí z vás boli. Či sa Boh identifikuje podľa Svojich vlastností? On vždy musí zostať taký, pretože On je ten istý včera, dnes i naveky. Ľudské srdcia sú... sú také... Skutočný bohabojný muž alebo žena, obchodník, alebo čímkoľvek je, on je vždy... niečo je v jeho srdci, ak je tam nejaká Božia bázeň, tak on chce vedieť niečo o Bohu.
122Viete čo, zatiaľ som vám ešte nepovedal, čo sa stalo so Zacheom. Stal sa členom skupiny Obchodníkov plného Evanjelia v Jerichu. Vidíte, chcem vám o ňom najprv povedať, vidíte. Ó, iste, on by nebol ničím iným, len za plné Evanjelium, samozrejme. To je to, čo Ježiš kázal. Tak sa tam stal ich členom. Aj vy by ste mali byť toho členom. Teraz si všimnite.
123Ale on chcel vidieť niečo skutočné. A keď sám videl niečo skutočné, niečo, čo bolo podľa Písma identifikované, potom bol pripravený. Sú to skutočné veci, ktoré majú hodnotu.
124Ešte jeden malý príbeh pred ukončením. Koľko je tu lovcov? Pozrime sa na vaše ruky, moji bratia, vy, ktorí ste tu. Ó! Vedel som, že nie som sám. Tak rád lovím a som...
125Chodieval som hore do severných lesov, hore do New Hampshire. Je to domov jeleňa bielochvostého. Ako rád ich lovím! A zvykol som tam chodiť každý rok. A mal som tam partnera, menom Bert Call, jedného z najlepších mužov, s ktorými som kedy poľoval.
126A moja povaha mala vždy náklonnosť k lesom. Narodil som sa v lesoch a zdá sa mi, akoby som tam bol vychovaný. A ani moje obrátenie to zo mňa nikdy nevzalo preč. Nie tak veľmi, aby som poľoval; ale aby som bol v lesoch. Myslím, že Boh je tam; a môžem Ho vidieť, ako sa pohybuje. A príroda, ako zomiera a odchádza dolu, sa znovu vracia a oživuje.
127Slnko ráno vychádza, akoby sa narodilo malé dieťa; a potom okolo deviatej hodiny ide do školy; a asi o desiatej je hotové; o dvanástej hodine je vo svojej plnej sile; o druhej hodine popoludní je to asi v mojom veku; a o piatej je osemdesiatročné, zomiera. Ide dolu. Slúžilo Božiemu zámeru. Nie je mŕtve. Na ďalšie ráno sa vráti. To je Boh, ktorý svedčí o tom, že existuje život, smrť, pohreb, vzkriesenie.
128Sledujte stromy vonku. Minulý rok na jeseň sa miazga dostala do koreňa skôr, ako prišiel mráz alebo niečo. Čo sa udialo? Ide dolu do hrobu. Čo sa potom stáva? Na jar sa znovu vracia. Ona nie je mŕtva. Zostupuje a leží v zemi, vracia sa späť. Ak zostane hore, zima ju zabije. Rozumiete? Boh má... Žiadna vlastná inteligencia to tam neposiela. To je Božia vyhradená cesta. Tak to len nasleduje Božiu poskytnutú cestu. Zostupuje, skrýva sa cez zimu, na budúci rok sa znovu vracia s novým životom a svedčí o tom, že existuje život, smrť, pohreb, vzkriesenie. Všade je to to isté; Boh vo Svojom veľkom stvorení, svedčí o Sebe.
129Tento poľovník bol dobrým strelcom, bol to výborný strelec. Ale bol to najkrutejší človek, akého som kedy stretol. Celý čas si zo mňa robil žarty. Strieľal na srny.
130No, nie je to zlé, zastreliť srnu, ak to zákon dovolí. Ale viete, Abrahám zabil teľa a dal ho Bohu, takže to nebolo o pohlaví alebo o veľkosti.
131Ide o postoj. Zastrelil ich len preto, lebo som sa z toho cítil zle. A on povedal, „Ó, ty si mäkkého srdca ako ostatní kazatelia.“ Povedal, „Billy, bol by si dobrým lovcom, ak by si nebol kazateľom.“ A povedal, „Ale ty si príliš mäkký. Tak je to s kazateľmi,“ povedal, „oni sú príliš mäkkého srdca.“
A povedal som, „Bert, si krutý.“
132Každopádne, on mal oči ako jašterica. A on povedal... On to urobil, on... Ako sa ženy snažia maľovať si oči, viete, takto. A on povedal... A on sa takto pozrel a povedal, „Si len mäkkého srdca.“ Tak on strieľal tie malé srny. Jednu zabil, nechal ju ležať a šiel rovno ďalej, aby trafil ďalšiu, len aby som sa cítil zle. A povedal, „Raz sa mi už podarí odviezť ťa preč od toho kázania.“
A povedal som, „Ó, nie, Bert. Nie, nie.“
133Tak jedného dňa na jeseň som išiel do hôr a bolo už neskoro. A sezóna bola asi za týždeň a ja som bol zaneprázdnený. Bol som štátnym dozorcom diviny v Indiane a mal som plné ruky práce, a to hneď v poľovníckej sezóne, tak som si musel vybaviť dovolenku. Išiel som hore trochu neskoro.
134A tie jelene bielochvosté, ak ste na nich niekedy strieľali, vy hovoríte o Houdinym, že je majstrom v zmiznutí, ó, on je pri nich amatér. A tak potom zostali skutočne ukryté. A to boli noci mesačného svitu, snehu bolo na zemi asi dvadsať centimetrov, bolo to dobré na stopovanie.
135A tak, keď Bert prišiel do chatky, v ktorej som bol, povedal, „Počuj, Billy, tento rok mám pre teba jednu dobrú vecičku.“
A povedal som, „Čo také?“
136Siahol do vrecka a vytiahol to. Bola to malá píšťalka. Fúkol do toho a znelo to ako plač malého jeleniatka za svojou matkou. Jelenie mláďa, viete, ako plače za svojou matkou.
137Povedal som, „Bert, ako môžeš byť taký krutý?“ Povedal som, „Myslíš... Ty by si predsa také niečo neurobil!“
On povedal, „Ha-ha, ty kazateľ so zmäkčilým srdcom!“
138A v ten deň sme išli na lov a išli sme hore cez Jeffersonov zárez. A nemuseli ste sa o neho báť, on vedel, ako nájsť cestu späť. Tak sme sa vyšplhali asi do poludnia a potom sme sa oddelili a išli sme jeden jednou cestou a ďalší druhou. A potom, ak by sme dostali nášho jeleňa, zavesili by sme ho a potom by sme vzali kone a išli by sme si ho vziať.
139Tak bolo asi jedenásť hodín, nevideli sme dokonca ani stopu, ani jednu stopu.
140Všetky jelene ležali. Dostali sa do húštiny a pod hromady krovia a veci, kde boli vrcholy stromov, kde boli drevorubači. A oni sa skrývali, držali sa ďalej, pretože sa na nich strieľalo. Boli vystrašené.
141Asi o jedenástej hodine sa Bert zastavil, posadil sa. Bola tam malá planina asi o veľkosti tejto budovy, a to vnútro bolo možno dvakrát väčšie ako tu, malá planina. A on si sadol a natiahol sa, aby si vzal, pomyslel som si, svoju termosku, ktorú mal v kabáte. Obyčajne nosíme termosku a dáme si horúcu čokoládu, pretože má v sebe palivo, viete, a potom si dáme sendvič a potom sa oddelíme. Vychádzali sme vysoko k hranici lesa, tak som si pomyslel, že možno si Bert dá sendvič. A tak si sadol, aby vytiahol túto termosku a... Myslel som, že ju vytiahne. A ja som to len nechal, položil som zbraň ku stromu a načiahol som sa za svojou.
142Ale čo spravil, on vytiahol tú malú píšťalku. Tak, keď mal túto malú píšťalku v ruke, fúkol do nej. A ktokoľvek kedy počul plač malého jeleňa, je to až dojímavé. A keď zapískal, na moje prekvapenie sa rovno oproti nemu postavila veľká jelenica. No, tá jelenica je matka jeleňa, viete. Tak sa tam postavila. Mala veľké hnedé oči, ktorými akoby hľadala, a jej veľké uši trčali dohora. Vidíte, jej dieťa bolo v problémoch.
143A on znovu zapískal a ona sa obzrela. A ona vyšla rovno na tú planinu. No, to je neobvyklé, každý z vás poľovníkov to vie, že to jeleň neurobí. Vyšla tam. Videl som jej veľké oči. Nestála odo mňa viac ako dvadsať metrov. A pomyslel som si, „Ó, Bert, to snáď neurobíš! Zabiť tú úbohú vzácnu matku; ona hľadá svoje dieťa a ty ju takto zavádzaš.“ A táto píšťalka zaznela a ona bola... Ukázala sa.
144A tento poľovník uvoľnil na svojej puške tridsaťšestke poistku, natiahol ju smerom dolu; čo pripravilo zbraň, viete, vyplo to poistku.
145A ona to počula. Poobzerala sa a uvidela toho poľovníka. Jej uši smerovali dolu. Obyčajne by boli hneď preč. A ona by tam v tom čase dňa vôbec nevychádzala. Ale, vidíte, ona bola matkou. Bolo v nej niečo, niečo skutočné, niečo. Nepredvádzala žiadnu šou. Bola matkou. Narodila sa ako matka. A jej dieťa bolo v problémoch, a to bolo jediné, o čo sa zaujímala.
146A on sa na mňa pozrel tými jašteričími očami a uškrnul sa, povedal som, „Bert, nerob to. Nerob to.“ On sa len uškrnul; otočil sa s tou puškou. Ó!
147Bol excelentným strelcom. A vedel som, že keď ten zameriavací krížik namieri na jej verné materinské srdce, to preletí rovno cez ňu. Rozumiete? Nestála od neho ani na dvadsať metrov; veľká stoosemdesiatka brokovnica, hríbová guľka, a to by jej roztrhalo srdce cez obe strany.
148Pomyslel som si, „Ako môžeš byť taký krutý, že vyrazíš srdce tej vzácnej matky, keď ona hľadá svoje dieťa? Ako môžeš spraviť niečo také, Bert?“ Rozmýšľal som sám v sebe. Videl som, ako má ruky pevne stisnuté. Nemohol som sa na to dívať. Jednoducho som to nedokázal. Otočil som sa chrbtom. Nemohol som sa na to pozerať.
149Stála tam táto skutočná verná matka. Ona nebola pokrytec. Ona to nerobila len pre nejakú vedľajšiu šou. Bola matkou. Preto to robila. Smrť pre ňu neznamenala nič. Jej dieťa bolo v ohrození. Myslela viac na svoje dieťa ako na svoj vlastný život. Nech poľovníci strieľajú, čokoľvek to je; jej verné srdce bilo, bolo to jej materstvo. To materstvo v nej volalo. Jej dieťa plakalo. Bolo v nej niečo pulzujúce, niečo skutočné.
150A ako by mohol ten krutý poľovník vyraziť to verné srdce? Jednoducho som na to nemohol hľadieť. Otočil som sa. Pomyslel som si, „Pane Bože, nedovoľ mu to urobiť." Stál som takto, nemohol som počuť... Nechcel som počuť, ako vystrelí puška. Bolo toho jednoducho príliš veľa. Čakal som.
151Žiadna zbraň nevystrelila. Otočil som sa a dívam sa, a on sa takto skláňal. Nedokázal to.
152Otočil sa, pozrel sa na mňa a tie jeho veľké oči boli zmenené. Slzy mu stekali po lícach. Pozrel sa na mňa a pery sa mu zachveli. Hodil pušku do snehu a chytil ma za nohavicu. On povedal, „Billy, mám toho už dosť. Priveď ma ku tomu Ježišovi, o ktorom hovoríš.“
153Tam na tom snehovom záveji som ho priviedol k Pánovi Ježišovi. Prečo? Videl niečo skutočné. (Bol vo všetkých druhoch cirkví.) Videl niečo, čo nebolo predstierané. Videl niečo, čo bolo skutočné.
154Priatelia, mohli by sme mať cirkevné pravidlá, cirkevné nariadenia, teológie a všetko možné, ale existuje skutočný, skutočný Ježiš. Pozrime sa teraz na Neho, ako skláňame svoje hlavy v modlitbe.
155So sklonenými hlavami by som vám chcel položiť otázku; aj vaše srdcia nech sú sklonené. Koľkí ste tu teraz, vy, ktorí len vyznávate kresťanstvo, ktorí to nemáte, a nejaké vyznanie je všetko, čo máte? Ale koľkí z vás by ste chceli byť natoľko Kresťanom, ako bola tá jelenica matkou, s niečím takým skutočným v sebe, čo sa vám zdá viac ako váš vlastný život alebo čokoľvek, čo máte? A vy poviete, možno poviete toto, „Brat Branham, ja patrím do cirkvi. Som obchodník, podnikateľka alebo čokoľvek, žena v domácnosti. Ale skutočne, chcem byť takým typom Kresťana, že by som mohol položiť celý svet nabok, čeliť kritike alebo čomukoľvek; tak veľmi by som bol rád, rád by som bol vo svojom srdci Kresťanom, tak, ako bola tá jelenica matkou.“
156Teraz so sklonenými hlavami a so zavretými očami. Pred Bohom vás prosím, v Kristovom Mene, na konci veku, či by ste len zodvihli ruku? Nemôžem urobiť zavolanie ku oltáru, pretože tu nie je miesto. Ale len povedzte, „Modli sa za mňa, brat Branham, aby som bol takým typom Kresťana, ako tá jelenica bola matkou.“ Nech vás Boh žehná. Všade sú ruky. „Daj mi byť takým Kresťanom.“
157No, Zacheus, keď zdvihneš svoju ruku, to ukazuje, že On ťa našiel. Tak prečo teraz nezlezieš dolu zo stromu? On pôjde dnes s tebou domov na večeru. On zostane s tebou po zvyšok tvojich dní.
158Nebeský Otče, sme vďační za Pána Ježiša, za Jeho Prítomnosť. A sme si vedomí, že je tu niečo, čo spôsobilo, že muži a ženy... Niektorí z nich dokonca roky vyznávali, že sú Kresťanmi. Ale bolo tu niečo prítomné, niečo tu je, čo im spôsobilo; aj keď vyznávali, práve tak, ako Zacheus, ale akonáhle boli dotknutí Kristom, zodvihli ruky na svedectvo, že Niečo v ich vnútri im povedalo, aby to urobili. Nech teraz vedia, že je to Ježiš. On mal dnes ráno prejsť touto cestou a On prešiel.
159Je to hádam nejakých stopäťdesiat rúk, Pane. Modlím sa, aby si každého navštívil a dal im realitu, aký má byť skutočný Kresťan. A bez ohľadu na to, ako veľmi sa nás svet snaží znechutiť a ako veľmi sa nás ostatní snažia odradiť, nech by sme vedeli, že je to boj, aby sme sa tam dostali. Je to úsilie, ktoré musíme vynaložiť. Ale keď je spojené s Niečím, čo je skutočné, reálne, to nás potom mení. Modlím sa, aby si zmenil každé srdce, Pane, a učinil teraz každé jedno, aby bolo v Božskej Prítomnosti. Vlož do ich života Ducha Svätého, aby boli takými Kresťanmi, ako bola tá jelenica matkou. Narodila sa ako matka. A nech by sa oni narodili z Ducha Božieho a stali sa skutočnými nasledovníkmi Ježiša Krista. Nech dnes zídu zo svojich figových stromov. Udeľ to, Pane. Choď domov s každým jedným z nás a zostaň s nami až do času, kedy prídeš, aby si nás vzal do nášho večného Domova. Lebo to prosíme v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
160Ďakujem vám veľmi pekne. Nech vás Pán žehná. Držal som vás dlho, mal som odísť odtiaľto o desiatej a je za desať jedenásť.
161Dúfam, že Boh vezme týchto pár hrubých slov, nervóznych a rozrušených, a nakŕmi nimi vaše srdcia. Pamätajte, v Kristovi je niečo skutočného. Nech vás Boh žehná. V poriadku.
1 Let us just remain standing for a few moments as we read God's Word. I was thinking of all that introduction, I would really have to live a real life to live that up, wouldn't I? That's man that love you. Over in the Book of Saint Luke, the 19th chapter, I want to read just a portion of the Scripture, the first five verses.
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which had... was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and he could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste,... come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
And when they saw it,... all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be the guest of a man which was a sinner.
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Let us pray.
2 Our Heavenly Father, we are grateful to Thee, this morning, because that You are still seeking to save the sons of Abraham, that which is lost. We pray, Heavenly Father, that You will receive our humble prayer and bless our gathering together here today. And may it not be in vain, but may the great Holy Spirit teach us the way of Life, knowing this, that we must stand in His Presence someday, to give an account of what we've done with this life. Bless us together now as we further wait on Thee. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
May be seated.
3 I am sure happy to have good friends, people who believe, and believe the efforts that you're trying to put forth. If I had any other objective, just merely to be different, why, I would be a--a real sinner. But my objective is to magnify Jesus Christ.
4And something that's in a man, when you have a Message from God, you cannot stop yourself. There is something in you, pulsating. It goes on, anyhow. You can't slow it up, stop it, or start it. It stops and starts and slows up you. See? It's the One that has control.
5Thanks to--to these fine brethren for their testimony of our Lord Jesus. They wasn't speaking of me, of course not. They were speaking of Him.
6 Like I was reading a little article, here not long ago, about Mr. Moody. Said, the Chicago was going to... newspaper was going to write an editorial on him. And they sent someone out, to find out why people gathered to hear Mr. Moody. The editorial; Mr. Moody is like myself, he didn't have enough education to read the--the editorial, so his manager had to read it. Mr. Moody was a shoe cobbler, formerly, and he was called of God for a message of the--the hour. And so the manager was reading the editorial, and it said, "Why would anybody go to hear Dwight Moody?" Said, "The first place, he's the ugliest man I ever seen." And said, "He is bald-headed, and long whiskers, and so forth." And said, "And he--he whines when he talks. His grammar is the worst I ever heard." Uh-huh. And, oh, he was just carrying on like that.
7Said, "Mr. Moody just shrugged his shoulders. He said, 'Certainly not. They come to see Christ.'"
8So, that's, I think that's just the answer. It's Christ that we want to see. "If I be lifted up, I'll draw all man unto Me."
9 I was thinking, after visiting here in the--the city, and finding that the people, how nice they've been, what a nice meeting we're having here at this Denham Springs High School, or school auditorium. I was thinking, the people here are something like the coffee. They're... My! It's not quantity, but it's quality; a whole lot in one of them cups.
10I remember my first time landing at the airport out here. The brothers coming to get me, sitting here. And a little French girl there; I asked for a hamburger and a cup of coffee.
11I never drank it till I was about thirty-eight years old; I ought to have knowed better. But then Brother Brown, I guess he is here this morning, somewhere. He is sitting right here. He liked it so well, and he got me... I'd have a ministerial breakfast at seven o'clock, one at eight o'clock, and one at nine o'clock; you couldn't eat all that, so they would pour coffee. And I got to sipping it, and, first thing, I got to drinking.
12So I asked this girl, I told her, "I want a hamburger and a cup of coffee." When they brought the little cup out, I thought, "My, my, they're sure tight on their coffee around here." First drink, first swallow I took, oh, my, I had to fight for breath. See?
13That little lady said, "You must be a Yankee." She said, "I'll fix you a Yankee cup."
14 So that's the way I find the people, maybe not the greatest crowds I've ever spoke to, but real genuine quality. I am grateful for that, a listening audience, somebody who sits and pays attention on what you're saying. I...
15That's what I want you to do. Examine what a man says, by the Word of God. And, if It isn't right, then it isn't right. That's all. If it is the Word of God, then God has got to testify of His Word, 'cause He promised to. So that's the way we like to examine these things, to--to find out.
16 Now I've understood, this morning, that this was to be a businessmen's breakfast, and the Full Gospel Business Men, which I'm a member of their chapter. And I think this... They said some of them was here. Some of them didn't get out. Maybe, they're businessmen, they got their business they have to attend to. I'm going to give them excuse, anyhow, so--so that's all right. He said many of their people were here, anyhow, so that's very fine.
17Now just a little joke. I've told it, but maybe... It's not a place to joke, of course, but it's just a little sense of humor. When you talk, like we've been, a while ago, well, maybe get people back on some sense of humor.
18 I remember one time, a friend and I were in school together. His name was Wilmer Snyder. His brother is a Baptist minister, and he--he writes in this Upper Room, a--a column in the Upper Room. We were schoolboys together. And I studied the ministry, and he--he become an insurance agent. And so he come to my house, one day, to visit me. And now there may be some insurance agents here. And I'm not saying nothing about insurance now. I hope, don't think wrong with this, but you catch the little hang of what I... way I said it. So my brother also is--has the Prudential, and he sells Prudential insurance.
19 So one time I had a little something done by an insurance company that I'm... I guess, not knowing very much, I... they read the policy to me wrong, and it was misrepresented to me, and I just never did take it out. I...
20So, one day, Wilmer came up to see me, and he said, he said, "How you getting along, Billy?"
I said, "Fine."
Said, "Hear you been out in the meetings!"
I said, "Yes, I'm out in meetings."
21I was telling him about a fellow said to me. He said, "Say, you're a preacher. What are you doing, hanging around these businessmen?"
I said, "I am a businessman."
And they said, "Ah, what business you in?"
I said, "Assurance business."
22And, see, he didn't get it. I never said, "Insurance." I said, "Assurance." See?
And so I said, "Assurance business."
23He said, "Oh," said, "I see." He said, "What--what insurance do you sell?"
24I said, "I sell Eternal Life assurance." And I'm still selling it. So I'd be interest-... any of you are interested, I'd like to talk the policy with you, right after the meeting, if it's all right.
25And so he said, he said, "The Eternal Life?" Said, "I don't believe I ever heard of the company."
26I said, "Oh, you never heard?" I said, "It's well known." And he said... I said, "It's an old establishment."
And he said, he said, "Where is the headquarters?"
I said, "In Glory."
27 Wilmer said to me, he said, "Billy, I thought I'd come up, sell you some insurance." Said, "I hear that you don't have any insurance."
And I said, "Oh, yes. I--I have assurance."
28And he said, "Oh, I'm sorry." He said, "I guess, your brother, you have it with him."
I said, "No, not exactly with him."
29My wife looked at me, as if to say, "Well, you must be a telling a story." She knowed I didn't have any insurance. But she didn't get it either. I said, "Assurance," not "insurance."
He said, "What insurance do you have, Billy?"
30I said:
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory Divine.
I'm an heir of salvation, purchased of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His Blood.
31He said, "Billy, that's very nice. That's very nice." Said, "I nothing against That, but," said, "That won't put you up here in this graveyard when you're gone."
32I said, "It'll get me out. I'm not worried about getting in."
33I'm not bothered about getting in; it's, getting out. And so--so This is the only thing I know that'll get you out. So if you're interested in getting out, let us talk to you about It.
34 Looking upon the audience, this morning, I won't keep you but just a little bit. And I had a text I was going to preach from, so then I thought, well, I better not do that. I was just going to have a little drama of something, a character in the Bible.
35I'm thinking here on a serious matters. That, while we're sitting here as Christians, I suppose most of us, did you know this may be the last time that we'll ever eat breakfast together? Did you ever think of that?
36Do you realize, what little words that I have to say here, God is going to make me answer for it up there at the Day of Judgment? See? And I have souls here, no matter if it's a small group, but yet I have. It's the words that I say, well, I'll have to answer for them up There.
37So we may never eat another breakfast together, but I hope we eat a Supper together, someday. That's the last supper, up There with Him, it'll be the first one There.
38And then as we sit here this morning, and I look upon these man here, some of them, great ministers who has studied. And me, here, just a--a bushman come out, no education, sitting here with man that's qualified to preach, and Doctors of Divinity. I feel very little to stand and talk before man like that. But, yet, I--I got to express what I feel. And their great gratitude and kindness to let me stand and do this. I appreciate it, brothers, cooperating in the meeting, and getting together. I'm here to help you. I'm going to do everything I can for each one of you, by the grace of God.
39 And then when it's all over, someday, if I don't get to eat breakfast with you again, when it's all over, we're sitting across the table from one another, that's the time I'm looking for. No doubt but little tears will run down our cheeks, and look across the table and get each other by the hand. It'll mean something then. Let's work while it's time to work, while the sun is up. It'll be down after a while; it's getting very low. Then, to think that, while we're sitting there, holding each other's hands, and weeping a little, then the great King will come out, in all of His great robes, come down along the line, wipe all tears away from our eyes, and say, "It's well done, my good and faithful servants, enter into the joys of the Lord, that's been prepared for you since the foundation of the world." While the sun is up, and it's light enough to labor, let us labor.
40 Now this little text here, it may seem kind of ridiculous, but we're going to talk on this subject: He Was To Pass This Way.
41It must have been a--an awful night on the little fellow. He couldn't sleep at all, and he just rolled and tossed, all night long. It was breaking day.
42And we all know what those restless nights mean, you can't sleep. You got something on your mind, or something has got your nerves all upset.
43And this little fellow was a businessman, maybe in a city of Jericho, which was something like you businessmen and women here, and he--he no doubt had a growing business. He stood in good with the... all the clubs, and so forth, and was a member of the church, the Sanhedrin council, and had a fine priest, and he believed this priest.
44 And the strange thing about this case, though, is his wife. We'll call her Rebekah. "She had strayed off on the wrong side," he thought, and so did the priest. She was following a Man that was supposed to be a prophet of Nazareth, a Man named Jesus. The people, the poorer class of people, believed Him to be a prophet, or a Messiah that was promised, but it didn't meet just the qualifications of the Sanhedrin.
45Strange, sometimes God does things off of the color that we think It ought to be in. "This Fellow, you see, was born," to their opinion, "a illegitimate birth. His mother gave birth to Him before her and her husband was married."
46Another thing, He had no schooling. They didn't have no record He ever going to school. He was not a priest, neither was He a rabbi. He just had claims, like, of His Own.
47As Brother Don so greatly stated this morning, "It was a turning the corner." They didn't recognize it. It usually happens that way. It come to that corner time.
48But somehow, another, his wife had been persuaded that He was that Prophet that was to come, and she had followed Him, believed Him.
49And she had tried to tell her husband. But he was so carried away in his business, and with the... He belonged to church. "Isn't that good enough?"
50 Something like the rich young ruler, you know. He had a business, also. But he realized that he was a--a member of the church, but he didn't have Eternal Life. And he asked... He seen something in Jesus that other man didn't have. And he said, come to Him and said, "I..." He wanted to know if he... what he could do to have Eternal Life. And Jesus told him to keep the commandments. He said, "I've done this since I was a youth." See, it showed he was a--a believer, but he knew that Jesus had something that those priests and rabbis didn't have.
51And when a man ever comes in contact with Jesus Christ, He is different from man. You're never the same when you once see Him, if there's any spark of God about you.
52 So Rebekah had found this Jesus. And He--He was, to her, exactly the fulfilling of the promise that the Jews had been looking for, for their day.
53So the news had got around that He was going to have a breakfast, or some kind of a dinner or something, down in Jericho, so that she had got busy to praying about her businessman husband.
54We need more Rebekahs, everywhere, you see. See, prayer changes things. If you lay your husband, or your unsaved one, before God, and then pray, God will make a way somewhere, 'cause He promised to.
55So that's what Rebekah, being a staunch believer and a follower of the Lord Jesus, and a very fine sweet person she must have been, and she had... interested in her household.
56And I think that that reflects again, that if--if a person ever meets Jesus and finds Him really in your heart, you're interested not only in your own household, but the household of God, everywhere. You're interested, that they know Him. "And to know Him is Life." "Know Him," see, not know how to read the Word, or so. But, "Know Him, is Life."
57 So she had prayed hard. And the day drew close to when Jesus was supposed to enter the city. And no doubt but, the day before, she might have seen if his attitude had changed any. So she said, maybe, "Zacchaeus, are--are you going to that breakfast in the morning?"
58"Why, certainly not. Why, that bunch of people! And you expect me... I've got the best restaurant in town, and they hold it over at Lavinski's." I hope there is not a Lavinski here. But, anyhow, "Over at the other place, you see. And, why, I got the best place in town, and they picked that place down there. Why, they oughtn't. They ought to come to my place, to hold this, you see." He wasn't going.
59Then she got to praying, really desperately. So then that night, the little fellow couldn't rest at all.
60You know, there is something about it, if you go to really desperately praying about something, God works on both ends of the line, see. He--He--He answers.
61 So the little fellow, he must have got to thinking that night, "Wonder if I should go down and--and--and hear this Man? Now, Rebekah says that He is a prophet. Now, we know we haven't had any prophets for hundreds of years. And I asked the priest about it, he said, 'Nothing but just a nonsense! If there'd be a Prophet raise up, wouldn't he come through the church? That's the way he'd have to come. He'd come to us Pharisees, or Sadducees, or our group, or he wouldn't be a Prophet.'" You know, that attitude still holds. So they think It has to come that way, or It isn't right. So they said, no doubt, but, in this great time that... She believed It, anyhow.
62And he had discussed it with the priest. The priest said, "Now looky here, them days of prophets have been many, many years ago. We've got the law. We've got it all wrote out. The situation is under control, and we've got it in our hands, and we know about these things."
63But then, course, Zacchaeus, not looking into It, just absolutely just presuming, taking it for granted. The word presume is "to venture without authority." Why, he--he thought that that was all right; as long as he belonged to the church, that's all he had to do.
64But then as night begin to come on, there come a sudden desire in his heart. "Maybe if this person is in town, He may never be here again. I should go and investigate the--the situation, see for myself."
65Now that's a good idea. Look it over yourself. Don't go to criticize. Take the Word, and examine the Word by it.
66So she, Rebekah, had tried, as a woman could, to explain that what the prophets had said, and what Moses had said, this Person would be, and when He come. So she must have thought, tried to explain it to him, but yet the priest had much more influence over him than what Rebekah, his wife, did.
67 Then when morning begin to dawn, why, the little fellow was... Rebekah, I can imagine her, seeing her punch him, saying, "Zacchaeus, you mean to say you don't want to go down?"
"No, I don't want nothing to do with It."
68You know, don't be, Reb-... Don't be disgusted, Rebekah. Sometime that's a good sign. See, just--just when he gets so discouraged, you talk about It, everything else. That's a pretty good sign, sometime.
69So, after a while, Rebekah act like she was asleep. Only, she was praying. And she finds Zacchaeus slips out of bed, real easy, you know, and goes over and grooms hisself all up, and combs his hair just right, and puts on his best garment. And she peeped over, out of one eye, to see what he was doing. She knew right then God had answered prayer. She knew something was going to take place. So Zacchaeus tiptoes out, not letting Rebekah know where he is a going, you know. And he slips out, and gets outside and looks back.
70 She raises up the curtain, looks out, to see him go out. She says, "Thank You, Lord. It's all all right now." See?
71Like Elijah did, when he said, "I see that, the cloud the size of a man's hand." Just the first little evidence, something is fixing to happen.
72So he goes out, and down the streets. He said, "Now I understand He is going to enter in by the south gate, so I better go over there and stand." And said, "And I'll get me a place, and I'll stand right there. And when He comes in, I'll see how much Prophet that fellow is. And I'm going to walk right out and put my finger under His nose, and I'm going to give Him a piece of my mind, and when He comes. And I'm going to tell Him that all of His nonsense has caused my wife... and these prayer meetings and things. I'm getting sick and tired of it. I'm going to. I'm going to say something about this, see, and I'll tell Him. And then I know rabbi will certainly pat me on the back, and say, 'Zacchaeus, you're a good member of this church here. You're sure a fine fellow.'" So he said, "I'll get down there early," so he got down.
73 When he got about a block, or two, of the gate, come to find out, the place was jammed. They was hanging on the walls and everywhere. Somehow or another, even though He was talked about, there was somebody still liked to hear Him. Somebody would listen.
74So he said, "Now how am I going to ever see Him come in the gate?" You remember, the Bible said he was small of stature. And he said, "I'm too little." So he pushed around, "Here, give me a little room!" You can tell he isn't a Christian yet, you see, acting like that. Christians don't have that attitude, see. "Stand back! You know who I am? I am Zacchaeus. I own the restaurant up here. Get, stand out of my way!" See? Now, that ain't a Christian. Everybody knowed he wasn't. Maybe some of them knew that Rebekah was praying.
"Well," they said, "well, you stand back."
75 And so he knowed he'd never get to see Him, in all that crowd, so he wouldn't be able to express his thoughts to Him. So he thought, "Well, now, what'll I do? Maybe I'll go back home and just forget the whole matter."
76But, you know, there is something about it, that when you make up your mind that you want to see Him, there is nothing going to stop you from seeing Him. I don't care what it is, you're--you're persistent, and like the little Greek woman was persistent to get to Jesus. And there is something about it, that whenever you make up your mind that you're going to see Him, there isn't nothing going to stop you. But, remember, when you make up your mind, then the devil is going to do everything he can to stop you. He is determined that you're not going to understand It, you're not going to see It. He'll throw every black sheet across, he can, to keep you from seeing It.
77 So there was his first barricade, right there. So then he started off, said, "Well, I guess..."
78And looked over there, and there stood some of his competitors, and, they, he knew then that some of the folks from the church. So there he had made so much fun of this Jesus of Nazareth, of being a prophet, then here stood some of his members looking at him, right down there in the same group. He just couldn't be hid. He was identified.
79Now, Zacchaeus, you're already identified, so just... you know, if there happened to be one here. You're already mixed up in the group now, so they already know who, we're here, so we just might as well get acquainted, know one another.
80 So he said, "Well, this is odd here." And he looked around, seen one standing here. "And you know, after all, they're all about like you, they--they want to find out something."
81A man knows that he come from somewhere, from the beyond; and when he leaves, he goes back somewhere. And he is always trying to find something to find out where he come from and where is he going. There is only One has that answer, that's God. Every man wants to look over that curtain. And when you see anything that... that can show you what's over the curtain, where you been, and who you are, and where you're going. There is only one Book, of all the literature that's wrote, of the millions of tons, This is the Book that tells you who you are, where you come from, and where you are going. There is no other book that'll do it; that Bible! "And the Word is God," the Bible said.
82 Now, we find that this fellow, with all around, he was embarrassed to find out he was in the midst of a people that was screaming, and crying, and hollering, and acting like they were crazy. So, but he... There he was sitting, identified with them, so he--he just had to stay, that's all there was to it. Now he said, "Well, if I have come this far, I might as well go on till I really find Him out."
83Now, Zacchaeus, that's a good idea. You done got here at the breakfast, so now let's just go on. See, we're all this far.
84So now we find out, that, as they went along, he said, "Now if I stay here, I--I cannot see Him, because I'm too small. So, you know, I believe I'll get out of this crowd, and run down on the corner where I'll be standing by myself, get me a place right on the--the edge of the pavement. And when He comes by, then I'll walk right out in the street and tell Him what I think of Him. I'll give Him a piece of my mind."
85 So he took off, away from the crowd, and went down. He thought, "Now which a way will He go?" Well, he went down to "Hallelujah Avenue." That's usually the way He travels, you see. And went down to "Amen Corner," where it turns there, to go down to the--to the eating place.
86That's where you go, you know, "Hallelujah Avenue" and "Amen Corner," and then you're ready to eat the Word. See? See?
87So he went down to this corner, and stood there on the corner, said, "Now there is nobody here. And when I..." I know this sounds ridiculous, but I just... Hold on a minute. So then, first thing you know, he got down to this corner, and he said, "There is nobody here, so I'll stand here. When He comes by, I'll find out how much Prophet He is. I'll walk right out in the street, and I'll tell Him something."
88 So he was standing there, and he happened to get to thinking, "Now just a minute. You know, if I was too small down there, that crowd will probably go wherever He is going. And I--I don't want nobody hollering when I talk to Him. I want to tell Him so He will hear me. And them hollering 'Amen,' and 'Hallelujah,' and 'Glory to God,' 'Hosanna to the--to the Prophet that comes in the Name of the Lord.' Oh, they'll never hear me, all that noisy bunch. So there is only one thing... Then they'll crowd all around me, and then I--I--I can't even see Him at all."
89So he happened to look, standing on the corner, and there was an old familiar sycamore tree. That's a good Indiana tree. So standing on the corner. He thought, "Well, if I could get up there on that limb and sit down, then I would be up there, then I could really tell Him when He comes by."
90 So he come, run over. And he was too small; he couldn't get up to the limb. So he said, "Well, now there is only one thing I can do," and there sit the--the city garbage cans, sitting on the corner. So he thought, "Well, now, if I go over and get that garbage can, and pick it up and bring it over here, then I can get the rest of the way up the tree from that. That'll help me."
91So he goes over. And the garbage disposal hadn't come by, yet, that morning, and it was pretty heavy. So he was small and he couldn't pick it up. The only one way to do it, that's wrap his arms around it. And he had on his best garment. So, you know, there is always hindrances when you're trying to see Jesus. But that didn't make any difference, whether it was good garment or not, he wanted to see Jesus, anyhow. So he throwed his arm around the garbage can, so he could get it over there. So he scooted it over, and there he had garbage all over him. Well, didn't make any difference; he--he wanted to see Him, anyhow.
92So while he was pushing the can over, with his arms around it, he heard somebody laughing. And he looked around, and if it wasn't Lavinski standing there, his competitor, saying, "Well, what do you know! Zacchaeus has begun, got him a new job from his restaurant. He is working for the garbage disposal."
93You know, the devil just wants to see what he can do to throw everything in your way, that he can, to keep you from seeing Jesus. He'll tell you, "They're a bunch of holy-rollers." They'll tell you, "They're a bunch of idiots." He'll say, "They're, there is nothing to them. They're just the poor trash of the city," anything he can do. But if you're determined to see Him, God will make a way for you to see Him. Just keep that in your mind. Something will take place, if that hunger begins to break into your heart, something. You'll go see Him, anyhow.
94So didn't make any difference. Little old face turned red, and he was embarrassed. But he just pushed the can on over, anyhow, and got a hold of it, and shinnied up the tree. That's all right, ain't it, shinnied? You Southerners know what shinnied is, that's, climbed up the tree, got up the tree. And he got up there, and he found where two limbs come together and met in the trunk of the tree, and there he sit down.
95Now, that's a good place to sit, where two ways meets; yours and God's; your idea, and His. That's a good time to sit down and think it over. Your own thoughts about Him; and what His Word says He is. What you think He is; and what the Word says He is. What the Message of the hour is, to your thinking; and what the Message of the hour is, to His Word. That's the difference. Sit there and think it over a little while.
96 No doubt, Satan got on one of his shoulders. He said, "You know what? You are a pretty-looking sight, sitting up here picking splinters out of your hands. And with your best garment on, and it all garbage all over it. And now your name will be published all through the city, the jokes will be all on you, because look what a rashel thing you have done, sitting here."
97See, Satan, when you make a start, then he'll try to tell you, "You've made an error."
98There he sat, in that condition! He said, "Well, Rebekah said He was a Prophet. I'll give Him a trial. I'll see if He is a Prophet." Now he said, "When He comes by here, I'll just disguise myself, and He'll never know I'm up here. First, I'll get a look at Him. And then when I see Him, then I'm going to jump out of this tree, and then I'll go down there and tell Him." Now said, "Now, if He--if He is a Prophet, though, as Rebekah said that He was, He might know I was up in this tree, if that's true. So I'll tell you, I'll fix Him up," so he pulled all the leaves around him and disguised himself, all over, so he couldn't be seen; and left one leaf, to look out, you know, to see Him as He turned the corner.
99 And then sitting there, thinking it all over. After a while, he heard a noise coming around the corner.
100It's strange, wherever He is at, there is always a lot of noise. You know, noise is a sign of life. See? Remember the high priest, when he dressed and went into the Holiest of holies, on the end of his garment he had a pomegranate and a bell, and that noise in the Holiest of holies was the only way the waiters knew that he was alive or not. It made a noise. And where there ain't no noise, then, my, he might be dead. Well, I think that's what's a whole lot the matter with our churches, today, there is not enough noise about it, not enough enthusiasm, not enough something. And so, where Jesus is, there is always a noise.
101One time, when He come into Jerusalem, they were screaming and hollering, and, "Hosanna to the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord!"
102And some of those priests standing there, said, "Why, make them keep still, hold their peace."
103He said, "If they hold their peace, the rocks will cry out." Something has to move when He is around. Notice. And, then, those who believed Him.
104 And then he heard this noise a coming around the corner, and screaming and going on. So he thought, "Well, He must be approaching." So he pulled up his leaf, and raised up to look over. "Now I've got Him all now. We'll find out how much Prophet He is." So when he was sitting there, with his leaf up, looking; and--and up in this tree, way up above their heads, where they would pass beneath the tree.
105So when he noticed the first man coming around the corner, must have been the apostle, Peter, 'cause he was a big, strong, burly sort of a man. I can see him pushing the crowds back, saying, "Friends, I'm sorry. Our Master had a great service last night, much virtue has gone from Him. You all will understand. Would you just stand aside so Master can pass by? Please do that." And here come Matthew, Mark, and them, along, saying, "Now we--we don't want to be rude; we're--we're not here for that purpose. But our Master is awfully tired, and He hasn't had His breakfast, so we're--we're... We want you to stand aside, if you will."
106 There was a--a man standing there, that maybe Zacchaeus took a look at.
107A few days before that, at one of the meetings at a business place, a--a doctor had been there, and told this little fellow that had a little girl that was real sick of a fever, and she wasn't going to live if some... He had done all he could do for her.
108And Zacchaeus, when he raised his leaf up, and looked, he seen this man, with this baby wrapped in this blanket, coming around the corner. He thought, "What a rashel thing that that father would do, trying to follow that--that so-called Prophet! Here he come around the corner with this baby, and it with a fever, and standing out in this wind."
109But, you know, just as Zacchaeus, when you really believe, there is nothing going to hinder you, you.
110And she wanted to get that baby to Him. And every time they would make a--a corner, or a change, he would be pushed back. But, he--he was persistent, he was going on. Finally, at this corner, the little mother run out with the baby in her arms, and she must have fell down, and she said, "Lord, be merciful to my child." And there stood the father of the baby, crying, too, which was a friend to Zacchaeus.
He said, "What's changed his attitude?"
111So he couldn't make out Who the Man was, yet, He was down in the crowd. All at once, he sees a hand stretch out and touch, over the top of this little blanket. And the little girl was unwrapped, went skipping down the street.
"Now there has got to be something to that," Zacchaeus said.
112 Finally, He come in view. And one look at Him, Zacchaeus had done changed his opinion. Just once glimpse of Him! There He was. He didn't look like man. There was something different about Him. Meek, gentle, kind; and yet, looked like, if He would speak, the world would come to an end. He was a different character from what he had thought. His attitude begin to... All of his starch begin to wash out, when he seen Him. Comes walking on down the street. He thought; over this little leaf, looking over, see what was taking place. And as He walked, He got right under to where he was.
113And he said, "You know, that Man could be a Prophet. Maybe Rebekah was right. She might a knowed more about the Scriptures than I did." So He walks right on down, with His head down, walking along, humble, gentle, as He always did. And the disciples keeping the people out of His way.
114And as He got right under the tree, He stopped. Zacchaeus, looking over the leaf, something like that. He looked up in the tree, said, "Zacchaeus, come on down."
115Not only did He know he was--he was up in the tree, but He knowed his name was Zacchaeus. He had a lot less trouble of getting down out of the tree, than he did getting up. He knowed him; the miracle was done on him. See?
116 He said, "Lord, I've been wrong. I'm ready to confess I'm wrong. If I have took anything, that was wrong, I--I'll pay it back. I'll give half my goods to the poor."
Jesus said, "Today, salvation has come to your house."
117What changed him? What was the change, brother and sister? Think just for a moment. The change was, he had seen Something real.
118He had heard all the promises had been made, the priest talking about what was, great prophet Moses, great this, that, or the other, promising a great something in the future, but ignoring what's being done now. That's the way of man.
119He saw something genuine, something that he could see, himself. The miracle had happened to him. He was that Prophet. Because, He didn't know him, neither would He ever seen him up in the tree. But when He got right under the tree, He stopped and looked up, and said, "Zacchaeus, come down. Today, salvation has come to your house."
120 Brethren, it's the real thing that changes man's mind, changes their attitude. Sometime it's a press, surely, to get to It. But if you'll approach Christ, this morning, with--with the--the thought in your heart, that, "I will not be critical, but I'll study the Scripture and see what He was."
121If He come to the meeting, tonight; before you come, study and see what He was. Whatever He was, He has to be the same today. His... As I spoke last night, if many of you were there, see. Does God identify Himself by His characteristic? He always must remain that way, because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Men's hearts are--are so... A--a real God-fearing man or woman, businessman, or whatever it is, he is always... there is something in his heart, if there is any God-fear about him, to know something about God.
122 Say, I never told you what happened to Zacchaeus. He become a member of the Full Gospel Business Men's chapter, at Jericho. See, I want to tell you about him, first, you see. Oh, sure, he wouldn't be nothing else but full Gospel, of course not. That's all Jesus preached. So he become a member there. And you ought to be a member of the same. Now notice.
123But he wanted to see something real. And when he saw something real, himself, that was Scripturally identified, then he was ready. It's the real things that mounts.
124 Just a little story before closing. How many in here is hunters, let's see your hands, my brethren in here? Oh, my! I--I knowed I wasn't alone. So I love to hunt, and I'm...
125I used to go up in the north woods, up in New Hampshire. It's the home of the white-tail deer. How I love to hunt them! And I used to go up every year. And I had a partner up there, named Bert Call, one of the finest man I ever hunted with.
126And my nature has always been to the woods. I was born in the woods, and I just seemed like was raised up there. And even my conversion never took it out of me. Not so much to get the game; but just to be in the woods. I think God is there; to see Him, how He moves. And the nature, how it dies and goes down, comes back again, and resurrection.
127The sun comes up of a morning, a little baby borned; and then about nine o'clock, it goes to school; and about ten o'clock it's finished; at twelve o'clock it's in its strength; at two o'clock in the afternoon it's getting along about my age; and at five o'clock it's eighty years old, it's dying. It goes down. It served God's purpose. It ain't dead. It'll come back the next morning. It's God testifying there is a life, death, burial, resurrection.
128Watch them trees out there. Last fall, the sap went down into the root before any frost or anything else come. What was it doing? Going down into the grave. What happens then? It comes back again in the spring. It isn't dead. It goes down and lays in the ground, comes back. If it stays up, then the winter will kill it. See? God has... No intelligence of its own sends it down there. It's God's provided way. So it just follows God's provided way. Goes down, hides through the winter, comes back again with new life next year, testifying there is a life, death, burial, resurrection. Everywhere, it's the same thing; God, in His great creation, testifying of Himself.
129 This hunter, he was a fine shot, a good shot. But he was the most cruelest man I ever met. He--he would make fun of me all the time. He shot fawns.
130Now, not it's wrong to shoot a fawn if the law says so. But, you know, Abraham killed a calf and fed it to God, so it wasn't the--the sex, or the--the size.
131It's the attitude. He would shoot them just because it made me feel bad. And he would say, "Oh, you are chicken-hearted, like the other of them priests." Said, "Billy, you would be a good hunter if it wasn't you was a preacher." And said, "But you're too chicken-hearted. That's the way with them preachers," said, "they're--they're too chicken-hearted."
And I said, "Bert, you are cruel."
132He had eyes like a lizard, anyhow. And he said... He did, he... Like the women try to paint their eyes, you know, up like that. And he said... And he looked over like that, and he said, "You're just chicken-hearted." So he would shoot those little fawns. And kill one, let it lay, and go right on get another one, just to make me feel bad. And he said, "I'll get you away from that preaching, some of these days."
And I said, "Oh, no, Bert. No, no."
133 So one day I went up there, one fall, and it was late. And the season had been in about a week, and I was busy. I was State Game Warden of Indiana, and I--I had been busy, and right in hunting season, so I had to get my vacation. I went up a little late.
134And those white-tail deer, if they're ever shot at, you talk about Houdini being an escape artist, my, he is an amateur to them. And so then they really stay hid. And it had been moonlight nights, snow on the ground about six inches, good trailing work.
135And so Bert, when he come down to the cabin where I was at, he said, "Say, Billy, I got a good one this year for you."
And I said, "What?"
136Reached down in his pocket and pulled it out. He had a little whistle. He would blow it, and it sounded just like a little fawn crying for its mother. Little baby deer, you know, crying for its mother.
137I said, "Bert, how cruel can you be?" I said, "Do you mean... You wouldn't do a thing like that!"
He said, "Ha-ha, you chicken-hearted preacher!"
138 And we went on hunting, that day, and we went up over the Jefferson Notch. And you didn't have to worry about him, he knowed how to find his way back. So we climbed up till about noon, and then we'd separate and go one one way, and one the other. And then if we got our deer, we would hang him up, and--and then we'd get our horses and go get him.
139So we got about eleven o'clock, we hadn't even seen a track, not one track.
140All the deer were laying down. They'd get in the brush, and under the brush piles and things, where the tops of the trees, where the loggers had been. And they would, they was hiding, stay away, 'cause they had been shot at. They were scared.
141 About eleven o'clock, Bert stopped, sat down. There was a little opening about, oh, the size of this building, and the--the inside maybe twice this size, a little opening there. And he sat down, and he reached back to get, I thought, his--his thermos that he had in his coat. We usually carry a thermos and have some hot chocolate, and, 'cause it's got fuel to it, you know, and--and then have a sandwich, and then we separate. We was getting up high towards timber line, so I thought maybe that Bert was going to have his sandwich. So he sat down to pull out this thermos and to... I thought he was going to pull it out. And I just let, set my gun down against a tree, and started after mine.
142But, what he was, he was getting that little old whistle out. So when he got this little whistle out, he blew it. And anyone ever heard a little old baby fawn cry, it's kind of pitiful, anyhow. And when he blew that whistle, to my surprise, right across from him, a great big mother doe stood up. Now the... A doe is the mother deer, you know. So, she stood up. There was her big brown eyes, apiece, leading, them big ears pointed right up like that. See, her baby was in trouble.
143 And he blew it again, and she looked around. And she walked right out into that opening. Now that's unusual, any of you hunters know that, for a deer to do that. She walked out there. I could see her big eyes. She wasn't standing over twenty yards from me. And I thought, "Oh, Bert, you can't do that, and kill that poor precious mother; her looking for her baby, and you deceiving her like that." And this whistle had blowed, and she was... She walked out there.
144And the hunter raised the lever on his thirty-o-six rifle, dropped it down; that cocked the gun, you know, with the safety off.
145And she heard that. And she looked around, and she saw the hunter. Her ears peeked right down. Usually they had been gone. And she wouldn't have walked out there, in the first place, at that time of day. But, you see, she was a mother. There was something in her, she, something genuine, something. She wasn't putting on no show. She was a mother. She was borned a mother. And her baby was in trouble, and that was to her interest.
146 And he looked up at me, with those lizard-looking eyes, and grinned, I said, "Bert, don't do it. Don't do it." He just grinned; turned around with that rifle. Oh, my!
147He was a dead shot. And I knowed when that scope hair come across her loyal motherly heart, he would blow it plumb through her. See? She wasn't standing twenty yards; big hundred and eighty grain--grain, hundred and eighty grain, mushroom bullet, and there he would just blowed her heart plumb through both sides.
148I thought, "How can you be so cruel, as to blow that precious mother's heart out of her, and her seeking her baby? How can you do that, Bert?" I was thinking to myself. I seen his arms steady down. I couldn't look at it. I just couldn't do it. I turned my back. I--I couldn't see that.
149That genuine loyal mother standing there. She wasn't a hypocrite. She wasn't just putting that on, for a side show. She was a mother. That's why she was doing it. Death didn't mean nothing to her. Her baby was in trouble. She thought more of her baby than she did of her own life. Let the hunters shoot whatever it was; her loyal heart was beating, her motherhood. The motherhood in her was calling. Her baby was crying. There was something inside of her, pulsating, was real.
150And how could that cruel hunter blow that loyal heart out? I just couldn't see it. I turned my head. I thought, "Lord God, don't let him do it." I was standing like this, I couldn't hear... I didn't want to hear the gun fire. It was just too much. I waited.
151The gun never fired. And I turned around and looked, and it was going like this. He couldn't do it.
152He turned around and looked at me, and those big eyes had changed. Tears was running down his cheeks. He looked at me, and his lips quivering. He throwed the gun on the snowbank, and grabbed me by the trouser leg. He said, "Billy, I've had enough of it. Lead me to that Jesus you're talking about."
153There on that snowdrift, I led him to the Lord Jesus. Why? He saw something real. (He had been in all kinds of churches.) He seen something that wasn't put on. He seen something that was genuine.
154 Friends, we might have church rules and church regulations, and theologies and everything else, but there is a real genuine Jesus. Let's look to Him just now as we bow our heads in prayer.
155With your heads bowed, I'd like to ask you a question; your hearts bowed, too. How many in here now, you who profess Christianity, who does not, if a profession is all you have? But how many of you would like to be as much Christian as that deer was a mother, with something so genuine in you, that seem more than your life or anything that you have? And you say, may say this, "Brother Branham, I belong to church. I'm a businessman, businesswoman, or whatmore, housewife. But, really, to be that type of a Christian, that I could lay the whole world aside, stand the criticism or anything; I--I'd like to be as much, I'd like to be in my heart a Christian, as that deer was a mother."
156With your heads bowed now, and your eyes closed. Before God, I ask you, in Christ's Name, at the ending of the age, would you just put up your hand? I can't make an altar call, 'cause there is no room. But just say, "Pray for me, Brother Branham, that I will be the type of a Christian as that deer was a mother." God bless you. There is just hands everywhere. "Let me be as much Christian."
157Now, Zacchaeus, when you put your hand up, that shows He has found you. Now why don't you slide right out of the tree? He'll go home with you today for dinner. He'll stay with you the rest of your days.
158 Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the Lord Jesus, His Presence. And we're aware that there is something here that made men and women... Some of them has even professed to be Christians, for years. But there was, there is Something present that caused them; even though they be professed, even as Zacchaeus was, but once the touch from Christ, they've lifted their hand as a testimony that Something inside of them told them to do it. Let them know just now that that's Jesus. He was to pass this way, this morning, and He has.
159There was, I guess, some hundred and fifty hands up, Lord. I pray that You will visit each one, and give to them the reality that it is to be a real Christian. And no matter how much the world tries to discourage us, and how much that others try to discourage us, let us know that it's a fight to get There. It's an effort we have to put forth. But when connected with Something that's genuine, real, It changes us then. I pray that You will change every heart, Lord, and make every one in Divine Presence, at this time. Put the Holy Spirit in their life, to be as much Christian as the mother deer was a mother. She was borned a mother. And may they be borned of the Spirit of God, and become a real follower of Jesus Christ. May they come from their sycomore trees today. Grant it, Lord. May You go home with each one of us, and there abide with us until the time You come to take us to our Eternal Home. For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.
160 Thank you, kindly. The Lord bless you. I kept you late. I was supposed to be out of here at ten o'clock. It's ten minutes till eleven.
161I hope that God takes these few little crude words, and nervous and upset, and feeds them in your heart. Remember, there is something genuine about Christ. God bless you. All right.
1Zostaňme na chvíľu stáť pri čítaní Božieho Slova. Rozmýšľal som o tom celom úvode, naozaj by som musel žiť skutočný život, aby som to prežil, však? To je človek, ktorý vás miluje. V Knihe svätého Lukáša, v 19. kapitole, chcem prečítať len časť Písma, prvých päť veršov.
A vojdúc išiel cez Jericho.
A hľa, bol tam nejaký muž, menom Zacheus a to bol nadcolný a bol bohatý.
A žiadal si vidieť Ježiša, kto je. Ale nemohol ho vidieť pre zástup, pretože bol malej postavy.
A predbehol napred a vyšiel na planý fík, aby ho videl, lebo tade mal ísť.
A jako prišiel Ježiš na to miesto, pozrel hore a povedal mu: Zachee, sídi rýchle dolu, lebo dnes musím zostať v tvojom dome!
A sišiel rýchle a prijal ho radujúc sa.
A vidiac to všetci reptali a hovorili: K hriešnemu človeku vošiel nocovať.
A Zacheus si stal a povedal Pánovi: Hľa, polovicu svojho majetku, Pane, dávam chudobným a jestli som niekoho v niečom oklamal, vraciam štvornásobne.
A Ježiš mu povedal: Dnes sa dostalo spasenie tomuto domu, pretože je aj on synom Abrahámovým.
Lebo syn človeka prišiel hľadať a spasiť to, čo bolo zahynulo.
Modlime sa.
2Náš Nebeský Otče, sme Ti dnes ráno vďační, pretože Ty stále hľadáš, aby si zachránil synov Abrahámových, tých, čo sú stratení. Modlíme sa, Nebeský Otče, aby si prijal našu pokornú modlitbu a požehnal naše dnešné spoločné zhromaždenie. A nech to nie je márne, ale nech nás ten veľký Duch Svätý učí ceste Života, vediac to, že jedného dňa musíme stáť v Jeho Prítomnosti, aby sme podali správu o tom, čo sme urobili s týmto životom. Požehnaj nás teraz, ako spolu ďalej čakáme na Teba. V Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
Môžete si sadnúť.
3Iste som šťastný, že mám dobrých priateľov, ľudí, ktorí veria a veria tomu úsiliu, ktoré sa snažíte vynaložiť. Keby som mal nejaký iný cieľ, len aby som bol odlišný, bol by som skutočným hriešnikom. Ale mojím cieľom je zvelebovať Ježiša Krista.
4Je niečo, čo je v človeku, že keď máte posolstvo od Boha, nedokážete sa zastaviť. Je vo vás niečo, čo pulzuje. Stále to napreduje. Nemôžete to spomaliť, zastaviť alebo naštartovať. Ono zastaví, naštartuje a spomalí vás. Rozumiete? To je Ten, ktorý má kontrolu.
5Ďakujem týmto skvelým bratom za svedectvo o našom Pánovi Ježišovi. Nehovorili o mne, samozrejme, že nie. Oni hovorili o Ňom.
6Ako som nedávno čítal jeden článok o pánovi Moodym. Povedal, že Chicago išlo... noviny šli o ňom napísať úvodník. A niekoho poslali von, aby zistil, prečo sa ľudia zhromažďujú, aby počúvali pána Moodyho. Úvodník; Pán Moody je ako ja, nemal dostatok vzdelania na to, aby čítal úvodník, a tak ho musel prečítať jeho manažér. Pán Moody bol predtým obuvníkom a bol povolaný od Boha pre posolstvo tej hodiny. A tak ten manažér čítal úvodník a tam bolo napísané, „Prečo by niekto išiel počúvať Dwighta Moodyho?“ Povedal, „V prvom rade je to najškaredší človek, akého som kedy videl.“ A povedal, „Je plešatý a má dlhé fúzy, a tak ďalej.“ A povedal, „A keď reční, tak kňučí. Jeho gramatika je tá najhoršia, akú som kedy počul.“ Aha. A, ó, on len takto pokračoval.
7Povedal, „Pán Moody len mykol plecami. Povedal, 'Samozrejme. Oni prišli, aby videli Krista.'“
8Myslím, že to je odpoveď. Je to Kristus, ktorého chceme vidieť. „Ak budem vyzdvihnutý, pritiahnem všetkých ľudí ku sebe.“
9Premýšľal som, potom, čo som navštívil ľudí tu v meste, a zistil som, že oni sú takí milí, také príjemné stretnutia tu máme v tejto strednej škole Denham Springs, alebo v tejto školskej aule. Rozmýšľal som, že tí ľudia sú niečo ako káva. Oni sú... Ó! To nie je o kvantite, ale o kvalite. Len v jednej šálke je tak veľa.
10Pamätám si, ako som prvýkrát pristál tu na letisku. Sedia tu bratia, ktorí ma prišli vyzdvihnúť. A obsluhovalo tam nejaké francúzske dievča apožiadal som ju o hamburger a šálku kávy.
11Vôbec som ju nepil, až kým som nemal asi tridsaťosem rokov; mal som vedieť viac. Ale potom brat Brown, myslím, že je dnes ráno niekde tu. On tu sedí. Jemu sa to tak páčilo a dostal ma... Ja by som mal ministerské raňajky o siedmej, o ôsmej a o deviatej. Nemohli by ste to všetko zjesť, tak naliali kávu. A ja som to usrkával a následne, začal som piť.
12A tak som sa opýtal toho dievčaťa, povedal som jej, „Chcem hamburger a šálku kávy.“ Keď priniesli tú malú šálku, pomyslel som si, „Ó, ó, oni sú tu pri káve naozaj úsporní.“ Prvý nápoj, prvý dúšok, ktorý som si dal, ó, musel som lapať po dychu. Vidíte?
13Tá drobné dievča povedalo, „Ty musíš byť Amík.“ [„Yankee“ - rodák zo severu USA – pozn.prekl.] Povedala, „Dám ti 'Amícku' šálku.“
14Tak takto nachádzam ľudí, možno nie ako najväčší zástup, ku ktorému som kedy hovoril, ale skutočnú kvalitu. Som za to vďačný, počúvajúce publikum, niekto, kto sedí a dáva pozor na to, čo hovoríte. Ja...
15To je to, čo chcem, aby ste robili. Preskúmajte, čo človek hovorí skrze Slovo Božie. A ak to nie je správne, potom to nie je správne. To je všetko. Ak je to Slovo Božie, potom Boh musí svedčiť o Svojom Slove, pretože to zasľúbil. Tak to je to, ako chceme skúmať tieto veci, aby sme to zistili.
16No, dnes ráno som pochopil, že toto majú byť raňajky obchodníkov, Obchodníci Plného Evanjelia, ktorých som členom. A myslím, že toto... Povedali, že boli tu niektorí z nich. Niektorí z nich sa nedostali. Možno, oni sú obchodníci, majú svoje záležitosti, ktorým sa musia venovať. Každopádne ich ospravedlním, takže tak to je v poriadku. Povedal, že mnohí z ich ľudí tu každopádne sú, tak to je veľmi dobré.
17Teraz len malý vtip. Povedal som to, ale možno... Toto nie je miesto na žartovanie, samozrejme, ale je to len trochu zmyslu pre humor. Keď hovoríte, tak, ako sme to pred chvíľou povedali, možno ľuďom prinavrátite zmysel pre humor.
18Pamätám si, ako sme raz boli s kamarátom v škole. Volal sa Wilmer Snyder. Jeho brat je baptistickým kazateľom a on píše do tejto „Hornej Miestnosti“, do stĺpca v „Hornej miestnosti“. Boli sme spolu školáci. A ja som študoval službu a on sa stal poisťovacím agentom. A tak prišiel jedného dňa ku mne domov, aby ma navštívil. A teraz tu môžu byť nejakí poisťovací agenti. A teraz nehovorím nič o poistení. Dúfam, že si o tom nemyslíte nič zlé, ale vy sa chytáte toho, čo som... tak, ako som to povedal. Takže môj brat tiež... má „Prudential“ a on predáva „prudenciálne“ poistenie [„diktované opatrnosťou, prezieravé“ - pozn.prekl.].
19Tak som raz urobil niečo v jednej poisťovacej spoločnosti, že... Myslím, že veľmi neviem, že... oni mi tú poistku čítali zle a bolo mi to skreslené a ja som... jednoducho som to nikdy nevybral. Ja...
20Tak jedného dňa prišiel za mnou Wilmer a povedal, „Ako sa máš, Billy?“
Povedal som, „Dobre.“
Povedal, „Počujem, že si mal zhromaždenia!“
Povedal som, „Áno, mávam zhromaždenia.“
21Hovoril som mu, čo mi povedal jeden človek. On povedal, „Počuj, ty si kazateľ. Čo to robíš, že sa motáš okolo týchto obchodníkov?“
Povedal som, „Ja som obchodník.“
A on povedali, „Ó, v akej veci?“
Povedal som, „Uistenie.“
22A viete, on to nepochopil. Vôbec som nepovedal, „Poistenie.“ Povedal som, „Uistenie.“ Rozumiete?
A tak som povedal, „Uistenie.“
23On povedal, „Ó,“ povedal, „rozumiem.“ On povedal, „Aké poistenie predávaš?“
24Povedal som, „Predávam poistenie večného života.“ A stále to predávam. Tak by som mal záujem... Každý, kto má záujem, rád by som sa s vami porozprával o tejto poistke, hneď po zhromaždení, ak je to v poriadku.
25A tak povedal, „Večný život?“ Povedal, „Nemyslím, že som o takej spoločnosti niekedy počul.“
26Povedal som, „Ó, nikdy si o nej nepočul?“ Povedal som, „Je dobre známa.“ A on povedal... Ja som povedal, „Je to starý podnik.“
A on povedal, „Kde je ústredie?“
Povedal som, „V Sláve.“
27Wilmer mi povedal, „Billy, myslel som, že prídem a predám ti nejaké poistenie.“ Povedal, „Počul som, že nemáš žiadne poistenie.“
A povedal som, „Ó, áno, mám istotu.“
28A on povedal, „Ó, je mi ľúto.“ On povedal, „Hádam, tvoj brat, máš to s ním.“
Povedal som, „Nie, nie celkom s ním.“
29Moja žena sa na mňa pozrela, akoby chcela povedať, „No, ty si tu vymýšľaš?“ Vedela, že nemám žiadne poistenie. Ale ani ona to neuchyila. Povedal som, „Uistenie,“ nie „poistenie.“
On povedal, „Aké máš poistenie, Billy?“
30Povedal som:
Požehnané uistenie, Ježiš je môj!
Ó, aká predzvesť Božskej slávy.
Ja som dedič spasenia, kúpený od Boha,
Zrodený z Jeho Ducha, obmytý v Jeho Krvi.
31On povedal, „Billy, to je veľmi pekné. To je veľmi pekné.“ Povedal, „Nemám nič proti tomu, ale,“ povedal, „to ti nedá miesto tu na cintoríne, keď budeš preč.“
32Povedal som, „Dostane ma to z neho von. Nestarám sa dostať sa tam.“
33Nehľadám dostať sa na cintorín; ale ide o to, dostať sa z neho von. A tak... Tak toto je jediná vec, o ktorej viem, že vás dostane von. Tak, ak máte záujem dostať sa von, pohovorme si o tom.
34Ako sa dívam dnes ráno na obecenstvo, dlho vás nezdržím, len chvíľu. A mal som text, z ktorého som išiel kázať, tak som si pomyslel, no, radšej to nebudem robiť. Mal som len takú malú drámu, niečo v Biblii.
35Uvažujem tu o vážnych veciach. Že, zatiaľ čo tu sedíme ako Kresťania, myslím, že väčšina z nás, vedeli ste, že toto môže byť poslednýkrát, kedy budeme spolu raňajkovať? Napadlo vás to niekedy?
36Uvedomujete si tie malé slová, ktoré tu mám povedať, že Boh ma bude brať na zodpovednosť tam hore v Deň súdu? Rozumiete? A ja tu mám duše, nezáleží na tom, či je to malá skupina, ale ja ich stále mám. Sú to slová, ktoré hovorím, dobre, budem sa musieť za ne tam hore zodpovedať.
37Tak možno už nikdy nebudeme spolu raňajkovať, ale dúfam, že budeme jedného dňa spolu večerať. To je posledná večera, tam s Ním, bude to prvá tam.
38A potom, keď tu dnes ráno sedíme a dívam sa na týchto mužov, niektorí sú veľkí služobníci, ktorí študovali. A ja tu vychádzam len z krovín, žiadne vzdelanie, sedím tu s človekom, ktorý je spôsobilý kázať, a s teológmi. Cítim sa veľmi malý, keď stojím a hovorím pred takýmito ľuďmi. Ale predsa musím vyjadriť, čo cítim. A ich veľká vďačnosť a láskavosť, že ma nechali stáť a robiť toto. Vážim si to, bratia, spolupráca na zhromaždení a spoločné stretnutie. Som tu, aby som vám pomohol. Urobím všetko, čo môžem, pre každého jedného z vás, z milosti Božej.
39A potom, keď to všetko skončí, jedného dňa, ak už s tebou nebudem raňajkovať, keď to všetko skončí, budeme sedieť pri stole jeden vedľa druhého, to je ten čas, ktorý očakávam. Niet pochýb, že nám po lícach budú stekať slzy a budeme sa dívať cez stôl a chytať sa navzájom za ruky. To potom bude niečo znamenať. Poďme pracovať, kým je čas pracovať, zatiaľ čo je slnko hore. Po chvíli to bude dole; klesá veľmi nízko. Potom, pomyslieť na to, že zatiaľ čo tam budeme sedieť a budeme sa držať za ruky a trochu si poplačeme, potom ten veľký Kráľ vyjde v celom Svojom nádhernom rúchu, zíde dolu ku každému a zotrie nám všetky slzy z očí a povie, „Dobre ste vykonali, moji dobrí a verní služobníci, vojdite do radosti Pánovej, ktorá je pre vás pripravená od založenia sveta.“ Zatiaľ čo slnko je hore a je dosť svetla pracovať, pracujme.
40No, tento krátky text sa tu môže zdať trochu divný, ale budeme hovoriť na túto tému: On mal prejsť touto cestou.
41Musela to byť pre toho drobného človeka strašná noc. Nemohol vôbec spať a celú noc sa len otáčal a prehadzoval. Svitalo.
42A všetci vieme, čo znamenajú tie nepokojné noci, keď nemôžete spať. Máš niečo na mysli alebo ti niečo lezie na nervy.
43A tento malý človek bol obchodníkom, možno v meste Jericho, ktoré bolo niečo, ako tu máte vy, obchodníci a ženy, a on mal nepochybne rozrastajúci sa obchod. On stál v dobrom s... všetkými klubmi, a tak ďalej, a bol členom cirkvi, rady Sanhedrinu, a mal vynikajúceho kňaza a veril tomuto kňazovi.
44A zvláštna vec v tomto prípade je jeho žena. Budeme ju volať Rebeka. „Ona zablúdila na nesprávnu stranu,“ pomyslel si, a tak isto aj kňaz. Nasledovala človeka, ktorý mal byť prorokom z Nazaretu, muža menom Ježiš. Ľudia, tá chudobnejšia vrstva ľudí, verili, že je prorokom alebo Mesiášom, ktorý bol zasľúbený, ale On nespĺňal kvalifikáciu Sanhedrinu.
45Zvláštne, že niekedy Boh robí veci mimo toho spôsobu, o ktorom si myslíme, že by to malo byť. „Tento chlap, vidíte, sa narodil ako...,“ podľa ich názoru, „bolo to nelegitímne narodenie. Jeho matka Ho porodila predtým, ako sa ona a jej manžel stali manželmi.“
46Ďalšia vec, On nemal žiadne vzdelanie. Oni nemali žiaden záznam, že On kedy chodil do školy. On nebol kňazom, ani nebol rabínom. On si to len sám nárokoval.
47Ako brat Don dnes ráno povedal to veľké vyhlásenie, „Bolo to zahnutie za roh.“ Oni to nespoznali. Obyčajne sa to tak stáva. Nastal čas rohu.
48Ale tak nejako, jeho žena bola presvedčená, že On je tým prorokom, ktorý má prísť, a ona Ho nasledovala, uverila Mu.
49A ona sa to snažila povedať svojmu mužovi. Ale on bol tak unesený vo svojom podnikaní a s... Patril do cirkvi. „Nestačí to?“
50Niečo ako bohatý mládenec, viete. On mal tiež obchod. Ale on si uvedomil, že je členom cirkvi, ale nemal večný život. A on sa opýtal... Videl v Ježišovi niečo, čo iný človek nemal. A on povedal, prišiel k Nemu a povedal, „Ja...“ On chcel vedieť, či... čo by mohol urobiť, aby mal Večný Život. A Ježiš mu povedal, aby zachovával prikázania. On povedal, „Robil som to od mladosti.“ Vidíte, to ukázalo, že bol veriaci, ale on vedel, že Ježiš mal niečo, čo tí kňazi a rabíni nemali.
51A keď človek niekedy prichádza do kontaktu s Ježišom Kristom, je od ľudí odlišný. Nikdy nie si ten istý, keď Ho raz uvidíš, ak je v tebe nejaká Božia iskra.
52Tak Rebeka našla tohto Ježiša. A On bol pre ňu presne tým naplnením zasľúbenia, ktoré Židia očakávali na svoj deň.
53Tak sa dostala správa, že On bude mať raňajky alebo večeru alebo niečo také, dolu v Jerichu, takže ona mala plné ruky práce s modlením sa za svojho obchodníckeho manžela.
54Potrebujeme viac Rebiek, všade, vidíte. Vidíte, modlitba mení veci. Ak predložíte svojho muža alebo svojho nespaseného blízkeho pred Boha a potom sa budete modliť, Boh urobí niekde cestu, pretože On to zasľúbil.
55Tak to je to, čo Rebeka, ktorá je neochvejne veriaca a nasledovateľka Pána Ježiša, a musela byť veľmi milou osobou, a ona sa... zaujímala o svoju domácnosť.
56A myslím, že to znovu odráža, že ak niekto niekedy stretne Ježiša a nájde Ho skutočne vo svojom srdci, zaujíma vás nielen vaša vlastná domácnosť, ale aj Božia domácnosť, všade. Zaujíma ťa, či Ho poznajú. „A poznať Ho je život.“ „Poznajte Ho,“ vidíte, nie vedieť, ako čítať Slovo, alebo tak nejako. Ale, „Poznať Jeho je Život.“
57Tak veľmi sa modlila. A priblížil sa deň, keď mal Ježiš vstúpiť do mesta. A bezpochyby, ale deň predtým mohla vidieť, či sa jeho postoj nejako zmenil. Tak povedala, možno, „Zacheus, ideš ráno na tie raňajky?“
58„No, to určite nie. No, tá skupina ľudí! A ty ma očakávaš... Mám najlepšiu reštauráciu v meste a oni ich majú u Lavinského.“ Dúfam, že tu nie je žiaden Lavinský. Ale jednako, „Tam na tom druhom mieste, vidíš. A, no, mám najlepšie miesto v meste a oni si vybrali to miesto tam dolu. No, nemali by. Mali by prísť ku mne, vidíš.“ On nešiel.
59Potom sa začala skutočne zúfalo modliť. Tak potom v ten večer si ten chlapík nemohol vôbec oddýchnuť.
60Viete, niečo na tom je, ak sa idete skutočne zúfalo modliť za niečo, Boh pracuje na oboch koncoch. On odpovedá.
61Tak ten malý muž, on musel v ten večer premýšľať, „Zaujímalo by ma, či by som mal ísť dolu a vypočuť si tohto človeka? No, Rebeka hovorí, že On je prorok. No, vieme, že sme už stovky rokov nemali žiadnych prorokov. A ja som sa na to opýtal kňaza, on povedal, 'Nič iné ako nezmysel! Ak by bol nejaký prorok, ktorý povstane, či by neprišiel cez cirkev? To je ten spôsob, ako by musel prísť. On by prišiel k nám, k farizejom alebo sadúcejom alebo k našej skupine, inak by nebol prorokom.'“ Viete, stále existuje taký postoj. Oni si myslia, že to musí prísť určitým spôsobom, inak to nie je správne. Tak povedali, bezpochyby, ale v tomto veľkom čase, že... Každopádne tomu verila.
62A on to prediskutoval s kňazom. Kňaz povedal, „Teraz sa pozrite, tie dni prorokov boli už pred mnohými, mnohými rokmi. Máme zákon. Máme to všetko napísané. Situácia je pod kontrolou a máme to v rukách a vieme o týchto veciach.“
63Ale potom, samozrejme, Zacheus, nehľadiac na to, len absolútne sa domnieval, bral to ako samozrejmosť. Slovo domnievať sa je „odvážiť sa bez autority.“ No, on si myslel, že to je v poriadku; pokiaľ patril do cirkvi, to je všetko, čo by mal robiť.
64Ale potom, keď začala prichádzať noc, prišla v jeho srdci náhla túžba. „Možno, ak je táto osoba v meste, On tu už možno nikdy viac nebude. Mal by som ísť a preskúmať tú situáciu a sám sa presvedčiť.“
65No, to je dobrý nápad. Sami sa na to pozrite. Nechoďte kritizovať. Vezmite Slovo a skúmajte Slovo podľa toho.
66Tak ona, Rebeka, ako žena sa snažila vysvetliť, ako len mohla, že to, čo povedali proroci a čo povedal Mojžiš, že táto osoba bude, a keď On príde. Tak ona si musela myslieť, snažila sa mu to vysvetliť, ale kňaz mal na neho predsa len oveľa väčší vplyv, ako mala jeho žena Rebeka.
67Potom, keď začalo svitať, no, ten malý muž bol... Rebeka, viem si ju predstaviť, vidiac ju, ako ho šťuchla a hovorí, „Zacheus, chceš tým povedať, že tam nechceš ísť?“
„Nie, ja s tým nechcem mať nič spoločné.“
68Vieš, nebuď, Reb... Nebuď znechutená, Rebeka. Niekedy je to dobré znamenie. Vidíte, práve, keď je tá osoba taká skľúčená, keď o tom hovoríš, a podobne. To je niekedy celkom dobré znamenie.
69A tak sa Rebeka po chvíli správala, akoby spala. Len ona sa modlila. A ona zistila, že Zacheus vyliezol z postele, naozaj potichu, viete, a ide tam, celý sa upravuje, učesal si vlasy a obliekol si svoj najlepší odev. A ona nakukovala jedným okom, aby videla, čo robí. Ona hneď vtedy vedela, že Boh odpovedal na modlitbu. Vedela, že niečo sa stane. Tak Zacheus chodí po špičkách a nedáva Rebeke vedieť, kam ide, viete. A on sa vyšmykne, vyjde von a obzrie sa späť.
70Ona zodvihne záclonu a díva sa von, aby ho videla, ako ide von. Ona hovorí, „Ďakujem ti, Pane, teraz je to všetko v poriadku.“ Vidíte?
71Tak, ako to urobil Eliáš, keď povedal, „Vidím to, je to oblak veľký ako ľudská ruka.“ Len prvý malý dôkaz, niečo sa musí stať.
72A tak ide von a dolu ulicami. On povedal, „Teraz vraj vojde južnou bránou, tak radšej pôjdem tam a postavím sa.“ A povedal, „A nájdem si miesto a budem stáť rovno tam. A keď On vojde, uvidím, akým veľkým Prorokom ten chlapík je. A pôjdem rovno tam a položím svoj prst pod jeho nos a ukážem Mu, keď príde. A poviem Mu, že všetky Jeho nezmysly spôsobili, že moja manželka... a tieto modlitebné zhromaždenia a také veci... Začína mi z toho byť zle a som unavený. Idem. Idem o tom niečo povedať, vidíte, a poviem Mu. A potom viem, že ma rabín iste pohladí po pleci a povie, 'Zacheus, ty si tu dobrým členom tejto cirkvi. Iste si dobrý človek.'“ Tak on povedal, „Budem tam v predstihu,“ tak tam šiel.
73Keď sa dostal asi na jeden alebo dva bloky od brány, zistil, že to miesto bolo preplnené. Viseli na stenách a všade. Tak či onak, aj keď o ňom všeličo hovorili, stále bol niekto, kto Ho rád počul. Niekto by počúval.
74A tak povedal, „No, ako Ho niekedy uvidím prichádzať do brány?“ Pamätáte sa, Biblia hovorí, že bol malého vzrastu. A on povedal, „Som príliš malý.“ Tak on sa všade tlačil, „Uvoľnite mi tu trochu miesta!“ Môžete povedať, že ešte nie je kresťanom, vidíte, takto sa správať. Kresťania nemajú taký postoj, vidíte. „Uhni! Vieš, kto ja som? Ja som Zacheus. Vlastním tu hore reštauráciu. Choď, odstúp mi z cesty!“ Rozumiete? No, to nie je kresťan. Každý vedel, že ním nie je. Možno niektorí z nich vedeli, že Rebeka sa modlí.
„No,“ povedali, „hej, ty uhni.“
75A tak on vedel, že Ho nikdy neuvidí v celom tom dave, tak nebude schopný vyjadriť Mu svoje myšlienky. A tak si pomyslel, „No, čo budem teraz robiť? Možno sa vrátim domov a zabudnem na celú vec.“
76Ale, viete, niečo na tom je, že keď sa rozhodnete, že Ho chcete vidieť, nič vám nezabráni Ho vidieť. Je mi jedno, čo to je, vy ste vytrvalí a ako tá malá Grékyňa bola vytrvalá, aby sa dostala k Ježišovi. A niečo na tom je, že kedykoľvek sa rozhodnete, že Ho uvidíte, nič vás nezastaví. Ale pamätajte, keď sa rozhodnete, potom diabol urobí všetko, čo môže, aby vás zastavil. On je rozhodnutý, že vy tomu nebudete rozumieť, že to nebudete vidieť. Predhodí pred vás každú čiernu plachtu, ktorú len môže, aby vás držal preč od toho, len aby ste to nevideli.
77A tak tam bola jeho prvá barikáda. Tak potom začal, povediac, „No, myslím...“
78A pozrel sa tam a tam stáli niektorí z jeho konkurentov a oni, on vtedy vedel, že niektorí z tých ľudí sú z cirkvi. Tak tam si robil toľko žartov z tohto Ježiša z Nazareta, že bol prorokom, potom tu stáli niektorí z jeho členov, hľadeli na neho, boli rovno tam v tej istej skupine. On sa jednoducho nemohol skryť. Bol identifikovaný.
79No, Zacheus, už si bol identifikovaný, tak len... vieš, ak by tu náhodou nejaký bol. Sme už teraz zmiešaní v skupine, takže oni už vedia, kto, sme tu, tak by sme sa tiež mohli zoznámiť, poznať jeden druhého.
80Tak on povedal, „No, je to tu zvláštne.“ A on sa poobzeral, videl tu jedného stáť. „A vieš, koniec koncov, oni sú asi takí ako ty, oni chcú niečo zistiť.“
81Človek vie, že prišiel odniekiaľ spoza; a keď odchádza, ide niekam späť. A on sa vždy snaží nájsť niečo, aby zistil, odkiaľ pochádza a kam ide. Je len jeden, ktorý má odpoveď, to je Boh. Každý človek sa chce pozrieť cez tú oponu. A keď vidíte čokoľvek, čo... čo vám môže ukázať, čo je za oponou, kde ste boli a kto ste a kam idete. Existuje len jedna Kniha zo všetkej napísanej literatúry z miliónov ton. Toto je Kniha, ktorá vám hovorí, kto ste, odkiaľ prichádzate a kam idete. Nie je žiadna iná kniha, ktorá by to dokázala; tá Biblia! „A Slovo je Boh,“ hovorí Biblia.
82No, zisťujeme, že tento človek, so všetkým naokolo, bol v rozpakoch, keď zistil, že je uprostred ľudí, ktorí kričali a plakali a hulákali a správali sa ako blázni. Tak, ale on... Tam sedel, stotožnený s nimi, tak on len musel zostať, to je všetko. Teraz povedal, „No, ak som prišiel tak ďaleko, mohol by som pokračovať, kým Ho skutočne nenájdem.“
83No, Zacheus, to je dobrý nápad. Dostal si sa sem na raňajky, tak poď ďalej. Vidíte, všetci sme tak ďaleko.
84Tak teraz zisťujeme, že ako oni išli, povedal, „No, ak tu zostanem, nemôžem Ho vidieť, lebo som príliš malý. Tak, vieš čo, myslím, že sa dostanem von z tohoto zástupu a pobežím dolu k rohu, kde budem stáť sám, nájdem si miesto rovno na okraji chodníka. A keď On príde, potom vystúpim rovno tu na ulicu a poviem Mu, čo si o Ňom myslím. Ja Mu ukážem, ako sa veci majú. “
85A tak odišiel preč od toho zástupu a išiel dolu. Pomyslel si, „Teraz ktorou cestou On pôjde?“ No, on išiel dolu „alejou Haleluja.“ To sú obyčajne miesta, ktorými On putuje, vidíte. A išiel dolu ku „rohu Amen“, kde sa odbočuje sem, aby išiel dolu k tomu miestu na jedenie.
86To je to, kam ideš, viete, „alej Haleluja“ a „roh Amen“, a potom ste pripravení jesť Slovo. Rozumiete? Rozumiete?
87A tak išiel dolu k tomuto rohu a postavil sa tam a povedal, „Teraz tu nikto nie je. A keď...“ Viem, že to znie smiešne, ale len... Počkajte chvíľu. Tak potom, prvá vec, viete, prišiel k tomuto rohu a povedal, „Tu nie je nikto, tak sa tu postavím. Keď príde, zistím, koľko je prorokom. Vykročím rovno tu na cestu a niečo Mu poviem.“
88A tak tam stál a začal premýšľať, „Počkaj teraz chvíľu. Vieš, ak by som tam bol, som príliš malý, ten zástup by pravdepodobne išiel všade za Ním, a ja nechcem, aby niekto vykrikoval, keď s ním budem hovoriť. Chcem k Nemu prehovoriť tak, aby ma počul. A oni vždy vykrikujú 'Amen' a 'Haleluja' a 'Sláva Bohu', 'Hosana prorokovi, ktorý prichádza v mene Pánovom'.
Ó, oni ma vôbec nebudú počuť, celá tá hlučná skupina. Takže je len jedna vec... Potom sa budú tlačiť všade okolo mňa a potom Ho nebudem môcť vôbec ani vidieť."
89A tak sa obzrel, stojac na rohu, a bol tam starý známy javor. To je dobrý strom v Indiane. Tak stojac na rohu, pomyslel si, „No, ak by som sa mohol dostať na tú vetvu a sadnúť si tam, potom by som bol hore a podarilo by sa mi k Nemu prehovoriť, keď príde.“
90Tak tam išiel, obchádzal to tam. A on bol príliš malý; nemohol sa dostať hore na konár. Tak on povedal, „No, teraz je len jedno, čo môžem urobiť.“ Tamto na rohu stoja mestské smetiaky. A tak si pomyslel, „No, ak pôjdem a vezmem jeden smetiak a prinesiem ho sem, potom sa budem môcť dostať hore na strom. To mi pomôže.“
91A tak tam ide. A smetiari v to ráno ešte neprechádzali a bolo to dosť ťažké. Tak on bol malý a nemohol to zdvihnúť. Jediný spôsob, ako by to dokázal, bolo oblapiť ho. A mal na sebe svoj najlepší odev. Tak, viete, vždy existujú prekážky, keď sa snažíte vidieť Ježiša. Ale to nezáležalo na tom, či to bol dobrý odev alebo nie, on chcel každopádne vidieť Ježiša. A tak objal ten smetný kôš, aby ho tam mohol privliecť. A prevrátil sa mu a tak mal všade na sebe odpadky. No, bolo mu to jedno; On Ho jednako chcel vidieť.
92Tak, zatiaľ čo ten smetiak tlačil, rukami ho objímal, počul, ako sa niekto smeje. A poobzeral sa a čo to: stojí tam Lavinski, jeho konkurent, a hovorí, „No, pozrime sa! Zacheus si našiel novú prácu vo svojej reštaurácii. Pracuje ako smetiar!“
93Viete, diabol chce len vidieť, čo všetko môže urobiť, aby vám postavil do cesty každú možnú vec, aby vám zabránil vidieť Ježiša. On vám povie, „To je banda náboženských fanatikov.“ Oni vám povedia, „To je banda idiotov.“ On povie, „Nič na nich nie je. Sú to len tie úbohé mestské smeti,“ spraví všetko, čo len môže. Ale ak si rozhodnutý vidieť Ho, Boh ti urobí cestu, aby si Ho videl. Len to majte na pamäti. Niečo sa stane, ak ten hlad začne vchádzať do tvojho srdca, to niečo. Každopádne Ho uvidíš.
94Ale jemu to nevadilo. Jeho tvár sa začervenala, bol v rozpakoch, ale aj tak pretlačil ten smetiak, dotrepal ho tam a vyšplhal sa hore na strom. To je v poriadku, nie, vyšplhať? Vy, južania, viete, čo je to „vyšplhať sa“, to je vyliezť hore na strom, dostať sa hore na strom. A on sa tam dostal a zistil, že je tam miesto, kde sa schádzajú dva konáre a stretávajú sa v kmeni stromu. Tam si sadol.
95No, to je dobré miesto na sedenie: tam, kde sa stretávajú dva spôsoby; tvoj a Boží; tvoja idea a tá Jeho. To je ten správny čas sadnúť si a premyslieť si to. Tvoje vlastné myšlienky o Ňom; a čo Jeho Slovo hovorí, že On je. To, čo si myslíte, že On je; a to, čo Slovo hovorí, že On je. Čo je to Posolstvo hodiny podľa tvojho myslenia; a čo je Posolstvo tejto hodiny podľa Jeho Slova. To je ten rozdiel. Sadnite si tam a chvíľu o tom popremýšľajte.
96Satan si nepochybne sadol na jeho rameno a povedal, „Vieš čo? Si tu na pohľad dobre viditeľný, sedíš tu a vyberáš si z rúk triesky. A si noblesne oblečený a zároveň špinavý od odpadkov. A teraz bude tvoje meno v tomto meste zverejnené, budú o tebe hovoriť vtipy, lebo pozri sa, čo za vec si urobil, ako tu sedíš.“
97Vidíte, satan, keď začnete, potom sa vám pokúsi povedať, „Urobil si chybu.“
98Sedel tam v takom stave! On povedal, „No, Rebeka povedala, že je prorok. Dám Mu skúšku. Uvidím, či je prorokom.“ Teraz povedal, „Keď sem príde, zamaskujem sa a On vôbec nebude vedieť, že som tu hore. Najprv sa na Neho pozriem. A potom, keď Ho uvidím, potom zoskočím z tohoto stromu a potom pôjdem tam dolu a poviem Mu.“ Teraz povedal, „No, ak je prorokom, ako Rebeka povedala, že je, mal by vedieť, že som hore na tomto strome, ak je to pravda. Tak, človeče, ja Ho napravím.“ A tak zatiahol všetky možné listy okolo seba a celý sa zamaskoval, takže ho nebolo vidieť; a nechal iba jeden list, aby mohol nakúkať, viete, aby Ho uvidel, keď bude zabáčať pri rohu.
99A potom, ako tam sedel, premýšľal o tom všetkom. Po chvíli začul za rohom nejaký zvuk.
100Je to zvláštne, kdekoľvek On je, tam je vždy veľa hluku. Viete, hluk je známkou života. Rozumiete? Pamätáte na najvyššieho kňaza, keď sa obliekol a vošiel do Najsvätejšej svätyne? Na konci svojho rúcha mal granátové jablká a zvončeky a ten hluk v Najsvätejšej svätyni bol jediný spôsob, ako tí čakajúci vedeli, či je nažive, alebo nie. Vydávalo to hluk. A kde nie je žiaden hluk, ó, potom by mohol byť mŕtvy. No, myslím, že to je to, čo sa deje v mnohých našich cirkvách dnes, nie je v tom dosť hluku, nie je dosť nadšenia, niečoho nie je dosť. A tak, kde je Ježiš, tam je vždy hluk.
101Raz, keď prišiel do Jeruzalema, kričali a hulákali, „Hosanna Kráľovi, ktorý prichádza v Mene Pánovom!“
102A niektorí z tých kňazov, ktorí tam stáli, povedali, „Hej, utíšte ich, nech sú ticho.“
103Povedal, „Ak budú ticho, skaly budú kričať.“ Niečo sa musí hýbať, keď je On nablízku. Všimnite si. A potom tí, ktorí Mu uverili.
104A potom počul, ako ten hluk prichádza spoza rohu, kričia a pokračujú ďalej. Tak si pomyslel, „No, On sa musí približovať.“ Tak nadvihol ten list a zodvihol sa, aby sa pozrel. „Teraz Ho už určite mám. Zistíme, na koľko je prorokom.“ Tak, keď tam sedel so svojimi listami, díval sa zhora, z tohto stromu, bol hore nad ich hlavami, kde by prechádzali popod tento strom.
105Tak, keď zbadal prvého človeka, ako prichádza spoza rohu, musel to byť apoštol Peter, pretože on bol veľkým, silným a statným mužom. Môžem ho vidieť, ako zatláča zástupy späť a hovorí, „Priatelia, je mi ľúto. Náš Majster mal včera večer veľkú službu, odišlo od Neho mnoho sily. Všetci to pochopíte. Či by ste sa len postavili nabok, aby Majster mohol prejsť? Prosím, urobte to.“ A tu prichádzajú Matúš, Marek, hovoriac, „No, nechceme byť drzí, nie sme tu kvôli tomu, ale náš Pán je strašne unavený a ani neraňajkoval, tak sme... Chceme, aby ste ustúpili, ak dovolíte.“
106Stál tam nejaký muž, na ktorého sa možno Zacheus pozrel.
107Niekoľko dní pred tým, na jednom zo zhromaždení medzi obchodníkmi, bol tam jeden lekár a povedal tomuto malému človeku, ktorý mal jedno malé dievčatko, ktoré bolo skutočne choré s horúčkou, a ona by nežila, ak by nejaké... Urobil pre ňu všetko, čo mohol.
108A Zacheus, keď zodvihol svoj list a pozrel sa, videl tohoto muža s týmto dieťaťom zabaleným v tejto prikrývke, ako prichádza spoza rohu. On si pomyslel, „Čo za nerozumnú vec ten otec robí, snaží sa nasledovať toho takzvaného Proroka! Tu prichádza spoza rohu s týmto dieťaťom a s horúčkou a stojí v tomto vetre.“
109Ale viete, práve tak, ako Zacheus, keď skutočne veríš, nič ti nebude prekážať.
110A ona chcela dostať to dieťa k Nemu. A zakaždým, keď sa otočili pri rohu alebo zmenili smer, on bol odsunutý dozadu. Ale bol vytrvalý a pokračoval ďalej. Nakoniec pri tomto rohu vybehla jedna matka s dieťaťom na rukách a ona musela spadnúť a povedala, „Pane, buď milostivý môjmu dieťaťu.“ A tam stál otec dieťaťa a plakal tiež, bol to Zacheov priateľ.
Povedal, „Čo zmenilo jeho postoj?“
111Tak nemohol rozoznať, kto je ten človek, On bol dole v tom zástupe. Zrazu vidí vystrieť nejakú ruku a dotknúť sa vrchu tejto malej prikrývky. A to dievčatko bolo rozbalené a odišlo a poskakovalo dolu ulicou.
„No, niečo na tom musí byť,“ povedal Zacheus.
112Nakoniec prichádza na rad On. A jeden pohľad na Neho, Zacheus zmenil svoj názor. Len jeden pohľad na Neho! A bolo hotovo. Nevyzeral ako človek. Na Ňom bolo niečo iné. Krotký, mierny, láskavý; a pritom vyzeralo to, že ak On prehovorí, svet sa skončí. Bol odlišnej postavy, ako si myslel. Jeho postoj začal... Všetka jeho naškrobenosť sa začala vymývať, keď Ho uvidel. Prichádza a kráča dolu ulicou. Premýšľal; díval sa cez tento malý lístok, pozeral sa, čo sa deje. A ako kráčal, dostal sa rovno pod to miesto, kde bol Zacheus.
113A povedal si, „Vieš, ten človek môže byť prorokom. Možno mala Rebeka pravdu. Ona mohla vedieť o Písmach viac ako ja.“ Tak On kráča rovno dolu, so sklonenou hlavou, kráča ďalej, pokorne, jemne, ako to vždy robil. A učeníci držali ľudí mimo Jeho cesty.
114A keď sa dostal rovno pod ten strom, zastavil sa. Zacheus, dívajúc sa cez to lístie, niečo také. Pozrel sa hore na strom a povedal, „Zacheus, poď dole.“
115Nielen, že vedel, že bol hore na strome, ale vedel tiež, že sa volá Zacheus. On mal oveľa menšie problémy dostať sa dolu zo stromu, ako keď šiel hore. On ho poznal; stal sa na ňom zázrak. Vidíte?
116On povedal, „Pane, mýlil som sa, som pripravený priznať, že sa mýlim. Ak som niečo vzal, urobil niečo zlé, ja to splatím, dám polovicu svojho majetku chudobným.“
Ježiš povedal, „Dnes prišlo spasenie do tvojho domu.“
117Čo ho zmenilo? Čo bola tá zmena, brat a sestra? Zamyslite sa len na chvíľu. Tá zmena bola v tom, že uvidel Niečo skutočné.
118On počul všetky zasľúbenia, ktoré boli dané, kňaz hovoril o tom, čo bolo: Veľký prorok Mojžiš, veľké toto, to alebo tamto, sľuboval niečo veľké do budúcnosti, ale ignoroval, čo sa deje teraz. To je spôsob človeka.
119Videl niečo skutočné, niečo, čo mohol vidieť on sám. Stal sa mu zázrak. On bol tým Prorokom. Pretože, On ho nepoznal, ani by ho nikdy nevidel hore na strome. Ale keď sa dostal rovno pod ten strom, zastavil sa, pozrel sa hore a povedal, „Zacheus, zostúp, dnes prišlo spasenie do tvojho domu.“
120Bratia, to je to skutočné, čo mení myseľ človeka, mení jeho postoj. Niekedy je to tlak, istotne, aby sme sa k tomu dostali. Ale ak sa dnes ráno priblížite ku Kristovi, s tou myšlienkou vo svojom srdci, „Nebudem kritický, ale budem študovať Písmo a uvidím, čo On je.“
121Ak On dnes večer príde na zhromaždenie; predtým, ako prídeš, študuj a vidz, čím On je. Čokoľvek bol, On musí byť tým istým aj dnes. Jeho... Ako som hovoril včera večer, ak ste tam mnohí z vás boli. Či sa Boh identifikuje podľa Svojich vlastností? On vždy musí zostať taký, pretože On je ten istý včera, dnes i naveky. Ľudské srdcia sú... sú také... Skutočný bohabojný muž alebo žena, obchodník, alebo čímkoľvek je, on je vždy... niečo je v jeho srdci, ak je tam nejaká Božia bázeň, tak on chce vedieť niečo o Bohu.
122Viete čo, zatiaľ som vám ešte nepovedal, čo sa stalo so Zacheom. Stal sa členom skupiny Obchodníkov plného Evanjelia v Jerichu. Vidíte, chcem vám o ňom najprv povedať, vidíte. Ó, iste, on by nebol ničím iným, len za plné Evanjelium, samozrejme. To je to, čo Ježiš kázal. Tak sa tam stal ich členom. Aj vy by ste mali byť toho členom. Teraz si všimnite.
123Ale on chcel vidieť niečo skutočné. A keď sám videl niečo skutočné, niečo, čo bolo podľa Písma identifikované, potom bol pripravený. Sú to skutočné veci, ktoré majú hodnotu.
124Ešte jeden malý príbeh pred ukončením. Koľko je tu lovcov? Pozrime sa na vaše ruky, moji bratia, vy, ktorí ste tu. Ó! Vedel som, že nie som sám. Tak rád lovím a som...
125Chodieval som hore do severných lesov, hore do New Hampshire. Je to domov jeleňa bielochvostého. Ako rád ich lovím! A zvykol som tam chodiť každý rok. A mal som tam partnera, menom Bert Call, jedného z najlepších mužov, s ktorými som kedy poľoval.
126A moja povaha mala vždy náklonnosť k lesom. Narodil som sa v lesoch a zdá sa mi, akoby som tam bol vychovaný. A ani moje obrátenie to zo mňa nikdy nevzalo preč. Nie tak veľmi, aby som poľoval; ale aby som bol v lesoch. Myslím, že Boh je tam; a môžem Ho vidieť, ako sa pohybuje. A príroda, ako zomiera a odchádza dolu, sa znovu vracia a oživuje.
127Slnko ráno vychádza, akoby sa narodilo malé dieťa; a potom okolo deviatej hodiny ide do školy; a asi o desiatej je hotové; o dvanástej hodine je vo svojej plnej sile; o druhej hodine popoludní je to asi v mojom veku; a o piatej je osemdesiatročné, zomiera. Ide dolu. Slúžilo Božiemu zámeru. Nie je mŕtve. Na ďalšie ráno sa vráti. To je Boh, ktorý svedčí o tom, že existuje život, smrť, pohreb, vzkriesenie.
128Sledujte stromy vonku. Minulý rok na jeseň sa miazga dostala do koreňa skôr, ako prišiel mráz alebo niečo. Čo sa udialo? Ide dolu do hrobu. Čo sa potom stáva? Na jar sa znovu vracia. Ona nie je mŕtva. Zostupuje a leží v zemi, vracia sa späť. Ak zostane hore, zima ju zabije. Rozumiete? Boh má... Žiadna vlastná inteligencia to tam neposiela. To je Božia vyhradená cesta. Tak to len nasleduje Božiu poskytnutú cestu. Zostupuje, skrýva sa cez zimu, na budúci rok sa znovu vracia s novým životom a svedčí o tom, že existuje život, smrť, pohreb, vzkriesenie. Všade je to to isté; Boh vo Svojom veľkom stvorení, svedčí o Sebe.
129Tento poľovník bol dobrým strelcom, bol to výborný strelec. Ale bol to najkrutejší človek, akého som kedy stretol. Celý čas si zo mňa robil žarty. Strieľal na srny.
130No, nie je to zlé, zastreliť srnu, ak to zákon dovolí. Ale viete, Abrahám zabil teľa a dal ho Bohu, takže to nebolo o pohlaví alebo o veľkosti.
131Ide o postoj. Zastrelil ich len preto, lebo som sa z toho cítil zle. A on povedal, „Ó, ty si mäkkého srdca ako ostatní kazatelia.“ Povedal, „Billy, bol by si dobrým lovcom, ak by si nebol kazateľom.“ A povedal, „Ale ty si príliš mäkký. Tak je to s kazateľmi,“ povedal, „oni sú príliš mäkkého srdca.“
A povedal som, „Bert, si krutý.“
132Každopádne, on mal oči ako jašterica. A on povedal... On to urobil, on... Ako sa ženy snažia maľovať si oči, viete, takto. A on povedal... A on sa takto pozrel a povedal, „Si len mäkkého srdca.“ Tak on strieľal tie malé srny. Jednu zabil, nechal ju ležať a šiel rovno ďalej, aby trafil ďalšiu, len aby som sa cítil zle. A povedal, „Raz sa mi už podarí odviezť ťa preč od toho kázania.“
A povedal som, „Ó, nie, Bert. Nie, nie.“
133Tak jedného dňa na jeseň som išiel do hôr a bolo už neskoro. A sezóna bola asi za týždeň a ja som bol zaneprázdnený. Bol som štátnym dozorcom diviny v Indiane a mal som plné ruky práce, a to hneď v poľovníckej sezóne, tak som si musel vybaviť dovolenku. Išiel som hore trochu neskoro.
134A tie jelene bielochvosté, ak ste na nich niekedy strieľali, vy hovoríte o Houdinym, že je majstrom v zmiznutí, ó, on je pri nich amatér. A tak potom zostali skutočne ukryté. A to boli noci mesačného svitu, snehu bolo na zemi asi dvadsať centimetrov, bolo to dobré na stopovanie.
135A tak, keď Bert prišiel do chatky, v ktorej som bol, povedal, „Počuj, Billy, tento rok mám pre teba jednu dobrú vecičku.“
A povedal som, „Čo také?“
136Siahol do vrecka a vytiahol to. Bola to malá píšťalka. Fúkol do toho a znelo to ako plač malého jeleniatka za svojou matkou. Jelenie mláďa, viete, ako plače za svojou matkou.
137Povedal som, „Bert, ako môžeš byť taký krutý?“ Povedal som, „Myslíš... Ty by si predsa také niečo neurobil!“
On povedal, „Ha-ha, ty kazateľ so zmäkčilým srdcom!“
138A v ten deň sme išli na lov a išli sme hore cez Jeffersonov zárez. A nemuseli ste sa o neho báť, on vedel, ako nájsť cestu späť. Tak sme sa vyšplhali asi do poludnia a potom sme sa oddelili a išli sme jeden jednou cestou a ďalší druhou. A potom, ak by sme dostali nášho jeleňa, zavesili by sme ho a potom by sme vzali kone a išli by sme si ho vziať.
139Tak bolo asi jedenásť hodín, nevideli sme dokonca ani stopu, ani jednu stopu.
140Všetky jelene ležali. Dostali sa do húštiny a pod hromady krovia a veci, kde boli vrcholy stromov, kde boli drevorubači. A oni sa skrývali, držali sa ďalej, pretože sa na nich strieľalo. Boli vystrašené.
141Asi o jedenástej hodine sa Bert zastavil, posadil sa. Bola tam malá planina asi o veľkosti tejto budovy, a to vnútro bolo možno dvakrát väčšie ako tu, malá planina. A on si sadol a natiahol sa, aby si vzal, pomyslel som si, svoju termosku, ktorú mal v kabáte. Obyčajne nosíme termosku a dáme si horúcu čokoládu, pretože má v sebe palivo, viete, a potom si dáme sendvič a potom sa oddelíme. Vychádzali sme vysoko k hranici lesa, tak som si pomyslel, že možno si Bert dá sendvič. A tak si sadol, aby vytiahol túto termosku a... Myslel som, že ju vytiahne. A ja som to len nechal, položil som zbraň ku stromu a načiahol som sa za svojou.
142Ale čo spravil, on vytiahol tú malú píšťalku. Tak, keď mal túto malú píšťalku v ruke, fúkol do nej. A ktokoľvek kedy počul plač malého jeleňa, je to až dojímavé. A keď zapískal, na moje prekvapenie sa rovno oproti nemu postavila veľká jelenica. No, tá jelenica je matka jeleňa, viete. Tak sa tam postavila. Mala veľké hnedé oči, ktorými akoby hľadala, a jej veľké uši trčali dohora. Vidíte, jej dieťa bolo v problémoch.
143A on znovu zapískal a ona sa obzrela. A ona vyšla rovno na tú planinu. No, to je neobvyklé, každý z vás poľovníkov to vie, že to jeleň neurobí. Vyšla tam. Videl som jej veľké oči. Nestála odo mňa viac ako dvadsať metrov. A pomyslel som si, „Ó, Bert, to snáď neurobíš! Zabiť tú úbohú vzácnu matku; ona hľadá svoje dieťa a ty ju takto zavádzaš.“ A táto píšťalka zaznela a ona bola... Ukázala sa.
144A tento poľovník uvoľnil na svojej puške tridsaťšestke poistku, natiahol ju smerom dolu; čo pripravilo zbraň, viete, vyplo to poistku.
145A ona to počula. Poobzerala sa a uvidela toho poľovníka. Jej uši smerovali dolu. Obyčajne by boli hneď preč. A ona by tam v tom čase dňa vôbec nevychádzala. Ale, vidíte, ona bola matkou. Bolo v nej niečo, niečo skutočné, niečo. Nepredvádzala žiadnu šou. Bola matkou. Narodila sa ako matka. A jej dieťa bolo v problémoch, a to bolo jediné, o čo sa zaujímala.
146A on sa na mňa pozrel tými jašteričími očami a uškrnul sa, povedal som, „Bert, nerob to. Nerob to.“ On sa len uškrnul; otočil sa s tou puškou. Ó!
147Bol excelentným strelcom. A vedel som, že keď ten zameriavací krížik namieri na jej verné materinské srdce, to preletí rovno cez ňu. Rozumiete? Nestála od neho ani na dvadsať metrov; veľká stoosemdesiatka brokovnica, hríbová guľka, a to by jej roztrhalo srdce cez obe strany.
148Pomyslel som si, „Ako môžeš byť taký krutý, že vyrazíš srdce tej vzácnej matky, keď ona hľadá svoje dieťa? Ako môžeš spraviť niečo také, Bert?“ Rozmýšľal som sám v sebe. Videl som, ako má ruky pevne stisnuté. Nemohol som sa na to dívať. Jednoducho som to nedokázal. Otočil som sa chrbtom. Nemohol som sa na to pozerať.
149Stála tam táto skutočná verná matka. Ona nebola pokrytec. Ona to nerobila len pre nejakú vedľajšiu šou. Bola matkou. Preto to robila. Smrť pre ňu neznamenala nič. Jej dieťa bolo v ohrození. Myslela viac na svoje dieťa ako na svoj vlastný život. Nech poľovníci strieľajú, čokoľvek to je; jej verné srdce bilo, bolo to jej materstvo. To materstvo v nej volalo. Jej dieťa plakalo. Bolo v nej niečo pulzujúce, niečo skutočné.
150A ako by mohol ten krutý poľovník vyraziť to verné srdce? Jednoducho som na to nemohol hľadieť. Otočil som sa. Pomyslel som si, „Pane Bože, nedovoľ mu to urobiť." Stál som takto, nemohol som počuť... Nechcel som počuť, ako vystrelí puška. Bolo toho jednoducho príliš veľa. Čakal som.
151Žiadna zbraň nevystrelila. Otočil som sa a dívam sa, a on sa takto skláňal. Nedokázal to.
152Otočil sa, pozrel sa na mňa a tie jeho veľké oči boli zmenené. Slzy mu stekali po lícach. Pozrel sa na mňa a pery sa mu zachveli. Hodil pušku do snehu a chytil ma za nohavicu. On povedal, „Billy, mám toho už dosť. Priveď ma ku tomu Ježišovi, o ktorom hovoríš.“
153Tam na tom snehovom záveji som ho priviedol k Pánovi Ježišovi. Prečo? Videl niečo skutočné. (Bol vo všetkých druhoch cirkví.) Videl niečo, čo nebolo predstierané. Videl niečo, čo bolo skutočné.
154Priatelia, mohli by sme mať cirkevné pravidlá, cirkevné nariadenia, teológie a všetko možné, ale existuje skutočný, skutočný Ježiš. Pozrime sa teraz na Neho, ako skláňame svoje hlavy v modlitbe.
155So sklonenými hlavami by som vám chcel položiť otázku; aj vaše srdcia nech sú sklonené. Koľkí ste tu teraz, vy, ktorí len vyznávate kresťanstvo, ktorí to nemáte, a nejaké vyznanie je všetko, čo máte? Ale koľkí z vás by ste chceli byť natoľko Kresťanom, ako bola tá jelenica matkou, s niečím takým skutočným v sebe, čo sa vám zdá viac ako váš vlastný život alebo čokoľvek, čo máte? A vy poviete, možno poviete toto, „Brat Branham, ja patrím do cirkvi. Som obchodník, podnikateľka alebo čokoľvek, žena v domácnosti. Ale skutočne, chcem byť takým typom Kresťana, že by som mohol položiť celý svet nabok, čeliť kritike alebo čomukoľvek; tak veľmi by som bol rád, rád by som bol vo svojom srdci Kresťanom, tak, ako bola tá jelenica matkou.“
156Teraz so sklonenými hlavami a so zavretými očami. Pred Bohom vás prosím, v Kristovom Mene, na konci veku, či by ste len zodvihli ruku? Nemôžem urobiť zavolanie ku oltáru, pretože tu nie je miesto. Ale len povedzte, „Modli sa za mňa, brat Branham, aby som bol takým typom Kresťana, ako tá jelenica bola matkou.“ Nech vás Boh žehná. Všade sú ruky. „Daj mi byť takým Kresťanom.“
157No, Zacheus, keď zdvihneš svoju ruku, to ukazuje, že On ťa našiel. Tak prečo teraz nezlezieš dolu zo stromu? On pôjde dnes s tebou domov na večeru. On zostane s tebou po zvyšok tvojich dní.
158Nebeský Otče, sme vďační za Pána Ježiša, za Jeho Prítomnosť. A sme si vedomí, že je tu niečo, čo spôsobilo, že muži a ženy... Niektorí z nich dokonca roky vyznávali, že sú Kresťanmi. Ale bolo tu niečo prítomné, niečo tu je, čo im spôsobilo; aj keď vyznávali, práve tak, ako Zacheus, ale akonáhle boli dotknutí Kristom, zodvihli ruky na svedectvo, že Niečo v ich vnútri im povedalo, aby to urobili. Nech teraz vedia, že je to Ježiš. On mal dnes ráno prejsť touto cestou a On prešiel.
159Je to hádam nejakých stopäťdesiat rúk, Pane. Modlím sa, aby si každého navštívil a dal im realitu, aký má byť skutočný Kresťan. A bez ohľadu na to, ako veľmi sa nás svet snaží znechutiť a ako veľmi sa nás ostatní snažia odradiť, nech by sme vedeli, že je to boj, aby sme sa tam dostali. Je to úsilie, ktoré musíme vynaložiť. Ale keď je spojené s Niečím, čo je skutočné, reálne, to nás potom mení. Modlím sa, aby si zmenil každé srdce, Pane, a učinil teraz každé jedno, aby bolo v Božskej Prítomnosti. Vlož do ich života Ducha Svätého, aby boli takými Kresťanmi, ako bola tá jelenica matkou. Narodila sa ako matka. A nech by sa oni narodili z Ducha Božieho a stali sa skutočnými nasledovníkmi Ježiša Krista. Nech dnes zídu zo svojich figových stromov. Udeľ to, Pane. Choď domov s každým jedným z nás a zostaň s nami až do času, kedy prídeš, aby si nás vzal do nášho večného Domova. Lebo to prosíme v Ježišovom Mene. Amen.
160Ďakujem vám veľmi pekne. Nech vás Pán žehná. Držal som vás dlho, mal som odísť odtiaľto o desiatej a je za desať jedenásť.
161Dúfam, že Boh vezme týchto pár hrubých slov, nervóznych a rozrušených, a nakŕmi nimi vaše srdcia. Pamätajte, v Kristovi je niečo skutočného. Nech vás Boh žehná. V poriadku.
1 Let us just remain standing for a few moments as we read God's Word. I was thinking of all that introduction, I would really have to live a real life to live that up, wouldn't I? That's man that love you. Over in the Book of Saint Luke, the 19th chapter, I want to read just a portion of the Scripture, the first five verses.
And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which had... was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and he could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste,... come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
And when they saw it,... all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be the guest of a man which was a sinner.
And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Let us pray.
2 Our Heavenly Father, we are grateful to Thee, this morning, because that You are still seeking to save the sons of Abraham, that which is lost. We pray, Heavenly Father, that You will receive our humble prayer and bless our gathering together here today. And may it not be in vain, but may the great Holy Spirit teach us the way of Life, knowing this, that we must stand in His Presence someday, to give an account of what we've done with this life. Bless us together now as we further wait on Thee. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
May be seated.
3 I am sure happy to have good friends, people who believe, and believe the efforts that you're trying to put forth. If I had any other objective, just merely to be different, why, I would be a--a real sinner. But my objective is to magnify Jesus Christ.
4And something that's in a man, when you have a Message from God, you cannot stop yourself. There is something in you, pulsating. It goes on, anyhow. You can't slow it up, stop it, or start it. It stops and starts and slows up you. See? It's the One that has control.
5Thanks to--to these fine brethren for their testimony of our Lord Jesus. They wasn't speaking of me, of course not. They were speaking of Him.
6 Like I was reading a little article, here not long ago, about Mr. Moody. Said, the Chicago was going to... newspaper was going to write an editorial on him. And they sent someone out, to find out why people gathered to hear Mr. Moody. The editorial; Mr. Moody is like myself, he didn't have enough education to read the--the editorial, so his manager had to read it. Mr. Moody was a shoe cobbler, formerly, and he was called of God for a message of the--the hour. And so the manager was reading the editorial, and it said, "Why would anybody go to hear Dwight Moody?" Said, "The first place, he's the ugliest man I ever seen." And said, "He is bald-headed, and long whiskers, and so forth." And said, "And he--he whines when he talks. His grammar is the worst I ever heard." Uh-huh. And, oh, he was just carrying on like that.
7Said, "Mr. Moody just shrugged his shoulders. He said, 'Certainly not. They come to see Christ.'"
8So, that's, I think that's just the answer. It's Christ that we want to see. "If I be lifted up, I'll draw all man unto Me."
9 I was thinking, after visiting here in the--the city, and finding that the people, how nice they've been, what a nice meeting we're having here at this Denham Springs High School, or school auditorium. I was thinking, the people here are something like the coffee. They're... My! It's not quantity, but it's quality; a whole lot in one of them cups.
10I remember my first time landing at the airport out here. The brothers coming to get me, sitting here. And a little French girl there; I asked for a hamburger and a cup of coffee.
11I never drank it till I was about thirty-eight years old; I ought to have knowed better. But then Brother Brown, I guess he is here this morning, somewhere. He is sitting right here. He liked it so well, and he got me... I'd have a ministerial breakfast at seven o'clock, one at eight o'clock, and one at nine o'clock; you couldn't eat all that, so they would pour coffee. And I got to sipping it, and, first thing, I got to drinking.
12So I asked this girl, I told her, "I want a hamburger and a cup of coffee." When they brought the little cup out, I thought, "My, my, they're sure tight on their coffee around here." First drink, first swallow I took, oh, my, I had to fight for breath. See?
13That little lady said, "You must be a Yankee." She said, "I'll fix you a Yankee cup."
14 So that's the way I find the people, maybe not the greatest crowds I've ever spoke to, but real genuine quality. I am grateful for that, a listening audience, somebody who sits and pays attention on what you're saying. I...
15That's what I want you to do. Examine what a man says, by the Word of God. And, if It isn't right, then it isn't right. That's all. If it is the Word of God, then God has got to testify of His Word, 'cause He promised to. So that's the way we like to examine these things, to--to find out.
16 Now I've understood, this morning, that this was to be a businessmen's breakfast, and the Full Gospel Business Men, which I'm a member of their chapter. And I think this... They said some of them was here. Some of them didn't get out. Maybe, they're businessmen, they got their business they have to attend to. I'm going to give them excuse, anyhow, so--so that's all right. He said many of their people were here, anyhow, so that's very fine.
17Now just a little joke. I've told it, but maybe... It's not a place to joke, of course, but it's just a little sense of humor. When you talk, like we've been, a while ago, well, maybe get people back on some sense of humor.
18 I remember one time, a friend and I were in school together. His name was Wilmer Snyder. His brother is a Baptist minister, and he--he writes in this Upper Room, a--a column in the Upper Room. We were schoolboys together. And I studied the ministry, and he--he become an insurance agent. And so he come to my house, one day, to visit me. And now there may be some insurance agents here. And I'm not saying nothing about insurance now. I hope, don't think wrong with this, but you catch the little hang of what I... way I said it. So my brother also is--has the Prudential, and he sells Prudential insurance.
19 So one time I had a little something done by an insurance company that I'm... I guess, not knowing very much, I... they read the policy to me wrong, and it was misrepresented to me, and I just never did take it out. I...
20So, one day, Wilmer came up to see me, and he said, he said, "How you getting along, Billy?"
I said, "Fine."
Said, "Hear you been out in the meetings!"
I said, "Yes, I'm out in meetings."
21I was telling him about a fellow said to me. He said, "Say, you're a preacher. What are you doing, hanging around these businessmen?"
I said, "I am a businessman."
And they said, "Ah, what business you in?"
I said, "Assurance business."
22And, see, he didn't get it. I never said, "Insurance." I said, "Assurance." See?
And so I said, "Assurance business."
23He said, "Oh," said, "I see." He said, "What--what insurance do you sell?"
24I said, "I sell Eternal Life assurance." And I'm still selling it. So I'd be interest-... any of you are interested, I'd like to talk the policy with you, right after the meeting, if it's all right.
25And so he said, he said, "The Eternal Life?" Said, "I don't believe I ever heard of the company."
26I said, "Oh, you never heard?" I said, "It's well known." And he said... I said, "It's an old establishment."
And he said, he said, "Where is the headquarters?"
I said, "In Glory."
27 Wilmer said to me, he said, "Billy, I thought I'd come up, sell you some insurance." Said, "I hear that you don't have any insurance."
And I said, "Oh, yes. I--I have assurance."
28And he said, "Oh, I'm sorry." He said, "I guess, your brother, you have it with him."
I said, "No, not exactly with him."
29My wife looked at me, as if to say, "Well, you must be a telling a story." She knowed I didn't have any insurance. But she didn't get it either. I said, "Assurance," not "insurance."
He said, "What insurance do you have, Billy?"
30I said:
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory Divine.
I'm an heir of salvation, purchased of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His Blood.
31He said, "Billy, that's very nice. That's very nice." Said, "I nothing against That, but," said, "That won't put you up here in this graveyard when you're gone."
32I said, "It'll get me out. I'm not worried about getting in."
33I'm not bothered about getting in; it's, getting out. And so--so This is the only thing I know that'll get you out. So if you're interested in getting out, let us talk to you about It.
34 Looking upon the audience, this morning, I won't keep you but just a little bit. And I had a text I was going to preach from, so then I thought, well, I better not do that. I was just going to have a little drama of something, a character in the Bible.
35I'm thinking here on a serious matters. That, while we're sitting here as Christians, I suppose most of us, did you know this may be the last time that we'll ever eat breakfast together? Did you ever think of that?
36Do you realize, what little words that I have to say here, God is going to make me answer for it up there at the Day of Judgment? See? And I have souls here, no matter if it's a small group, but yet I have. It's the words that I say, well, I'll have to answer for them up There.
37So we may never eat another breakfast together, but I hope we eat a Supper together, someday. That's the last supper, up There with Him, it'll be the first one There.
38And then as we sit here this morning, and I look upon these man here, some of them, great ministers who has studied. And me, here, just a--a bushman come out, no education, sitting here with man that's qualified to preach, and Doctors of Divinity. I feel very little to stand and talk before man like that. But, yet, I--I got to express what I feel. And their great gratitude and kindness to let me stand and do this. I appreciate it, brothers, cooperating in the meeting, and getting together. I'm here to help you. I'm going to do everything I can for each one of you, by the grace of God.
39 And then when it's all over, someday, if I don't get to eat breakfast with you again, when it's all over, we're sitting across the table from one another, that's the time I'm looking for. No doubt but little tears will run down our cheeks, and look across the table and get each other by the hand. It'll mean something then. Let's work while it's time to work, while the sun is up. It'll be down after a while; it's getting very low. Then, to think that, while we're sitting there, holding each other's hands, and weeping a little, then the great King will come out, in all of His great robes, come down along the line, wipe all tears away from our eyes, and say, "It's well done, my good and faithful servants, enter into the joys of the Lord, that's been prepared for you since the foundation of the world." While the sun is up, and it's light enough to labor, let us labor.
40 Now this little text here, it may seem kind of ridiculous, but we're going to talk on this subject: He Was To Pass This Way.
41It must have been a--an awful night on the little fellow. He couldn't sleep at all, and he just rolled and tossed, all night long. It was breaking day.
42And we all know what those restless nights mean, you can't sleep. You got something on your mind, or something has got your nerves all upset.
43And this little fellow was a businessman, maybe in a city of Jericho, which was something like you businessmen and women here, and he--he no doubt had a growing business. He stood in good with the... all the clubs, and so forth, and was a member of the church, the Sanhedrin council, and had a fine priest, and he believed this priest.
44 And the strange thing about this case, though, is his wife. We'll call her Rebekah. "She had strayed off on the wrong side," he thought, and so did the priest. She was following a Man that was supposed to be a prophet of Nazareth, a Man named Jesus. The people, the poorer class of people, believed Him to be a prophet, or a Messiah that was promised, but it didn't meet just the qualifications of the Sanhedrin.
45Strange, sometimes God does things off of the color that we think It ought to be in. "This Fellow, you see, was born," to their opinion, "a illegitimate birth. His mother gave birth to Him before her and her husband was married."
46Another thing, He had no schooling. They didn't have no record He ever going to school. He was not a priest, neither was He a rabbi. He just had claims, like, of His Own.
47As Brother Don so greatly stated this morning, "It was a turning the corner." They didn't recognize it. It usually happens that way. It come to that corner time.
48But somehow, another, his wife had been persuaded that He was that Prophet that was to come, and she had followed Him, believed Him.
49And she had tried to tell her husband. But he was so carried away in his business, and with the... He belonged to church. "Isn't that good enough?"
50 Something like the rich young ruler, you know. He had a business, also. But he realized that he was a--a member of the church, but he didn't have Eternal Life. And he asked... He seen something in Jesus that other man didn't have. And he said, come to Him and said, "I..." He wanted to know if he... what he could do to have Eternal Life. And Jesus told him to keep the commandments. He said, "I've done this since I was a youth." See, it showed he was a--a believer, but he knew that Jesus had something that those priests and rabbis didn't have.
51And when a man ever comes in contact with Jesus Christ, He is different from man. You're never the same when you once see Him, if there's any spark of God about you.
52 So Rebekah had found this Jesus. And He--He was, to her, exactly the fulfilling of the promise that the Jews had been looking for, for their day.
53So the news had got around that He was going to have a breakfast, or some kind of a dinner or something, down in Jericho, so that she had got busy to praying about her businessman husband.
54We need more Rebekahs, everywhere, you see. See, prayer changes things. If you lay your husband, or your unsaved one, before God, and then pray, God will make a way somewhere, 'cause He promised to.
55So that's what Rebekah, being a staunch believer and a follower of the Lord Jesus, and a very fine sweet person she must have been, and she had... interested in her household.
56And I think that that reflects again, that if--if a person ever meets Jesus and finds Him really in your heart, you're interested not only in your own household, but the household of God, everywhere. You're interested, that they know Him. "And to know Him is Life." "Know Him," see, not know how to read the Word, or so. But, "Know Him, is Life."
57 So she had prayed hard. And the day drew close to when Jesus was supposed to enter the city. And no doubt but, the day before, she might have seen if his attitude had changed any. So she said, maybe, "Zacchaeus, are--are you going to that breakfast in the morning?"
58"Why, certainly not. Why, that bunch of people! And you expect me... I've got the best restaurant in town, and they hold it over at Lavinski's." I hope there is not a Lavinski here. But, anyhow, "Over at the other place, you see. And, why, I got the best place in town, and they picked that place down there. Why, they oughtn't. They ought to come to my place, to hold this, you see." He wasn't going.
59Then she got to praying, really desperately. So then that night, the little fellow couldn't rest at all.
60You know, there is something about it, if you go to really desperately praying about something, God works on both ends of the line, see. He--He--He answers.
61 So the little fellow, he must have got to thinking that night, "Wonder if I should go down and--and--and hear this Man? Now, Rebekah says that He is a prophet. Now, we know we haven't had any prophets for hundreds of years. And I asked the priest about it, he said, 'Nothing but just a nonsense! If there'd be a Prophet raise up, wouldn't he come through the church? That's the way he'd have to come. He'd come to us Pharisees, or Sadducees, or our group, or he wouldn't be a Prophet.'" You know, that attitude still holds. So they think It has to come that way, or It isn't right. So they said, no doubt, but, in this great time that... She believed It, anyhow.
62And he had discussed it with the priest. The priest said, "Now looky here, them days of prophets have been many, many years ago. We've got the law. We've got it all wrote out. The situation is under control, and we've got it in our hands, and we know about these things."
63But then, course, Zacchaeus, not looking into It, just absolutely just presuming, taking it for granted. The word presume is "to venture without authority." Why, he--he thought that that was all right; as long as he belonged to the church, that's all he had to do.
64But then as night begin to come on, there come a sudden desire in his heart. "Maybe if this person is in town, He may never be here again. I should go and investigate the--the situation, see for myself."
65Now that's a good idea. Look it over yourself. Don't go to criticize. Take the Word, and examine the Word by it.
66So she, Rebekah, had tried, as a woman could, to explain that what the prophets had said, and what Moses had said, this Person would be, and when He come. So she must have thought, tried to explain it to him, but yet the priest had much more influence over him than what Rebekah, his wife, did.
67 Then when morning begin to dawn, why, the little fellow was... Rebekah, I can imagine her, seeing her punch him, saying, "Zacchaeus, you mean to say you don't want to go down?"
"No, I don't want nothing to do with It."
68You know, don't be, Reb-... Don't be disgusted, Rebekah. Sometime that's a good sign. See, just--just when he gets so discouraged, you talk about It, everything else. That's a pretty good sign, sometime.
69So, after a while, Rebekah act like she was asleep. Only, she was praying. And she finds Zacchaeus slips out of bed, real easy, you know, and goes over and grooms hisself all up, and combs his hair just right, and puts on his best garment. And she peeped over, out of one eye, to see what he was doing. She knew right then God had answered prayer. She knew something was going to take place. So Zacchaeus tiptoes out, not letting Rebekah know where he is a going, you know. And he slips out, and gets outside and looks back.
70 She raises up the curtain, looks out, to see him go out. She says, "Thank You, Lord. It's all all right now." See?
71Like Elijah did, when he said, "I see that, the cloud the size of a man's hand." Just the first little evidence, something is fixing to happen.
72So he goes out, and down the streets. He said, "Now I understand He is going to enter in by the south gate, so I better go over there and stand." And said, "And I'll get me a place, and I'll stand right there. And when He comes in, I'll see how much Prophet that fellow is. And I'm going to walk right out and put my finger under His nose, and I'm going to give Him a piece of my mind, and when He comes. And I'm going to tell Him that all of His nonsense has caused my wife... and these prayer meetings and things. I'm getting sick and tired of it. I'm going to. I'm going to say something about this, see, and I'll tell Him. And then I know rabbi will certainly pat me on the back, and say, 'Zacchaeus, you're a good member of this church here. You're sure a fine fellow.'" So he said, "I'll get down there early," so he got down.
73 When he got about a block, or two, of the gate, come to find out, the place was jammed. They was hanging on the walls and everywhere. Somehow or another, even though He was talked about, there was somebody still liked to hear Him. Somebody would listen.
74So he said, "Now how am I going to ever see Him come in the gate?" You remember, the Bible said he was small of stature. And he said, "I'm too little." So he pushed around, "Here, give me a little room!" You can tell he isn't a Christian yet, you see, acting like that. Christians don't have that attitude, see. "Stand back! You know who I am? I am Zacchaeus. I own the restaurant up here. Get, stand out of my way!" See? Now, that ain't a Christian. Everybody knowed he wasn't. Maybe some of them knew that Rebekah was praying.
"Well," they said, "well, you stand back."
75 And so he knowed he'd never get to see Him, in all that crowd, so he wouldn't be able to express his thoughts to Him. So he thought, "Well, now, what'll I do? Maybe I'll go back home and just forget the whole matter."
76But, you know, there is something about it, that when you make up your mind that you want to see Him, there is nothing going to stop you from seeing Him. I don't care what it is, you're--you're persistent, and like the little Greek woman was persistent to get to Jesus. And there is something about it, that whenever you make up your mind that you're going to see Him, there isn't nothing going to stop you. But, remember, when you make up your mind, then the devil is going to do everything he can to stop you. He is determined that you're not going to understand It, you're not going to see It. He'll throw every black sheet across, he can, to keep you from seeing It.
77 So there was his first barricade, right there. So then he started off, said, "Well, I guess..."
78And looked over there, and there stood some of his competitors, and, they, he knew then that some of the folks from the church. So there he had made so much fun of this Jesus of Nazareth, of being a prophet, then here stood some of his members looking at him, right down there in the same group. He just couldn't be hid. He was identified.
79Now, Zacchaeus, you're already identified, so just... you know, if there happened to be one here. You're already mixed up in the group now, so they already know who, we're here, so we just might as well get acquainted, know one another.
80 So he said, "Well, this is odd here." And he looked around, seen one standing here. "And you know, after all, they're all about like you, they--they want to find out something."
81A man knows that he come from somewhere, from the beyond; and when he leaves, he goes back somewhere. And he is always trying to find something to find out where he come from and where is he going. There is only One has that answer, that's God. Every man wants to look over that curtain. And when you see anything that... that can show you what's over the curtain, where you been, and who you are, and where you're going. There is only one Book, of all the literature that's wrote, of the millions of tons, This is the Book that tells you who you are, where you come from, and where you are going. There is no other book that'll do it; that Bible! "And the Word is God," the Bible said.
82 Now, we find that this fellow, with all around, he was embarrassed to find out he was in the midst of a people that was screaming, and crying, and hollering, and acting like they were crazy. So, but he... There he was sitting, identified with them, so he--he just had to stay, that's all there was to it. Now he said, "Well, if I have come this far, I might as well go on till I really find Him out."
83Now, Zacchaeus, that's a good idea. You done got here at the breakfast, so now let's just go on. See, we're all this far.
84So now we find out, that, as they went along, he said, "Now if I stay here, I--I cannot see Him, because I'm too small. So, you know, I believe I'll get out of this crowd, and run down on the corner where I'll be standing by myself, get me a place right on the--the edge of the pavement. And when He comes by, then I'll walk right out in the street and tell Him what I think of Him. I'll give Him a piece of my mind."
85 So he took off, away from the crowd, and went down. He thought, "Now which a way will He go?" Well, he went down to "Hallelujah Avenue." That's usually the way He travels, you see. And went down to "Amen Corner," where it turns there, to go down to the--to the eating place.
86That's where you go, you know, "Hallelujah Avenue" and "Amen Corner," and then you're ready to eat the Word. See? See?
87So he went down to this corner, and stood there on the corner, said, "Now there is nobody here. And when I..." I know this sounds ridiculous, but I just... Hold on a minute. So then, first thing you know, he got down to this corner, and he said, "There is nobody here, so I'll stand here. When He comes by, I'll find out how much Prophet He is. I'll walk right out in the street, and I'll tell Him something."
88 So he was standing there, and he happened to get to thinking, "Now just a minute. You know, if I was too small down there, that crowd will probably go wherever He is going. And I--I don't want nobody hollering when I talk to Him. I want to tell Him so He will hear me. And them hollering 'Amen,' and 'Hallelujah,' and 'Glory to God,' 'Hosanna to the--to the Prophet that comes in the Name of the Lord.' Oh, they'll never hear me, all that noisy bunch. So there is only one thing... Then they'll crowd all around me, and then I--I--I can't even see Him at all."
89So he happened to look, standing on the corner, and there was an old familiar sycamore tree. That's a good Indiana tree. So standing on the corner. He thought, "Well, if I could get up there on that limb and sit down, then I would be up there, then I could really tell Him when He comes by."
90 So he come, run over. And he was too small; he couldn't get up to the limb. So he said, "Well, now there is only one thing I can do," and there sit the--the city garbage cans, sitting on the corner. So he thought, "Well, now, if I go over and get that garbage can, and pick it up and bring it over here, then I can get the rest of the way up the tree from that. That'll help me."
91So he goes over. And the garbage disposal hadn't come by, yet, that morning, and it was pretty heavy. So he was small and he couldn't pick it up. The only one way to do it, that's wrap his arms around it. And he had on his best garment. So, you know, there is always hindrances when you're trying to see Jesus. But that didn't make any difference, whether it was good garment or not, he wanted to see Jesus, anyhow. So he throwed his arm around the garbage can, so he could get it over there. So he scooted it over, and there he had garbage all over him. Well, didn't make any difference; he--he wanted to see Him, anyhow.
92So while he was pushing the can over, with his arms around it, he heard somebody laughing. And he looked around, and if it wasn't Lavinski standing there, his competitor, saying, "Well, what do you know! Zacchaeus has begun, got him a new job from his restaurant. He is working for the garbage disposal."
93You know, the devil just wants to see what he can do to throw everything in your way, that he can, to keep you from seeing Jesus. He'll tell you, "They're a bunch of holy-rollers." They'll tell you, "They're a bunch of idiots." He'll say, "They're, there is nothing to them. They're just the poor trash of the city," anything he can do. But if you're determined to see Him, God will make a way for you to see Him. Just keep that in your mind. Something will take place, if that hunger begins to break into your heart, something. You'll go see Him, anyhow.
94So didn't make any difference. Little old face turned red, and he was embarrassed. But he just pushed the can on over, anyhow, and got a hold of it, and shinnied up the tree. That's all right, ain't it, shinnied? You Southerners know what shinnied is, that's, climbed up the tree, got up the tree. And he got up there, and he found where two limbs come together and met in the trunk of the tree, and there he sit down.
95Now, that's a good place to sit, where two ways meets; yours and God's; your idea, and His. That's a good time to sit down and think it over. Your own thoughts about Him; and what His Word says He is. What you think He is; and what the Word says He is. What the Message of the hour is, to your thinking; and what the Message of the hour is, to His Word. That's the difference. Sit there and think it over a little while.
96 No doubt, Satan got on one of his shoulders. He said, "You know what? You are a pretty-looking sight, sitting up here picking splinters out of your hands. And with your best garment on, and it all garbage all over it. And now your name will be published all through the city, the jokes will be all on you, because look what a rashel thing you have done, sitting here."
97See, Satan, when you make a start, then he'll try to tell you, "You've made an error."
98There he sat, in that condition! He said, "Well, Rebekah said He was a Prophet. I'll give Him a trial. I'll see if He is a Prophet." Now he said, "When He comes by here, I'll just disguise myself, and He'll never know I'm up here. First, I'll get a look at Him. And then when I see Him, then I'm going to jump out of this tree, and then I'll go down there and tell Him." Now said, "Now, if He--if He is a Prophet, though, as Rebekah said that He was, He might know I was up in this tree, if that's true. So I'll tell you, I'll fix Him up," so he pulled all the leaves around him and disguised himself, all over, so he couldn't be seen; and left one leaf, to look out, you know, to see Him as He turned the corner.
99 And then sitting there, thinking it all over. After a while, he heard a noise coming around the corner.
100It's strange, wherever He is at, there is always a lot of noise. You know, noise is a sign of life. See? Remember the high priest, when he dressed and went into the Holiest of holies, on the end of his garment he had a pomegranate and a bell, and that noise in the Holiest of holies was the only way the waiters knew that he was alive or not. It made a noise. And where there ain't no noise, then, my, he might be dead. Well, I think that's what's a whole lot the matter with our churches, today, there is not enough noise about it, not enough enthusiasm, not enough something. And so, where Jesus is, there is always a noise.
101One time, when He come into Jerusalem, they were screaming and hollering, and, "Hosanna to the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord!"
102And some of those priests standing there, said, "Why, make them keep still, hold their peace."
103He said, "If they hold their peace, the rocks will cry out." Something has to move when He is around. Notice. And, then, those who believed Him.
104 And then he heard this noise a coming around the corner, and screaming and going on. So he thought, "Well, He must be approaching." So he pulled up his leaf, and raised up to look over. "Now I've got Him all now. We'll find out how much Prophet He is." So when he was sitting there, with his leaf up, looking; and--and up in this tree, way up above their heads, where they would pass beneath the tree.
105So when he noticed the first man coming around the corner, must have been the apostle, Peter, 'cause he was a big, strong, burly sort of a man. I can see him pushing the crowds back, saying, "Friends, I'm sorry. Our Master had a great service last night, much virtue has gone from Him. You all will understand. Would you just stand aside so Master can pass by? Please do that." And here come Matthew, Mark, and them, along, saying, "Now we--we don't want to be rude; we're--we're not here for that purpose. But our Master is awfully tired, and He hasn't had His breakfast, so we're--we're... We want you to stand aside, if you will."
106 There was a--a man standing there, that maybe Zacchaeus took a look at.
107A few days before that, at one of the meetings at a business place, a--a doctor had been there, and told this little fellow that had a little girl that was real sick of a fever, and she wasn't going to live if some... He had done all he could do for her.
108And Zacchaeus, when he raised his leaf up, and looked, he seen this man, with this baby wrapped in this blanket, coming around the corner. He thought, "What a rashel thing that that father would do, trying to follow that--that so-called Prophet! Here he come around the corner with this baby, and it with a fever, and standing out in this wind."
109But, you know, just as Zacchaeus, when you really believe, there is nothing going to hinder you, you.
110And she wanted to get that baby to Him. And every time they would make a--a corner, or a change, he would be pushed back. But, he--he was persistent, he was going on. Finally, at this corner, the little mother run out with the baby in her arms, and she must have fell down, and she said, "Lord, be merciful to my child." And there stood the father of the baby, crying, too, which was a friend to Zacchaeus.
He said, "What's changed his attitude?"
111So he couldn't make out Who the Man was, yet, He was down in the crowd. All at once, he sees a hand stretch out and touch, over the top of this little blanket. And the little girl was unwrapped, went skipping down the street.
"Now there has got to be something to that," Zacchaeus said.
112 Finally, He come in view. And one look at Him, Zacchaeus had done changed his opinion. Just once glimpse of Him! There He was. He didn't look like man. There was something different about Him. Meek, gentle, kind; and yet, looked like, if He would speak, the world would come to an end. He was a different character from what he had thought. His attitude begin to... All of his starch begin to wash out, when he seen Him. Comes walking on down the street. He thought; over this little leaf, looking over, see what was taking place. And as He walked, He got right under to where he was.
113And he said, "You know, that Man could be a Prophet. Maybe Rebekah was right. She might a knowed more about the Scriptures than I did." So He walks right on down, with His head down, walking along, humble, gentle, as He always did. And the disciples keeping the people out of His way.
114And as He got right under the tree, He stopped. Zacchaeus, looking over the leaf, something like that. He looked up in the tree, said, "Zacchaeus, come on down."
115Not only did He know he was--he was up in the tree, but He knowed his name was Zacchaeus. He had a lot less trouble of getting down out of the tree, than he did getting up. He knowed him; the miracle was done on him. See?
116 He said, "Lord, I've been wrong. I'm ready to confess I'm wrong. If I have took anything, that was wrong, I--I'll pay it back. I'll give half my goods to the poor."
Jesus said, "Today, salvation has come to your house."
117What changed him? What was the change, brother and sister? Think just for a moment. The change was, he had seen Something real.
118He had heard all the promises had been made, the priest talking about what was, great prophet Moses, great this, that, or the other, promising a great something in the future, but ignoring what's being done now. That's the way of man.
119He saw something genuine, something that he could see, himself. The miracle had happened to him. He was that Prophet. Because, He didn't know him, neither would He ever seen him up in the tree. But when He got right under the tree, He stopped and looked up, and said, "Zacchaeus, come down. Today, salvation has come to your house."
120 Brethren, it's the real thing that changes man's mind, changes their attitude. Sometime it's a press, surely, to get to It. But if you'll approach Christ, this morning, with--with the--the thought in your heart, that, "I will not be critical, but I'll study the Scripture and see what He was."
121If He come to the meeting, tonight; before you come, study and see what He was. Whatever He was, He has to be the same today. His... As I spoke last night, if many of you were there, see. Does God identify Himself by His characteristic? He always must remain that way, because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Men's hearts are--are so... A--a real God-fearing man or woman, businessman, or whatever it is, he is always... there is something in his heart, if there is any God-fear about him, to know something about God.
122 Say, I never told you what happened to Zacchaeus. He become a member of the Full Gospel Business Men's chapter, at Jericho. See, I want to tell you about him, first, you see. Oh, sure, he wouldn't be nothing else but full Gospel, of course not. That's all Jesus preached. So he become a member there. And you ought to be a member of the same. Now notice.
123But he wanted to see something real. And when he saw something real, himself, that was Scripturally identified, then he was ready. It's the real things that mounts.
124 Just a little story before closing. How many in here is hunters, let's see your hands, my brethren in here? Oh, my! I--I knowed I wasn't alone. So I love to hunt, and I'm...
125I used to go up in the north woods, up in New Hampshire. It's the home of the white-tail deer. How I love to hunt them! And I used to go up every year. And I had a partner up there, named Bert Call, one of the finest man I ever hunted with.
126And my nature has always been to the woods. I was born in the woods, and I just seemed like was raised up there. And even my conversion never took it out of me. Not so much to get the game; but just to be in the woods. I think God is there; to see Him, how He moves. And the nature, how it dies and goes down, comes back again, and resurrection.
127The sun comes up of a morning, a little baby borned; and then about nine o'clock, it goes to school; and about ten o'clock it's finished; at twelve o'clock it's in its strength; at two o'clock in the afternoon it's getting along about my age; and at five o'clock it's eighty years old, it's dying. It goes down. It served God's purpose. It ain't dead. It'll come back the next morning. It's God testifying there is a life, death, burial, resurrection.
128Watch them trees out there. Last fall, the sap went down into the root before any frost or anything else come. What was it doing? Going down into the grave. What happens then? It comes back again in the spring. It isn't dead. It goes down and lays in the ground, comes back. If it stays up, then the winter will kill it. See? God has... No intelligence of its own sends it down there. It's God's provided way. So it just follows God's provided way. Goes down, hides through the winter, comes back again with new life next year, testifying there is a life, death, burial, resurrection. Everywhere, it's the same thing; God, in His great creation, testifying of Himself.
129 This hunter, he was a fine shot, a good shot. But he was the most cruelest man I ever met. He--he would make fun of me all the time. He shot fawns.
130Now, not it's wrong to shoot a fawn if the law says so. But, you know, Abraham killed a calf and fed it to God, so it wasn't the--the sex, or the--the size.
131It's the attitude. He would shoot them just because it made me feel bad. And he would say, "Oh, you are chicken-hearted, like the other of them priests." Said, "Billy, you would be a good hunter if it wasn't you was a preacher." And said, "But you're too chicken-hearted. That's the way with them preachers," said, "they're--they're too chicken-hearted."
And I said, "Bert, you are cruel."
132He had eyes like a lizard, anyhow. And he said... He did, he... Like the women try to paint their eyes, you know, up like that. And he said... And he looked over like that, and he said, "You're just chicken-hearted." So he would shoot those little fawns. And kill one, let it lay, and go right on get another one, just to make me feel bad. And he said, "I'll get you away from that preaching, some of these days."
And I said, "Oh, no, Bert. No, no."
133 So one day I went up there, one fall, and it was late. And the season had been in about a week, and I was busy. I was State Game Warden of Indiana, and I--I had been busy, and right in hunting season, so I had to get my vacation. I went up a little late.
134And those white-tail deer, if they're ever shot at, you talk about Houdini being an escape artist, my, he is an amateur to them. And so then they really stay hid. And it had been moonlight nights, snow on the ground about six inches, good trailing work.
135And so Bert, when he come down to the cabin where I was at, he said, "Say, Billy, I got a good one this year for you."
And I said, "What?"
136Reached down in his pocket and pulled it out. He had a little whistle. He would blow it, and it sounded just like a little fawn crying for its mother. Little baby deer, you know, crying for its mother.
137I said, "Bert, how cruel can you be?" I said, "Do you mean... You wouldn't do a thing like that!"
He said, "Ha-ha, you chicken-hearted preacher!"
138 And we went on hunting, that day, and we went up over the Jefferson Notch. And you didn't have to worry about him, he knowed how to find his way back. So we climbed up till about noon, and then we'd separate and go one one way, and one the other. And then if we got our deer, we would hang him up, and--and then we'd get our horses and go get him.
139So we got about eleven o'clock, we hadn't even seen a track, not one track.
140All the deer were laying down. They'd get in the brush, and under the brush piles and things, where the tops of the trees, where the loggers had been. And they would, they was hiding, stay away, 'cause they had been shot at. They were scared.
141 About eleven o'clock, Bert stopped, sat down. There was a little opening about, oh, the size of this building, and the--the inside maybe twice this size, a little opening there. And he sat down, and he reached back to get, I thought, his--his thermos that he had in his coat. We usually carry a thermos and have some hot chocolate, and, 'cause it's got fuel to it, you know, and--and then have a sandwich, and then we separate. We was getting up high towards timber line, so I thought maybe that Bert was going to have his sandwich. So he sat down to pull out this thermos and to... I thought he was going to pull it out. And I just let, set my gun down against a tree, and started after mine.
142But, what he was, he was getting that little old whistle out. So when he got this little whistle out, he blew it. And anyone ever heard a little old baby fawn cry, it's kind of pitiful, anyhow. And when he blew that whistle, to my surprise, right across from him, a great big mother doe stood up. Now the... A doe is the mother deer, you know. So, she stood up. There was her big brown eyes, apiece, leading, them big ears pointed right up like that. See, her baby was in trouble.
143 And he blew it again, and she looked around. And she walked right out into that opening. Now that's unusual, any of you hunters know that, for a deer to do that. She walked out there. I could see her big eyes. She wasn't standing over twenty yards from me. And I thought, "Oh, Bert, you can't do that, and kill that poor precious mother; her looking for her baby, and you deceiving her like that." And this whistle had blowed, and she was... She walked out there.
144And the hunter raised the lever on his thirty-o-six rifle, dropped it down; that cocked the gun, you know, with the safety off.
145And she heard that. And she looked around, and she saw the hunter. Her ears peeked right down. Usually they had been gone. And she wouldn't have walked out there, in the first place, at that time of day. But, you see, she was a mother. There was something in her, she, something genuine, something. She wasn't putting on no show. She was a mother. She was borned a mother. And her baby was in trouble, and that was to her interest.
146 And he looked up at me, with those lizard-looking eyes, and grinned, I said, "Bert, don't do it. Don't do it." He just grinned; turned around with that rifle. Oh, my!
147He was a dead shot. And I knowed when that scope hair come across her loyal motherly heart, he would blow it plumb through her. See? She wasn't standing twenty yards; big hundred and eighty grain--grain, hundred and eighty grain, mushroom bullet, and there he would just blowed her heart plumb through both sides.
148I thought, "How can you be so cruel, as to blow that precious mother's heart out of her, and her seeking her baby? How can you do that, Bert?" I was thinking to myself. I seen his arms steady down. I couldn't look at it. I just couldn't do it. I turned my back. I--I couldn't see that.
149That genuine loyal mother standing there. She wasn't a hypocrite. She wasn't just putting that on, for a side show. She was a mother. That's why she was doing it. Death didn't mean nothing to her. Her baby was in trouble. She thought more of her baby than she did of her own life. Let the hunters shoot whatever it was; her loyal heart was beating, her motherhood. The motherhood in her was calling. Her baby was crying. There was something inside of her, pulsating, was real.
150And how could that cruel hunter blow that loyal heart out? I just couldn't see it. I turned my head. I thought, "Lord God, don't let him do it." I was standing like this, I couldn't hear... I didn't want to hear the gun fire. It was just too much. I waited.
151The gun never fired. And I turned around and looked, and it was going like this. He couldn't do it.
152He turned around and looked at me, and those big eyes had changed. Tears was running down his cheeks. He looked at me, and his lips quivering. He throwed the gun on the snowbank, and grabbed me by the trouser leg. He said, "Billy, I've had enough of it. Lead me to that Jesus you're talking about."
153There on that snowdrift, I led him to the Lord Jesus. Why? He saw something real. (He had been in all kinds of churches.) He seen something that wasn't put on. He seen something that was genuine.
154 Friends, we might have church rules and church regulations, and theologies and everything else, but there is a real genuine Jesus. Let's look to Him just now as we bow our heads in prayer.
155With your heads bowed, I'd like to ask you a question; your hearts bowed, too. How many in here now, you who profess Christianity, who does not, if a profession is all you have? But how many of you would like to be as much Christian as that deer was a mother, with something so genuine in you, that seem more than your life or anything that you have? And you say, may say this, "Brother Branham, I belong to church. I'm a businessman, businesswoman, or whatmore, housewife. But, really, to be that type of a Christian, that I could lay the whole world aside, stand the criticism or anything; I--I'd like to be as much, I'd like to be in my heart a Christian, as that deer was a mother."
156With your heads bowed now, and your eyes closed. Before God, I ask you, in Christ's Name, at the ending of the age, would you just put up your hand? I can't make an altar call, 'cause there is no room. But just say, "Pray for me, Brother Branham, that I will be the type of a Christian as that deer was a mother." God bless you. There is just hands everywhere. "Let me be as much Christian."
157Now, Zacchaeus, when you put your hand up, that shows He has found you. Now why don't you slide right out of the tree? He'll go home with you today for dinner. He'll stay with you the rest of your days.
158 Heavenly Father, we are grateful for the Lord Jesus, His Presence. And we're aware that there is something here that made men and women... Some of them has even professed to be Christians, for years. But there was, there is Something present that caused them; even though they be professed, even as Zacchaeus was, but once the touch from Christ, they've lifted their hand as a testimony that Something inside of them told them to do it. Let them know just now that that's Jesus. He was to pass this way, this morning, and He has.
159There was, I guess, some hundred and fifty hands up, Lord. I pray that You will visit each one, and give to them the reality that it is to be a real Christian. And no matter how much the world tries to discourage us, and how much that others try to discourage us, let us know that it's a fight to get There. It's an effort we have to put forth. But when connected with Something that's genuine, real, It changes us then. I pray that You will change every heart, Lord, and make every one in Divine Presence, at this time. Put the Holy Spirit in their life, to be as much Christian as the mother deer was a mother. She was borned a mother. And may they be borned of the Spirit of God, and become a real follower of Jesus Christ. May they come from their sycomore trees today. Grant it, Lord. May You go home with each one of us, and there abide with us until the time You come to take us to our Eternal Home. For we ask it in Jesus' Name. Amen.
160 Thank you, kindly. The Lord bless you. I kept you late. I was supposed to be out of here at ten o'clock. It's ten minutes till eleven.
161I hope that God takes these few little crude words, and nervous and upset, and feeds them in your heart. Remember, there is something genuine about Christ. God bless you. All right.