Salvation Comes To Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-10

Do you know someone in your neighborhood or your workplace who is very unpopular? No one seems to like them, and perhaps for some very good reasons.  They may do things to irritate or anger others, and be very ill-tempered. People in town or at work tend to avoid this person. Then one day you hear that this person has accepted the Lord as Savior.  You may be surprised, as they might seem like the last person you’d expect to hear that about, but what a change you see in them! Today’s Scripture from the Gospel of Luke gives such an account.

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem for the last time, and He was passing through the city of Jericho, which was about 16 miles northwest of Jerusalem.  Zacchaeus lived in Jericho, and was the chief tax collector there. Tax collectors were despised by devout Jews, who looked on them as collaborators with the enemy Romans.  They were also hated as they frequently took more taxes than required, keeping the balance for themselves. Zacchaeus, being the chief tax collector in town, and also very rich, was probably especially hated.  He was also a very short man, which would likely bring additional ridicule for him.

Zacchaeus had heard that Jesus was coming to town, and he really wanted to see him.  However he was used to being on the outside of society, and felt there was no way that he would be able to get close to Him.  Even seeing Jesus as He would walk down the street didn’t seem likely because of his short height. An idea came to Zacchaeus - he could climb up into a tree right along the street Jesus would go down, and he could see Him that way, and also be away from the people who hated him, and that’s what he did (vs. 1-4).

As Jesus walked by He looked up and saw Zacchaeus in the tree, and He called him by name.  Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ name, and called him by that name.  He didn’t ignore Zacchaeus, or call out “Hey you!”  Jesus knew him personally. He knows us personally by name, and cares about us!  We are valuable in Jesus’ eyes, not because of what we do, but by the fact that He created us.  Zacchaeus could not hide from God, and neither can we. He sees us. He knows us, and knows where we are.  Zacchaeus may have thought that Jesus wouldn’t see or notice him up in the tree, but God misses nothing. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to carry out the most important act in human history, dying on the cross for our sins, yet He stopped to minister to a spiritually needy man.

Jesus told Zacchaeus to come down, because He was going to stay at his home.  The fact that the Messiah noticed him, knew his name, and wanted to be with him was transforming for Zacchaeus, turning his life around.  After he came to saving faith, he realized his life needed straightening out. Zacchaeus made restitution to those he cheated, and gave to the poor (vs. 8).  He demonstrated inward change by outward action. When there has been true salvation, there should be an indication by a change in the life. Where there is root, there should be fruit.

Jesus came to earth to seek and save the lost (vs. 9-10).  His coming was God’s seek and save mission, in order to help those who are lost find the right way home.  Jesus indicated that one could be of the physical lineage of Abraham, but still be lost, which was not a popular thing to say to His Jewish listeners.  A person is not saved by a good heritage, or condemned by a bad one. Jesus came to save the lost, no matter what their background or previous way of life (John 3:16-18).  He did for us what we could never do on our own.

Jesus saw in Zacchaeus a soul to be saved and the man he could be.  Zacchaeus received God’s grace and mercy, and his life was transformed.  Zacchaeus was a sinner, then a seeker, and then a follower.