Today, as we continue our journey through the Gospel of Luke, we come to a story that many children are familiar with from Sunday School and children’s Bibles. This isn’t just a story to amuse little children. Adults can learn many lessons from this Scripture passage, as well. Let’s take a look and see what we can learn today.
As our Scripture begins, we read that Jesus was going through the city of Jericho (vs. 1). He and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, as the Passover was approaching. This would be the last time Jesus came to Jerusalem before His crucifixion. He had been to Jericho a few times, though most of His ministry took place further north in Galilee and around the Sea of Galilee.
Jericho was a rather affluent city, much more so than most of the communities in Galilee. It was also a community with many spiritually lost people, who desperately needed the Savior. Among the lost in that city was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector in Jericho. He was one of the bosses, if not the boss among the many tax collectors there. Jericho was on two important trade routes during New Testament times, one going east and west, and the other going north and south. Thus there was a lot of merchandise and goods that came from near and far that needed to be taxed, and Zacchaeus was right there to see that it was done. Tax collectors at that time had a very bad reputation, as they often extorted more money than the Roman government demanded, and they pocketed what they could. Zacchaeus certainly did, as the Bible says he was rich (vs. 2).
One day Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was passing through town. He had heard about Jesus, heard about the miracles He had done, and possibly heard about some of the messages He had taught. He wanted to see Jesus, but he had a problem. Zacchaeus was quite short, and with all of the crowds lining the road, he could never see above or around them. Plus, being an important tax collector, he didn’t want people knowing that he was interested in Jesus, some out of town preacher. He got an idea, and ran ahead down the road a bit, and climbed up into a sycamore tree (vs. 3-4). There he waited for Jesus to pass by, so he could see Him.
Sure enough, Jesus came down the street with crowds all around Him, and He passed right below Zacchaeus’ tree. He thought he was well hidden by the leaves, but unexpectedly Jesus stopped, looked up into the tree, and called Zacchaeus by name to come down! (vs. 5). Although He was surrounded by crowds, Jesus stopped and took notice of one particular man in a tree. Every person matters to God personally. Instead of ignoring Zacchaeus, or saying “Hey, you in the tree!”, Jesus called him by name. He saw Zacchaeus and knew his need. Jesus knows each and every one of us by name, and longs for us to know Him in a personal way.
Not only did Jesus notice this despised tax collector by name, He also invited Himself to his house for dinner! (vs. 5-6). Zacchaeus didn’t mind. He felt honored that Jesus would want to eat with someone like him. However, the crowds were not so pleased! Like they had often done before, these self-righteous people criticized Jesus for wanting to associate with sinners (vs. 7). Those crowds murmured. How about us? How do we react when someone we feel who is “less than reputable” comes to church? Let’s rejoice when sinners come to Jesus, not judge them.
The Holy Spirit, though, was working in the heart of this man, and not only did Jesus come into his house, but He came into his life, as well. Zacchaeus received God’s gift of salvation, and he became a new man. As a result, he said he was going to repay all that he had improperly taken as a tax collector, and was also going to give generously to the poor (vs. 8). Genuine salvation produces fruit. Zacchaeus wasn’t saved because of this good work, he was saved, and then this good work showed forth as evidence, as fruit. True faith produces repentance and restitution.
Jesus closed this passage of Scripture by proclaiming that this was what His mission was all about - coming to seek and save the lost (vs. 9-10). God saw the man that Zacchaeus could be, not just what he was or had been. No matter who we are or what we have done, Jesus can see us, and wants to invite Himself into our lives.
When a child or sometimes an elderly person with dementia is missing, the community gets together with a search and rescue team. Those around the ocean or large lakes will do that for those who fall overboard. Jesus’ coming to earth was God’s “seek and save” mission designed to help those who are lost find the right way home to God. Jesus came to seek and to save. We must carry that message to the lost.
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