Verses 1-2 Jericho is a cursed city, but it doesn’t stop Jesus from being there. Jesus comes to bad and broken people to heal their hearts. He finished healing a blind man and was moving through the city when Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, a wealthy authority over all the tax collectors, heard Jesus was passing through.
Chief Sinner
Let’s give this tax collecting business a little more perspective. Rome controlled the Jews and collected taxes from the people. Rome would even employ Jews to collect taxes from their own people. However, tax collectors would often collect extra for themselves. So the Jews weren’t fond of Jewish tax collectors. In fact, they considered them traitors. That’s why in the New Testament, you typically see tax collectors mentioned alongside prostitutes and sinners. (Matthew 11:19, 21:31; Luke 15:1)
As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus would have had a lot of money and few friends.
Zacchaeus was curious about this man, Jesus, he had heard so much about.
Jesus can use curiosity to create change in our lives
Verses 3-6 Hidden in a sea of people trying to stay with Jesus, Zacchaeus was too short to see over the crowds and get a peek at Jesus.
At this moment, Zacchaeus forgot who he was to the people, the chief tax collector, and ran like a boy to the nearest sycamore tree, climbing in desperation to get a good look before Jesus disappeared in the crowd. To him, it was worth any public shame just to see “the One” everyone was talking about.
Is our desire for Jesus desperate like this? Will we use anything in sight to get a good look at him?
Desperation will drive us to do crazy things.
When our time is short, the kids are loud, the to-do list is even louder, do we break through the distraction, difficulties, and opposition and be willing to do whatever it takes to see Jesus? We can pull out our bible in a parking lot and sit in His presence after school drop-offs. Maybe unashamedly hide out in the bathroom with our Bible when there’s too much distraction. 🙋🏼♀️Most phones can access bible apps so we can read on a lunch break or while waiting for our kiddos at their events, during their naps, or while they play. We can tune in to the audio version while driving to work, going for a walk, or running errands. (I’m getting a visual of Dr. Seuss’s “Green Eggs and Ham”. You can take your time with Jesus anywhere!)
Our desperate desires will uncover opportunities.
Take every advantage you can. Beware of any excuse that keeps you from coming. If you desperately desire Jesus, you’ll recognize the small spaces in your day as opportunities to hide away from the world and sink into communion with our Lord. This is where our hearts heal, our thoughts transform, and our spirits surrender to His grace and Truth.
Alone with Jesus is where joy replaces our sorrows that we have this privilege to draw near to the Prince of Peace, our Good Father, who brings good things with him and takes control of the soul. He fills us with open springs of joy and rest.
Imagine going to painstaking lengths just to see a famous person. We might put ourselves in the most ridiculous of places, caring nothing about what this does to our public image because we’re so consumed with getting a look at them. Desperation will do this.
Out of curiosity only, Zacchaeus wanted one gaze on Jesus. Jesus takes notice of his curiosity and calls Zacchaeus by name. (This gives me goosebumps). Before Zacchaeus ever climbed that sycamore tree, Jesus saw him and knew him.
So now imagine this famous person looks over and notices us. Woh! Us? In this entire crowd, this famous person notices us! There’s nothing special about us to be noticed, called out, and honored like this. It’s humbling.
Those who want to know Jesus will be well-known by Him.
Curiosity Can Lead to Change
Jesus can change a life with just a seed of curiosity. With a speck of curiosity, Jesus can awaken a soul and change a heart.
The King of Kings is passing by today. Are we desperate to get a glimpse of Him? Jesus will outdo all our expectations for that moment with Him.
Use every little opportunity because God will entrust us with even more (time) when we are faithful in the few minutes we have. (Luke 16:10)
The blessing of being noticed by Jesus
Those who seek Jesus have the privilege of speaking with him. Jesus tells Zacchaeus to hurry down and open up his home. Zacchaeus doesn’t hesitate to respond to Jesus.
When Jesus calls us, we must quickly answer.
It’s fair to say that when Jesus first took notice of Zacchaeus, the honor humbled and opened this tax collector’s heart and helped him receive Jesus. Now Zacchaeus is eager to do whatever Jesus requests.
Verse 6 says Zacchaeus “hurried and came down and received him joyfully.” (ESV) Joy and excitement for Jesus fill this chief tax collector’s heart as he welcomes Jesus in. By opening his home to Jesus, Zacchaeus is spiritually welcoming Jesus into his life.
Verse 7 But the crowd was in shock and offended by this. They knew Zacchaeus as a sinful man. He didn’t “deserve” to have Jesus in his home.
Sinners are the reason Jesus came. He always allows room for repentance in their hearts.
Evidence Of Our Faith
Verses 8-10 Zacchaeus knows he’s a sinner who cannot boast in the life he used to live. But now by the grace of God, Zacchaeus stands up (for the crowd to hear) and vows to Jesus that he will give evidence of his faith and repentance by giving half of his possessions to the poor AND pay back four times the amount that he cheated people out of.
Wow! Now that’s what true repentance looks like. It wasn’t a mere “I’m sorry.” It made amends for all wrongdoing. He once was laying up treasures for himself on earth and now Zacchaeus is ridding himself of the stolen goods to store up his treasures in heaven. He declares from now on he will focus on doing good for others for the glory of the Lord. Zacchaeus didn’t wait until his death to purge his wealth. He made amends while he was still alive. He voluntarily resolves to make restitution for as far back as he can remember and relieve the poor by quadrupling the return on their taxes. This is evidence that Zacchaeus has turned from his sin.
A selfless, content person has more to give.
The crowd complained about Jesus going to this sinner’s home. But after Jesus got through with him, Zacchaeus was an honest, good, and charitable man for the community and restored what he had taken from them.
A change in the heart (repentance) will show up as a change in our ways.
Jesus declared that salvation had come to this house. Zacchaeus’s outward actions were a testimony of his inward transformation. Jesus saved Zacchaeus from the guilt and power of his sins. Jesus came to save the bad and broken people in this world. He’s always bringing salvation with him wherever he goes. Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who believe and accept him as Zacchaeus did. And now, Jesus says, Zacchaeus is a blessing to his household. He will teach his family how to keep the ways of the Lord.
Those who are greedy for gain will reap the trouble and curses from this sin. Those who are kind and giving will reap the blessings of it in their thoughts, in their hearts, and in their families.
Jesus calls him a son of Abraham, which means God’s covenant and blessings for Abraham now apply by faith to Zacchaeus, his children, and his children’s children. (By birth Jews were a son of Abraham but by sin, God cut them off from any inheritance.)
Jesus came to call sinners to repent. Because of sin, all of humanity has fallen away from God. Without Jesus, we are all lost travelers who took a wrong turn in the wilderness of life. The grace of God sent Jesus to seek us in order to save us. He came from heaven to earth to penetrate the heart of those who have wandered and gone astray. To save perishing lives that are cut off from God and his goodness. There was no other way for us to be saved. Because of sin, we were not worth seeking or saving.
Prayer
Jesus, you are so great. My sin is so deplorable. There are no merits or amount of bible knowledge that makes me worthy to be in your presence. You know the darkness of my sin that still plagues the soul. I am unworthy to be in your courts and yet you came for me. You left paradise to save me from my sin. I am desperate for you, Jesus. I escape the noise in my day to sit in your peace. When there are extra time or resources, I still only long to be with my King, my Savior, my rest, and my fulfillment. You are my time and resource. You settle my fears, renew my strength, lead me beside the still waters, and guide me to rest in lush pastures.
Thank you, Jesus, for fighting my battles, guiding me on the right path, and staying close to my side. Your protection and comfort go with me in the valley of the shadow of death. Surely goodness and mercy pursue me all the days of my life. So yes, Jesus, I desperately, shamelessly want your attention, Jesus. I want to live in the house of the Lord forever. Take notice of me, Jesus. I am pulling at the hem of your garment. It’s me. Just one touch and you can heal. Look in my direction, call me by name, and invite yourself into the home of my heart. Stir up the inward transformation and help me make restitution where I’ve committed wrong in your eyes. Cleanse me from the muck of my sin, Jesus. I want to repent of it all. (Name your sins here.) Release me from the bondage of those thoughts and set me free for the glory of your name, Jesus. You can, and I believe you will. Stir up joy in the pit of my soul once again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.