By Gerald Gates
Luke 19:1-10 (NKJV) records what the bible says about the man Zacchaeus:
1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, for he also is a son of Abraham; 10 “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Zacchaeus was a man, like many men today, he had advantages and disadvantages. He had a good job as a chief tax collector and he was rich. He was a short man so that he could not see above taller people in front of him. He also had the desire to see who Jesus was. He chose to find a way to see Jesus and climbed up in a tree to see Him as He passed that way.
When Jesus saw Zacchaeus, knowing who he was, He called him by name, instructing him to come down quickly for He must stay at his house that day.
Notice how Zacchaeus responded. He came down quickly and welcomed Jesus into his home joyfully. The Lord had even known his name!
Also notice how other people present were critical of Zacchaeus and Jesus, saying that Zacchaeus was a sinner and that Jesus went to be a guest of a sinner.
In response to this, Zacchaeus addressed the Lord choosing to do what was just and right, to give to the poor and make restitution for any wrong done of others, to lookout for those he lived among.
Jesus told him that “today” salvation has come to this house, considering Zacchaeus a son of Abraham. Why was that? Was it because he chose to love his fellow man and live justly and generously with them? Or was it that he chose to welcome the Lord and follow His command? Or was it something else? We do know that Zacchaeus desired to see Jesus. He joyfully welcomed Him into his home at Jesus’ command. He did not deny that he was a sinner before his critics, but he set his heart to do what is right and fair to others and repent of wrongs toward others. When Jesus came to his house, “Salvation” had come to Zacchaeus’ house that day. And why was that? “For the Son of Man (Jesus) had come to seek and to save that which was lost.” We all need Jesus to save us from the wages of sin so that we may receive the gift of God, eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
Let us learn from Zacchaeus to seek to know Jesus the Lord and to welcome Him joyfully into our hearts. Let us do what is right, seeking to follow and please God by faith in His Son Jesus, turning from sin and following His command. Zacchaeus chose to climb a tree to see Jesus. What will each of us do to see Jesus daily in our lives so that we may possess eternal life, the salvation of our souls?