Understanding Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-6 (NIV)
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.
2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.
4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."
6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

If you attended Sunday School or a Children Ministry when you were young you most probably know about Zacchaeus.  He’s the short guy who climbed a tree just to see Jesus.  And the usual teaching there is we should be like him, making effort, climbing high, just to be able to see Jesus.

But this is so far from what the story tells us.  The lesson Jesus taught through this story was simple:

Luke 19:10 (NIV)
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Zacchaeus was lost, just like each one of us are naturally lost, no care about spiritual things, about eternity.  Oh, maybe we’re a little curious about who Jesus is, so we climb a tree and take a peek at who He is, but we don’t really do anything concrete, no serious attempt, to really get to know Him.

We need to understand that when Zacchaeus climbed the tree all he wanted to do was to see Jesus.  He didn’t want to be His disciple, nor did he have any plan to follow Him.  All he wanted was to see.  It’s just like many  people today – all we want is a peek of Jesus.  No commitments, no surrender, no salvation from sin – just a peek.  Maybe he can answer a prayer or two, the more important ones.  And we will climb a tree just to see Him.

For me, what Zacchaeus did was just like religion.  Many “Christians” climb trees, make an effort through their Sunday services, ministry, good works, to climb that tree and have a peek at Jesus.  That’s all.  We look like Christians, have all the right external decorations – but in our hearts we’re not really after Him, not seeking Him.  Just like Zacchaeus.

But that was going to change.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."

Here is where God’s Grace comes into the picture.

When Jesus reached the spot where he was, Jesus looked up and called him by name - “Zacchaeus”!  Jesus knew him.  This was not a chance meeting, an accidental circumstance that just happened to bring the two together.  This was something that God had planned from eternity!  Jesus called Zacchaeus because He knew him!

Ephesians 1:4-5 (NIV)
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--

What a blessing to know that when the Lord called us, we weren’t “exhibit A”, or specimen “B”.  He knew us, called us by name.  And it had nothing to do with who Zacchaeus was.  Remember, he was a tax collector and wealthy.  Tax collectors were known to be corrupt, and so his wealth most probably came from his corruption.  And yet God, by His grace, knew and called Zaccheaus by name.  Truly it is by grace that we are chosen.

It wasn’t Zacchaeus who was looking for God.  It was God who was looking for Zacchaeus, creating the right opportunity for Him to reach out and call Him into the new life God had prepared for him.

And when God calls, the heart cannot help but respond.

6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Who can resist grace, God’s grace?  Zacchaeus knew who he was, and a peek of Jesus was all he wanted.  But when he heard his name called by Jesus, wanting to eat at his home, he came down at once and welcomed Him.

Notice, it was Jesus who invited Himself to Zacchaeus’ house, not Zacchaeus who invited Jesus.  "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today."  Many think they are Christian because they invited Jesus into their heart.  But it’s the other way around!  We are Christian because it is God who “invited” Himself to our life.  When we stand before God in eternity, we will have no reason to boast.  We will not even be able to say that we should be in heaven because we chose Him.  Even in our salvation it is God who is glorified, not us.

John 15:16 (NIV)  Jesus said:
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Zacchaeus’ response to Jesus in his home in the next blog…