He was hated, avoided, and considered a scheming human “rat!” He “ripped off” his neighbors and cheated them to enrich himself! A short, stinking, sneaky, human specimen… They hated him – he was considered a vile, filthy, “publican” [a cheating tax-collector]!
He was curious about this Jesus and wanted to see this incredible person everyone was talking about so he climbed up into a tree to just get a glimpse…
Here He comes! Here He comes he thought! And then Jesus stopped right under the tree, looked up, called him by name and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today!”
Zacchaeus had to wonder… “He wants to come to my house?! How does He know my name? Does He know how these people feel about me? …My reputation… How they hate me?”
But Jesus’ call was powerful – almost irresistible – it drew him! Zacchaeus scrambled down from the tree, brought Jesus to his home, “and received him joyfully!” I can almost picture the reception Zacchaeus gave Him!
The crowd? … They all grumbled and said, “He has gone in to be the guest of man who is a sinner!
Zacchaeus, however was deeply moved! This righteous man had come to his home – a sinner! The sense of his sinfulness and injustice to others swept over him! He felt an overwhelming need to repent… He blurted out, “Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor! And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold!” … And, what’s more, he meant it from the bottom of his heart – it was true repentance!
The wonderful response of Jesus? A divine declaration from the One who has the power to forgive sin! “Today salvation has come to this house! For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost!” (All from Luke 19:1-10)
Here’s my “takeaways” from Zacchaeus’s encounter with Jesus…
· If you’ve got a hungry, searching heart, Jesus is aware of it – and He knows your name, where you are, and your ‘’rap sheet!”
· Your reputation, your sinfulness, and the opinion of others about your character, do no stand in the way of His mercy and grace!
· He wants to “come to your house” (and move in!) …”He has come to seek and save the lost!”
· Genuine, authentic repentance is what He is looking for! Turn from your sin! He will change you “inside > out!” You’ll find yourself wanting to live a new way – God’s way!
Coffee With The Lord 