Maybe you don't know Zacchaeus, so I will gladly introduce you. Zacchaeus was a tax collector living in Jerico during the time of Christ's ministry on earth. Tax collector, or should I say major jerk? The Jews of the day hated tax collectors because they worked for the Roman government collecting taxes for Caesar. Not only that, they often overcharged people, pocketing the extra. So it's pretty safe to say that Zacchaeus wasn't overly popular. He probably didn't get invited to too many parties. He was probably talked about behind his back and made to feel like somewhat of an outcast. Nonetheless, when Jesus came into town, Zacchaeus just had to see what all the fuss was about.
"Jesus entered Jerico and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way." (Luke 19:1-4)
Zacchaeus had probably heard about the miracles Jesus had performed, and maybe even some of his teachings. He wanted to see him, but didn't want to get too close. He probably thought a view from afar would suffice. What's interesting is that we do the same thing two thousand years later. We might want to check out this whole God-thing, but we don't want to get too close for fear it might actually change us, or convict our hearts. Nothing like the ole' standoffish approach to avoid any real transformation. But Jesus doesn't play that game.
"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. (Luke 19:5-6)
Don't you get the impression that Jesus saw right through Zacchaeus? It's almost as if he were saying, "I see you up there trying to hide from me. But come out of that tree and get to know me. Let me pour out my grace into your life. Let me show you a better way!" Not only did Zacchaeus hop down from that tree, but he welcomed Jesus gladly into his home. I definitely get the impression that Jesus wasn't purposelessly strolling through the streets of Jerico that afternoon. Something tells me he had a divine appointment with a short man in a tree.
"All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the quest of a 'sinner'. (Luke 19:7)
Ouch. Zacchaeus just can't catch a break from the neighbors, but he doesn't care because the Son of God wants to have lunch at his house! We might be quick to judge Zacchaeus for his treachery against his own people, but let's remember that Jesus didn't come to save the righteous but the sinners. He regularly spent time with tax collectors, prostitutes, and every other lowdown and dirty kind of person we can imagine. But here's where it gets really good.
"But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.' Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:8-10)
Christ might have gotten a lot of grief for hanging out with 'sinners,' but when these people were in his presence, something changed. Jesus didn't just have lunch and go on his merry way, He took Zacchaeus' life (and mine for that matter) and turned it upside down. He showed him grace and love, a love so intense and personal that Zacchaeus couldn't help but be transformed by it. We see an immediate reaction as Zacchaeus pledges to give away his wealth to the poor, but I think there is a deeper pledge here. Zacchaeus was a man changed from the inside out, and from that day forward he would live a life that exalted Jesus and everything that God had done for him. He had seen God, and God had seen him and saved him. There was no turning back now.
The love of Christ overwhelms and humbles me. He came to "seek and save what was lost." That includes me and you. We were all lost; lost in sin, lost and separated from God. But Christ came to change all that. He came to find us and bring us back to the Father. And no matter what kind of weird hiding places we'll crouch in, He'll find us. Even if it means calling up to us in the branches of a sycamore tree.
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