WJS5 – Jesus Saw Zacchaeus

WJS5 – Jesus Saw Zacchaeus

Reading: Luke 19:1-10 1 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. 2 There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” 6 Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7 But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. 8 Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9 Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:1-10 NLT) Zacchaeus was the head customs agent for Rome in Jericho, on a major trade route through the region. As a contractor for the Romans, Zacchaeus was allowed to collect more than the required amount of tax and keep the excess for himself. He was not a popular man with his fellow Jews. They saw him as a traitor and a crook, a mob boss. He’d grown wealthy off the backs of his fellow Israelites and he was comfortable working for the Romans. But he was so drawn to what he’d heard about Jesus that he climbed a tree to see him as he passed by. A little undignified, but effective. Jesus saw Zacchaeus! Jesus was in the middle of a crowd, it was dusty and noisy, but Jesus stopped the parade to invite himself to Zacchaeus’ house for dinner! (I picture the actor Danny DeVito as Zacchaeus). Our little friend was overjoyed! People grumbled that Jesus went to Zacchaeus’ home for dinner. Zacchaeus was an outcast who didn’t have a lot of friends. Jesus may have been the first! When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he repented of cheating people on their taxes, he pledged half his wealth to the poor, and he committed to reparations for his cheatings. Jesus called it “Salvation!” Legend says Zacchaeus became the Bishop of Caesarea. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost! Nobody saw Zacchaeus the way Jesus saw him. I wonder how many people we encounter might be saved if you and I saw them the way Jesus sees them. Something to think about. Prayer: Father, Are there people we see as sinners and treat as outcasts who Jesus sees as lost and in need of a friend and a Savior? Please help us to see people as Jesus sees them!