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And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Zacchaeus was THE chief tax collector of Jericho and was unbelievably rich. Zacchaeus was so curious to see who Jesus was that this rich chief tax collector, well known for being a sinner in the city, climbed a tree to see the Lord! I wonder if climbing that tree and getting a glimpse of Jesus gave Zacchaeus a different view of his sin as he looked across the crowd of people he stole money from.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up, called Zacchaeus by name, and told him to make haste for he was going to stay at Zacchaeus’s home. Scripture says that Zacchaeus received him joyfully. What follows is a remarkable conversion. Zacchaeus was not beyond redemption and vowed to give back fourfold to anyone he had stolen from. Jesus then proclaims salvation had come to the house of Zacchaeus that day.
Just imagine the conversations that possibly took place when Zacchaeus returned the money he stole.
Child - “Hey Dad, it’s for you.”
Dad - “Who is it?”
Child - “It’s Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector.”
Dad - “What does that wicked man want!?”
Child - “He says he came to return the money he stole from you. Dad, get this! He says he is here to repay you four times the amount he took!”
Oh, the transformation that takes place when we get a glimpse of Jesus!
Pray and reflect in the Lord’s presence. When was the last time you were so curious to get a glimpse of Jesus that you were willing to “climb a tree” to do so? Some possible trees to climb are: attend church regularly, become a member, get baptized, join a small group, and study God’s Word. Don’t be surprised that when you do climb that tree, you’ll get a good glimpse of Jesus and a different perspective on your life and sin that has been overlooked or ignored.
Zacchaeus was THE chief tax collector of Jericho and was unbelievably rich. Zacchaeus was so curious to see who Jesus was that this rich chief tax collector, well known for being a sinner in the city, climbed a tree to see the Lord! I wonder if climbing that tree and getting a glimpse of Jesus gave Zacchaeus a different view of his sin as he looked across the crowd of people he stole money from.
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up, called Zacchaeus by name, and told him to make haste for he was going to stay at Zacchaeus’s home. Scripture says that Zacchaeus received him joyfully. What follows is a remarkable conversion. Zacchaeus was not beyond redemption and vowed to give back fourfold to anyone he had stolen from. Jesus then proclaims salvation had come to the house of Zacchaeus that day.
Just imagine the conversations that possibly took place when Zacchaeus returned the money he stole.
Child - “Hey Dad, it’s for you.”
Dad - “Who is it?”
Child - “It’s Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector.”
Dad - “What does that wicked man want!?”
Child - “He says he came to return the money he stole from you. Dad, get this! He says he is here to repay you four times the amount he took!”
Oh, the transformation that takes place when we get a glimpse of Jesus!
Pray and reflect in the Lord’s presence. When was the last time you were so curious to get a glimpse of Jesus that you were willing to “climb a tree” to do so? Some possible trees to climb are: attend church regularly, become a member, get baptized, join a small group, and study God’s Word. Don’t be surprised that when you do climb that tree, you’ll get a good glimpse of Jesus and a different perspective on your life and sin that has been overlooked or ignored.
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