The scripture I’m going share with you today is a story about a Jewish man named Zacchaeus, who was a tax collector in Jesus’ day. At that time, the Jewish people were under the rule of the Roman Empire and were being oppressed and taken advantage of through the collection of taxes. For more information go to the link Taxes in Jesus’ Day.
The Bible tells about the experience Zacchaeus has with Jesus in Luke 19:1-10;
Jesus entered Jericho 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.
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.
All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’”
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.”
I believe that Zacchaeus took extreme measures to climb the tree to see who Jesus was because he heard stories about all Jesus was teaching, and the miracles he was performing, out of love and compassion for the people.
Do you remember the movie Jesus of Nazareth? I thought the actor who played Jesus in the three part series did such a good job displaying Jesus’ character. I can remember having feelings of awe, love, compassion, excitement and power, as the actor played out the parts of Jesus’ ministry. If I felt such strong emotions just watching the movie, imagine how much stronger the feelings would have been seeing and hearing Jesus in person.
Only Zacchaeus knew how it felt to have Jesus call him down from the tree. However, I wonder if he asked himself these questions, “Is he talking to me?” “Did He really call my name?” “Is there another Zacchaeus here?” “Why would He want to talk with me, I’m a nobody and religious people despise me?” If it were me Jesus called, I think I would’ve been so nervously excited, lost my balance, and probably fallen out of the tree.
While the encounter with Jesus was taking place, people were still talking bad about Zacchaeus. However, it didn’t seem to matter at that point what people were saying about him. His focus was on the one who was making him feel loved and accepted, a love like he had never felt before.
In this story, the only thing Jesus asks Zacchaeus to do was come down out of the tree so He could go to his house. Jesus didn’t condemn him or tell him to stop taking advantage of the people by collecting taxes.
On the contrary, at one point the bible says in Mark 12:17; “Then Jesus said to them, ‘give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’ And they were amazed at him.” God doesn’t ask us to ignore the laws of the land, unless it went against the law of God.
However, Jesus knew if He showed Zacchaeus love and dealt with the condition of his heart first, the obedience to do what was right would follow, through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
There are a few thoughts I come away with from this story; The power of telling people what Jesus has done in my life, and the power of showing someone love rather than judgment.
Acts 1:8 says; “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Telling someone all Jesus has done in my life not only stirs my spirit, but I think it encourages and draws others to want to know Him.
When I share with someone a struggle I had gone through in my past, and the victory God gave me in that situation, it reveals God’s power and His faithfulness to the person I’m telling.
As I tell how Jesus died for us, forgave me from all of my sins, and loves me just the way I am, it makes a person want the same freedom that forgiveness brought to me.
The Bible says, “We all fall short of the Glory of God.” Let’s not be a person who focuses on the short comings of others. Instead, let’s try seeing people as God sees them, and chose to follow His example by praying and loving them right where they are.
