Zacchaeus

There is a story about a Jewish man who you might say sold himself out to the Romans by working for them as a tax collector.  In a Jews eyes he had become a trader and a thief, taking more money than was owed to him, even from the poor Jews that lived in that day.  The custom in that day was to burden the people with heavy taxes levied against them to support the Roman’s great empire, similar to what is happening in our government today, but in our case we take more from the rich than we do from the poor to support our ever growing government.  Being in bondage to the Roman government, the Jews were forced to pay heavy taxes to support the pagan government and their pagan gods as well as their lifestyle.  This man was a chief tax collector and in his position he became very rich.  The tax collector’s name was Zacchaeus and he was a short man.

His life consisted, pretty much, of the same routine day after day, like many of us today.  He didn’t know it at the time, but his whole life was about to change for the better because he was going to meet the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that day.  Zacchaeus, being a short man and knowing Jesus was coming, wanted to see Him, but the crowds were so great he couldn’t, so he climbed up in a sycamore tree to get a better look.  What a shock it may have been for Zacchaeus when Jesus stopped at the tree that he was in and told him to come down quickly for He must abide in his house that day.  Because of this encounter, Zacchaeus would never be the same.

I believe this happens to every person that encounters Jesus, they may reject Him, but that encounter will forever change their lives.  If you would like to read this story for yourself, you can read it in Luke 19:1-10.  

When many of the people heard, and saw, what was taking place they started murmuring saying that Jesus was going to be the guest of a sinner.  Who were the real sinners in this account?  They all were, except Jesus, but they seemed to be blinded to that fact, but, Jesus came to save them that were lost, praise His name!  

Because Zacchaeus had this encounter with Jesus, he had this response in verse 8, “Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.’”  Here was a man considered a dishonest turncoat, repenting and promising to right his wrongs from the past because of his encounter with the Lord.

Jesus responded to him this way in verses 9-10, “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.’”  The main reason Jesus came to earth was to seek and to save sinners regardless of what position they held or what role they played in life; they all were sinners in need of God’s saving grace.  Jesus’ purpose is to continue that today, saving the lost, snatching them from the grip of the evil one and the raging fires of Hell itself.  

If you see yourself a sinner in need of the Lord’s mercy and grace today, cry out to the Lord in your despair and anguish and ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins and to be your Lord and Savior, then thank Him for His precious mercy, grace and compassion and go forth in the power of the Lord and be victorious in the faith.  Find a Bible believing church and start devotions, spending time with the Lord in communion and prayer and Bible study.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may your day be a super productive one!!