Zacchaeus, Small Man with a Big Transformation in Faith

Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” 

LUKE 19 : 9 - 10 NLT

Full text: Luke 19 : 1 - 10 (Zacchaeus’ Encounter of Jesus Christ)

Introduction:

Sin is in the bloodline of all humanity.

The kind of work we do, our lifestyle, our personality and our associations with other people make us susceptible to becoming more sinful.

People will despise us for that; they will not give their full respect to us, but the good news is that:

Jesus Christ came to the world to seek and save all who are lost. And He washed that sin with His precious blood 2000 years ago.

Today, I am going to present to you a story of one Bible character that reflects most of us here, in this present time, sinners of this world – the story of Zacchaeus and his wonderful encounter with Jesus Christ, that gave him salvation.

Background:

Zacchaeus – name is from Hebrew word “zakkai” meaning “pure”, “clean” and “innocent”

Zacchaeus is a chief tax collector who has been despised because of the nature of his work, considered as traitor to Jewish community by serving the Roman empire and his association to Gentiles; he is called as notorious sinner as we will discover later on.

He is a short man but with a big transformation in faith.

Setting:

Jericho - a place that is very symbolic to Christian and Jewish faith. This is the first city that Israelites conquered to enter the promised land, representing the truth about salvation plan of God for His people - that it is in God’s sovereign way, not of men.

Jesus performed miraculous healing of 2 blind men in this place, and other significant events.

Before we go on to expound the main text (Luke 19 : 9 - 10), allow me to share to you the revelations I’ve got as I try to study the behaviors of Zacchaeus based on the story in this chapter.

ZACCHAEUS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS JESUS CHRIST:

1. Curiosity and Eagerness

V3- “He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.”

V4- “So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.”

We can see from these actions that Zacchaeus was curious about who Jesus Christ is. There was an eagerness for him to know Jesus.

He did not think of his physical limitations of being short, which makes him vulnerable, or will hinder his sight.

He did not think of his social status as a rich person, holding an important role as a chief tax collector. Imagine how degrading it will be to run in the middle of the crowd, and worse is to climb up a tree, revealing himself as he does just to see Jesus.

The act of running ahead of the crowd and climbing the sycamore tree is an active and intentional desire

- to know Jesus,

- to overcome obstacles,

- to leave the crowd of other sinners,

- to reveal his sinfulness

He did not “run with”, he did not ask or wait for somebody to help him but he made it a personal decision because of his desire to know Jesus.

Like Zacchaeus, in this present time, we must have that curiosity, that eagerness, and thirst to know Jesus.

There are lots of hindrances that will affect our view of Him: 

- we might feel that we are too small and not worthy enough,

- we might feel that we are just a nobody,

- we might be ashamed or afraid of revealing our sinfulness and be tempted to just blend in the world or

- maybe we might think that we are unreachable or untouchable person that doesn’t need Jesus in our lives.

We must make that personal decision to know Jesus and don’t waste the opportunity when it comes. It must be now.

2. Humility and obedience

V6 - “Zacchaeus quickly climbed down...”

Zacchaeus had option to just talk to Jesus while he was up the sycamore tree, but instead, he climbed down and became excited about what is next to happen. The act of going down reflects humility; he did not waste the opportunity to obey Jesus’ command to come down, to come closer or nearer to Him.

The demands of this modern world nowadays are too great that we don’t have time anymore to listen to what Jesus wants us to do. We have enthroned ourselves too high to our workplace, to our community, to fame and popularity that we can’t find time to slow down or have a full stop and humble down ourselves and have an encounter with Jesus.

Sometimes, when people reach the height of what their earthly desires are, they become so elated and forget the real purpose of their lives - to obey what Jesus wants them to accomplish.

The main reason why Zacchaeus climbed up the tree was to have a better view of Jesus, but Jesus commanded him to come down, this represents the truth that it is not through our own effort that we will be saved, it is through Jesus alone.

So we must come down from wherever we are and obey what Jesus wants for us without any delays. Draw ourselves closer to Jesus.

3. Joyful Acceptance of Jesus Christ

V6 - “… and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.”

Zacchaeus accepted and received Jesus Christ in his life. He brought him home as his guest. Zacchaeus had an option to be just contended after seeing Jesus but he received Him and even brought him home for his family and loved ones to know Him too.

Zacchaeus might feel hesitance knowing that he is unworthy, because he is a sinner but he never doubted and never had a second thought.

We must receive Jesus Christ in our lives and desire to let our family know Him too, and all other people within our circles then beyond if will be given a chance. We must desire for Jesus to stay with us, in our hearts, to become part of our being and everyday lives. Knowing that we are sinners, we sometimes feel that we are not worthy to receive Jesus Christ. However, that’s the main reason of His coming, to save us from the curse and punishment of our sins.

4. Transformational Change

V8 - 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!”

Zacchaeus made amends of his past and had shown acts of transformation. Though we know that good works do not guarantee us salvation, Zacchaeus made a strong conviction that he is ready to change and give up his earthly riches in exchange of his relationship to Jesus Christ.

Now, can we ask ourselves:

Are we like Zacchaeus?

Are we ready to give up the riches that this world can offer?

Are we ready to give up the sins that enslave us in exchange of our relationship with Jesus Christ?

Are we humble enough to go back and give back to those whom we wronged as an act of righteousness - a manifestation of a transformed life?

Others might say yes, most of us will say no.

It is because, that mission belongs to Jesus Christ. No work is fit enough or good enough for our salvation.

JESUS CHRIST’S SALVATION MISSION

Now that we have a better understanding of the actions of Zacchaeus in his encounter with Jesus Christ, let us ponder on what the main text reveals to us regarding our Salvation through Jesus Christ.

1. Jesus offers a Relationship

V5 - 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.”

Jesus has an open invitation for everybody - to accept Him and let Him stay in our lives. Jesus did not say, “Zacchaeus, come down and I’ll ask you about your sins!”

Instead, He pronounced a lovely invitation - that He will come to his house and He will be with Him.

Today, He is also declaring an invitation that He will be with us regardless of our sins, all we have to do is to accept Him. Invite Him in your homes so your whole household will also experience an encounter with Him.

Jesus called Zacchaeus by his name.

When we know and remember someone’s name, it means that we value that person, that we care for that person, that we have an intentional reason why we are calling, that there is a relationship.

Zacchaeus is us - sinners. Jesus is calling us because it is for us - why He came to the world. He did not come to persecute us, but to to offer a relationship.

2. Jesus knows the sinners and He came for them

V7 - But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

People can judge us very easily, however, Jesus did not come to condemn us or to persecute us, but to save us.

As declared in John 3 : 16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Because of the love and mercy, that God sent us His Son for our sins. He came to this world - the verse declares: “He has gone to be the guest of notorious sinner”. Jesus came for the sinners, for those who are lost, for those who are in need of salvation.

3. Jesus is the only source of salvation

V9 - Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham…”

V10 - “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

Jesus pronounced salvation to Zacchaeus not because of his actions of seeking an opportunity to know Him, not because of the excitement of having an encounter with Him, not because of his willingness to give up his wealth, but because of the one and only reason - Jesus’ mission to

seek and save the lost- the sinners.

In John 14: 6, Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

There is no amount of human effort that will be good enough to restore our broken relationship to God the Father because of sin but only by believing in Jesus Christ and accepting Him.

If we will rewind the events that took place, Zacchaeus showed eagerness to know Jesus.

Jesus specifically called Zacchaeus. Jesus knows who he came for. The sinners. Jesus might just continue walking and just use Zacchaeus as example for His teachings, but He called Him and Zacchaeus accepted Him.

Letting Jesus come to his house, Zacchaeus already started having that transformation inside him. Then it is the enabling grace of salvation from Jesus Christ that convicted him to do the good work.

Conclusion:

Zacchaeus is a perfect picture of who we are today- we are all sinners, that’s the truth that we all know. But that sinful state of our life must not hinder us from becoming bold in seeking God. When we get an opportunity to encounter God, be glad and joyful.

The greatest truth is: God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to save us.

So, ask ourselves: “Do we have that curious heart to know Jesus and are we ready to let Him in our house?”

“Are we willing to accept Him us our only source of salvation?”

Always remember, being saved must manifest a change in our lifestyle.

Zacchaeus’ actions of renewal are an inspiring outward “enabling” effect of salvation, but if we will go back from the beginning, I mentioned that the literal meaning of his name

- pure

-clean

- innocent

is the outcome of the “saving grace”, an internal effect to our life that only Jesus Christ can give. Being cleansed and freed from sin.

If we will believe in Him and accept Him in our lives.