Luke Chapter 19: Verses 1-7 (NIV – UK)
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 because he was short, he could not see over 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.’
The story of Zacchaeus was one of the first Bible stories I remember hearing as a wee lass at Sunday school and Girls’ Brigade. There was even a children’s song, “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, “There was something about the picture of an older man climbing up a tree just to see Jesus. I have always been intrigued by his story and chose it as the subject for one of the poems in my book, “Meeting Jesus on life’s Journey”. Jesus met and healed many people and we often don’t know very much about them, not even their names. So, when we are given someone’s name in the Bible, that suggests to me that there is a reason for it being recorded.
I was reminded again today that the name Zacchaeus apparently means “righteous”. In the culture of the time, and still in some countries today, someone’s name is of great significance – and not merely because we like the name. His parents gave him that name, perhaps in the hope that he would grow up to reflect his name. That’s a lot of pressure, I think. But somewhere along the way, Zacchaeus made choices that meant in the eyes of God-fearing religious Jews, he was far from righteous. We see that in the crowd’s response when Jesus goes to Zacchaeus’ home.
Zacchaeus never intended to invite Jesus to his home. He knew what people thought of him. He was curious to get a glimpse of Jesus but he didn’t want to draw attention to himself. He didn’t dream of going directly to Jesus, but Jesus knew his heart, and his need, and so He went to Zaccheus. And because He did, Zacchaeus’ life was transformed and he was finally able to live up to the meaning of his name. Not by his own efforts, but because of Jesus.
Perhaps we too have high expectations of people and find that they don’t live up to them. Sometimes because our hopes are unrealistic, or maybe we put too much pressure on them to achieve what we hope for. People must make their own choices and will have their reasons for doing so. But if things have not worked out as we, or they hoped, how do we respond? Are we like the crowd who muttered about the fact that Jesus had singled out a sinner to spend the time with? Or are we the one who feels that they have been the cause of other people’s disappointment because of the choices we have made? Perhaps we want to test out what it would be like to get to know Jesus, but we are not willing to commit to that decision yet? Christians are ambassadors of Jesus. Those of us who claim to be His followers need to respond in the same way that He would. That means extending the hand of friendship to someone if we are prompted by God to do so, and taking the time to spend time with them, even if they are unpopular with others. People might even talk about us associating with them. But Jesus knows what’s in their heart, and if they won’t come to Him directly, He may choose to reveal Himself to them through us. That is a privilege indeed, and something we should take as an honour if we find ourselves in that situation. But Zacchaeus’ life was only transformed because he responded to what Jesus said. And if we want our lives to change then we too must do as Jesus tells us.
Dear Lord,
In the story of Zacchaeus, I am once again reminded of Your care and compassion for us. We don’t need to be worried or embarrassed to come to You in our need and You will reach out to us where we are at. But we need to be like Zacchaeus and respond to what You say to us. I realise that its only when we respond to what You say that our lives will be changed. Thank You. Amen.