Luke chapter 19 verses 1-9 (NIV)
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.” 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 the lost.”
Surely another beloved encounter. Although it was one part of the story that stuck out to me today, I couldn’t leave out the rest of it. I was struck first by the observation of the crowd. We read that, ‘All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”’ We’re used to reading such a sentiment from the scribes and Pharisees, not the general crowd. I think this gives a sign of just how unpopular Zacchaeus was.
Zacchaeus means ” the righteous one”. Jewish parents, especially at that time, gave great consideration as to what to name their children. So it seems that Zacchaeus’ parents had great hopes for their son. Perhaps they were very Godly parents. If so how disappointed they would be at his chosen path to serve under the Romans as a tax collector, and rise through the ranks to become a chief tax collector.
Certainly the crowd doesn’t believe that Zacchaeus deserves to have such an intimate encounter with Jesus. Thankfully, Jesus had other plans. Consequently Zacchaeus’ life was changed beyond what he himself and the crowd could have imagined.
Its a reminder to us that no one is outwith God’s grace and mercy, and also it is never, ever our place to pass judgement on anyone else, no matter what they have done.
Dear Lord,
Such love and compassion shown to Zacchaeus was enough to break down every wall he had built up. Thank you that no one is beyond the reach of Jesus. The choice of how to respond however is up to us. Help me never to judge and dismiss any life. For while we were yet sinners, including me, Jesus died for us. I pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.