Zacchaeus

Introduction

Earlier this year I wrote a short post on unexpected encounters, and since then I keep pondering the story of Zacchaeus. Surely his encounter with Jesus was unexpected. He certainly wanted to see Jesus, but did he want an encounter? In this short study I want to explore that encounter a little more for there are lessons we can apply today.

The story is found in Luke 19: 1-10, and it is unique to Luke, that alone makes it interesting. Why does Luke include this story when the other gospels do not? We will attempt to uncover that as we seek to apply the teaching of this story to us today.

When we read this story we see some distinct characters involved. We have Zacchaeus, the crowd, Jesus, and presumably His disciples. To understand perhaps why Luke has included this encounter we should look at Luke 18: 18-30. That passage tells the story of another rich man, one who sought Jesus and seemingly wanted an encounter. The difference here is that the man in that story was really looking for Jesus to validate his life choices, he wanted Jesus to say “Well done, it’s all good”. Jesus, however, doesn’t do that, instead He challenges him to live a better way, to live with God as his first love, not money.

With that in mind we meet Zacchaeus. A wealthy man of some position, as the chief tax collector he likely had other tax collectors working for him, it seems he may have been the head of a local tax office. We don’t know precisely, as the Greek word only occurs here in the New Testament. What happens between Jesus and Zacchaeus stands against the earlier encounter, showing us the better way to respond to Jesus.

Seek Jesus

In both stories the main characters want to see Jesus. The ruler in Luke 18 seeks Jesus, and engages Him in conversation. Zacchaeus, on the other hand, wants only to see Jesus. He does not try to engage Jesus, he does not try to get to the front of the crowd. He climbs a tree hoping to see over the crowd, and just catch sight of Jesus. It seems that Zacchaeus, unlike the rich ruler, does not want anything from Jesus.

So, having heard about Jesus, having heard that He is passing by Zacchaeus takes action. He thinks about what may prevent him from seeing Jesus and tries to overcome it. This teaches us a great lesson, especially when we contrast this with the rich ruler.

We should be just as eager to see Jesus, we should not come to Jesus looking for Him to validate and approve our life choices. We can come to Jesus each and every day, we don’t have to wait for Him to be passing by, we don’t have to climb trees to see Him. Paul teaches us that Jesus is with us by His Spirit.

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”

Ephesians 3: 16-17

Our way to Jesus is open, and this story challenges us to eagerly seek Jesus. Zacchaeus runs, he climbs, all for just the chance to see Jesus. We don’t need to do those things, but we should still have the same eagerness to spend time with Jesus each and every day.

What does that look like, practically? That will vary for each of us, but routine is key. Routine is what forms habits, and this is a habit worth forming. For me, I set aside time at the start of each day to read the Bible and pray. This is before breakfast, before my morning coffee, and before the rest of my family wakes up. I find this works for me, I am a morning person, and I enjoy the peace of the house at this time. It also sets me up for the day. Maybe this will work for you, maybe it won’t. The point is to find a regular time in your day that does work for you. 

Let’s take up the challenge to be as eager as Zacchaeus to spend time with Jesus.

Practical Application

• Do you have a regular time in your day set aside to be with Jesus? If not, try to find that time and give it a go.

• Ask some friends to keep you accountable, to check in with you and help you develop consistency in this.

Jesus Sees

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.””

Luke 19: 5

Zacchaeus is certainly seeing Jesus now, but more than that he is seen by Jesus. Not only is he seen by Jesus, he is known by Jesus. Notice that Jesus uses his name, we can often overlook a detail like that, but these two have not been introduced before. Yet here is Jesus addressing Zacchaeus by name and inviting himself round. Jesus sees, knows, and accepts Zacchaeus. This must have been beyond Zacchaeus’ wildest dreams. He is not just going to catch a glimpse of Jesus passing by, he is going to spend time with Him.

Notice that Jesus goes to Zacchaeus’ house. This is a relaxed setting, it is not formal. There has been no time to prepare, to make sure everything is exactly as it should be. Jesus is willing to go to the house whatever state it may be in.

What can we learn from this today?

As we seek Jesus, we know that He sees us, He knows us, and He accepts us. Zacchaeus meets Jesus just as he is. Jesus draws near to him before any change happens. We don’t need to have everything sorted, we don’t need to live perfect lives without complications, and we don’t need to be sinless to meet Jesus. We do need to seek Jesus, and we do need to be ready for Jesus to see us just as we are.

So, as we set aside time each day to seek Jesus, we should expect Jesus to see us, to know us, and to spend time with us. That means not simply completing our devotional time, ticking that box, and moving on. It means responding to Jesus as He wants to spend time with us, allowing time for relaxed fellowship, and giving Jesus the chance to speak.

Practical Application

• Give thanks that Jesus sees you, and knows you.

• Pause now, spend time with Jesus, just relaxing and waiting for Him to speak.

Three Responses

As Jesus engages with Zacchaeus we see two distinct responses in this passage and it is also worth taking another look at the rich ruler in chapter 18.

Zacchaeus’ initial response is to obey and welcome Jesus.

“So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.”

Luke 19: 6

Then we get the contrast with the crowd, the crowd Zacchaeus has run ahead of, the crowd he has struggled to see over. They witness this event, they see Jesus talking to this man who works for Rome. Jesus is interacting with the enemy, surely Jesus knows who this is? These are the sorts of things I imagine the grumbling, murmuring crowd to be saying. It is not just Zacchaeus who responds to Jesus, but the crowd also. They may have been following Jesus along the road, but they were not seeking Him like Zacchaeus.

This presents us with the challenging question; are we merely following or are we seeking Jesus. What would this look like? Well, to be like the crowd is to go where Jesus is going but with the motivation of seeing what He might do and what we might get out of it. 

“Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.”

John 6: 26

The crowd are following alongside Jesus to see what they can get. Worse than that they are standing in judgement over Zacchaeus and over Jesus. Do we do that? Do we see Jesus work in the life of another and grumble about it? Do we mutter to one another? I sincerely hope not, but that is what is being shown here as one of the responses to the work of Jesus. We should pay attention and heed this warning.

We should contrast Zaccahaeus’ action with that of the crowd, he is seeking Jesus, he is ready for a transformative encounter. This is the difference. Are we going through the motions, maybe hoping to get something, or are we seeking Jesus knowing, hoping that he can transform us even if it costs us?

“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.””

Luke 19: 8

Zacchaeus is transformed. Notice that all Jesus has said to him is to tell him he is coming to his house. There has been no teaching, no exposition, no logical arguments or persuasive words. Zacchaeus has met Jesus and his life has been transformed, his actions demonstrate the transformation. This is what we should expect in our own lives when we encounter Jesus. Remember the rich ruler from chapter 18; he sought Jesus, he had a conversation with Jesus but went away unchanged. It seems he, like Zaccchaeus, had a love of money and possessions, but wanted Jesus to validate his life. Zacchaeus seems to have come to Jesus more open, more willing to change, more aware of his need to change.

As we seek Jesus do we do it knowing that we need Him to change us? Or do we come hoping He will tell us we are fine as we are? Let’s take the challenge to come more like Zacchaeus.

Practical Application

• Give thanks to Jesus that He does change you, that He has already started His work of transformation in your life.

• Acknowledge to Jesus that you still need Him to change you, and ask Him to continue that work today.

The Result

To really understand the full result of this encounter we must go back to what Jesus said at the start.

“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.””

Luke 19: 5

If we look closely at the word “stay” we see that it is the word for remain or abide, the same word that Jesus uses in John 15 as He declares “I am the vine”. What Jesus is saying to Zacchaeus is “I want to visit your house, but more than that I want to remain with you, and have you remain in me.” This initial statement carries that life changing desire of Jesus, and as we have seen the impact is a changed life.

At the end of this story we read Jesus declare to Zacchaeus, with those who were also there hearing it too, the full impact of what has happened.

“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.””

Luke 19:9-10

Jesus remains with Zacchaeus, and Zacchaeus remains in Jesus. Zacchaeus has entered the family, becoming an heir of the promise given to Abraham. Jesus sought and saved a lost man. That is the testimony of everyone who follows Jesus. Jesus has saved you, and you remain in Him.

We should take one final look at the rich ruler. He heard the call and challenge of Jesus and left, he went away sad we are told (Luke 18:22-23). Zacchaeus, presumably with a similar love of money, is rescued because he sees the better thing, he sees the greater love, and it leads to incredible action. It seems that Zacchaeus shows us what it means for a “camel to go through the eye of a needle” (Luke 18: 25), and shows us that this is possible with God.

Practical Application

• Give thanks to Jesus that he sought you and saved you.

• Ask God to highlight anything in your life that you love more than Him, repent for this and declare again that He is number one.