“Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.”
Luke 19:1-6 NKJV
Good morning! Are you ready for the unexpected? Are you prepared to entertain Jesus today? Are you ready to be overwhelmed by Love? Zacchaeus was one of the most despised and hated individuals among his people, the Jews. They saw him as a traitor because he worked for the oppressive Roman government, he was a tax collector. He was an outcast. Yet of all the hundreds of people thronging Jesus, he was the one Jesus chose to dine with.
Dining or having a meal with someone in the middle eastern culture was a big deal. It was a sign of friendship and acceptance. Zacchaeus may not have been prepared, but he was ready. This was the first person to acknowledge him in this way. The first one willing to risk their reputation to be with him. But Jesus wasn’t interested in perfection, He was looking for someone to bless. Is that you today? Is that me? This is the only account that we read of Jesus inviting Himself to someone’s home. Zacchaeus would never have invited Jesus to his house. He didn’t think he was good enough. But how many of you know that Jesus’ main mission was to seek and to save the lost? Religious folks will write us off but Jesus invites Himself to our hearts/house to demonstrate to the world and us that He’s no respecter of persons.
I don’t think Zacchaeus had time to sweep things under the rug or stuff things into a closet. The call was urgent: Make haste and come down, I must stay at your house today. We can never clean our spiritual houses up on our own. The most morally good person without Jesus is still considered filthy. Only Jesus through His blood can truly make us acceptable to the Father. It may take a sudden Imposition on Jesus’ part to get some of you to receive Him, but He’s willing to do whatever it takes to give you your true identity back. Notice that Zacchaeus didn’t hesitate. He didn’t say he wasn’t prepared for company, He didn’t say “hey, how dare you invite yourself to my house?” Someone, not just anyone by the way, the One he was anxious to see, albeit in obscurity, stopped under the tree he had climbed up to, called him by name and wanted to spend time with him.
I don’t believe he had ever been addressed by his name before. There was something in the way Jesus said his name that put him at ease. He had never been invited to dine with his fellow Jews or even most Gentiles so Jesus did one better and invited Himself to his house. Do you feel like an outcast? No sense of belonging? Jesus sees you. There’s no tree big enough or high enough for you to hide yourself in. He’ll stop for just you. But will you make excuses when He does? Or will you make haste to accept His invitation? Zacchaeus shook off the stigma attached to his work and received Jesus on short notice. The religious world may not be convinced that you can change, but Jesus is. They may still see the old you. But all that matters is how Jesus sees you, and how you see yourself after you’ve encountered Him.
“But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 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.” 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.” Luke 19:7-10 NKJV
Zacchaeus experienced freedom that day. He received love and acceptance from the only One who really mattered. He addressed the accusations by saying “if” I have taken anything from anyone I will restore it fourfold” Unconditional love brought salvation to an outcast. Oh the joy that must’ve filled his heart when Jesus recognized him as a son of Abraham. The church made no attempt to share the good news of salvation with him. They ostracized and criticized him. But that’s the reason why Jesus came, and that’s why we’re called to be His ambassadors. Jesus loves us too much to leave us the way we are. The message of grace is for all who will receive it. We don’t get to choose who gets into heaven. We are privileged to extend the same love, mercy and grace to others that we have received.
Jesus is offering you the same opportunity He gave to Zacchaeus. “Today I must come to your house.” Can you hear the urgency of the invitation? Can you hear the love in His voice? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. What will you do? Will you stay in the tree or will you make haste and come down? The religious crowd may not change their opinion of you, but Jesus has already decided that you matter to Him. You may have to make restitution, apologize to some people you may have hurt. But the salvation Jesus offers allows for a clean slate.
Climb down, make haste, this is the day of your turnaround.
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
September 30, 2021