“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay in your house today.” (Lk. 19:5).

He was scorned by his own people despite his wealth. As chief tax collector, he had become notorious among them as betrayer and a sinner (Lk.19:3). But on this day, something different attracted our friend Zacchaeus and he couldn’t resist chasing after his curiosity. He wanted to see Jesus. Having heard about the miracles of Jesus and His teachings with authority, Zacchaeus couldn’t hold back his heart’s yearning. Despite his handicap as a short man, he was determined to see Jesus, and so he ran ahead and climbed a Sycamore tree; hoping nobody would see him.

Jesus, however, stopped where he was, and called him by name; “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay in your house today.” (Lk. 19:5). Zacchaeus hurried down and gladly welcomed Jesus into his house (v.6). The crowd reviled Jesus’ choice of host, and so they muttered, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner” (v.7).

Crowds could be very cruel sometimes. They have unique ways of getting under a person’s skin. But, blessed be God Almighty; Zacchaeus did not give way to their ridicule. He shot right back at the crowd’s jab in a manner that may have sent a hush over them. “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” (v.8). What a man!

            No soul genuinely receives the grace of God through Jesus and remains the same (2 Cor. 5:17). A transformation takes place and displaces the heart’s tendency towards wickedness. The very presence of Jesus in the life of a person inclines them towards conformity with His nature. Zacchaeus started the day a sinner, but found forgiveness and new life in Jesus. The world didn’t matter to him anymore. Money and possessions lost their appeal and grip over his heart. He easily gave them away in exchange for peace with God in Jesus (Rm. 5:1). To every renewed heart in the mercy and grace of God, heaven resounds with affirmation in Christ. Jesus therefore responded to Zacchaeus, “Today, salvation has come to this house” (9-10).

Like Zacchaeus, Jesus is seeking after the lost soul who seeks rest (Matt. 11:28). He knows the anxious moments and emotional struggles of everybody. He sees those who stand afar as if they don’t need Him, but are checking Him out anyway. He knows how careful they are, hoping, like Zacchaeus, that no one may see them. He smiles when people put on the appearance of “civility”, but are desperately crying for redemption. He pities those who fill church pews every Sunday, but snubs “this born again nonsense.” Yet, He does not take back His invitation to participation in the new covenant in His blood. He promises to save whose heart move them to call on His name (Rm. 10:13).

Are you such a person? Will you stop and come just as you are? Jesus will receive and satisfy you as He did for Zacchaeus. He wants to come and stay in your heart. Will you be His host today?