“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”

Matthew 11:28

His name was scorned among his people, despite his wealth. As chief tax collector, Zacchaeus made money helping Rome extract heavy taxes from his people and that alienated him from them. His physical stature didn’t help either. His diminutive size got him pushed around in crowds. On this Thursday morning, something in the air puzzled him. Zacchaeus had never given serious thought to his sinful and hated situation; but this morning, he felt the weight of it.

“I will go to Jerusalem the next Sabbath for confession and to offer the required sacrifice,” he resolved.

Suddenly, the noise of a rushing crowd; “What could that be?” He asked.

Walking towards its direction, he heard it was Jesus passing through Jericho (Lk. 19:1), his town.

“This is the man I need to see. If only I could talk to him.”

He got pushed around by the crowd. Frustrated, he ran ahead and perched in a sycamore fig tree; making sure no one saw him.

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

“How did He know my name and my hideout in this tree? Did somebody snitch on me?”

With such questions parading Zacchaeus’ mind, he hurried and gladly welcomed Jesus to his home (6). His curiosity ensnared him; and now he was host to the Messiah.

“Who needs the chief priest anymore,” he said.

 “What! How could Jesus go into the house of a sinner like Zacchaeus,” the people derided. “Isn’t there a priest in town to host Him, if He claims to be a Rabbi and Teacher of the Law?”

Poor human beings! How judgmental and accusing, while we are deserving of judgement for worse behavior.

“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”, Zacchaeus shocked the people into a hushed silence (v.8). What a man!

There is not a soul that genuinely receives the grace of God through Jesus and remains the same. His presence transforms the soul, and His grace brings it in conformity to His nature through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Perspective and attitudinal changes are its results. Was there a conversation between the sinner and the Savior? Luke doesn’t tell; but the evidence says much. Zacchaeus started the day a wretched soul but ended it a transformed believer.

Do you know a Zacchaeus in your neighborhood? Have you noticed their curiosity? Don’t you see how your co-worker eavesdrops on your conversation with your Christian friends, but looks away when you notice? Can’t you feel the emptiness consuming them? Why not bring them to Jesus, that they may experience the transforming power of His grace and the assurance of eternal life in Him.

Isn’t that our commission?