Scripture
8Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” 9Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:8-10
Observation
Jesus gives His followers a Master Class on Evangelism in this powerful narrative. We see before our eyes the complete transformation of an influential man and his family. When Zac woke up that morning he was the most hated man in Jericho as the “chief tax collector” working for the oppressors of his own people. When he went to bed that night he was loved, forgiven, and surprising his neighbors with restitution for all he had taken. What caused this change in less then 24 hours? Jesus was seeking and saving.
Identify- Jesus was the voice above the noise calling Zacchaeus by name. His name meant “pure one” and was no doubt mocked on a daily basis by those he took advantage of. His fellow Jews probably had some choice names for him, but this may have been the first time he heard his name “pure one” from a pure one since his Mom named him as a baby. Jesus saw past his past reputation and called to that deep place in every man who longs to be respected, seen, and found with good reputation.
Invite- Jesus was surrounded by a crowd bumping in to him, but only one was willing to look foolish in actually seeking Him. Men of his influence didn’t climb trees, but Zac, no doubt mocked for his lack of stature, had heard Jesus was a man who loved the unlovable and he fit the bill. Jesus invites Himself over to Zac’s house out loud and in front of the crowd knowing full well this would be controversial. In Middle Eastern culture to go to someone’s house for dinner was to call them family. Jesus wasn’t just after a fly by, but He wanted true relationship with Zac and his family who were also no doubt shunned by their community.
Intentional- There was nothing haphazard about what Jesus was doing on this day. This was no “chance encounter”. He was intentionally seeing the one who was seeking and paused His journey to Jerusalem for this opportunity to see the ripple effect of a life redeemed. When Jesus calls Him a “true son of Abraham” He reminds Him of His roots in the faith as a man of faith. He was intentionally restoring Zac’s identity.
Application
I remember singing this ridiculous little ditty in Sunday school that comes to mind every time I read this passage:
“Zacchaeus was a wee little man
And a wee little man was he
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see
And when the Savior passed that way
He looked up in the tree
And said, 'Zacchaeus, you come down!
For I'm going to your house today!
For I'm going to your house today!’”
Jesus saw past His stature straight to his soul. What if walked around with the same missional mindset? To seek and save the lost is to see those that everyone else is missing and to love those that everyone else is hating on, to spend time with those that everyone else would rather avoid. To identify the “true identity” of the person, to invite them to true relationship rather then a religious interaction, and to be intentional with my use of time means my whole schedule needs to be spirit-led rather then need-led. To find the needle in the haystack requires patience and means I might get bloody and itchy in the process. It means many religious folks will look at what I’m doing and judge it as controversial and even sinful. Am I willing to go there to seek and save the lost? Can I see the “pure one” in the midst of an impure lifestyle?
Prayer
I’m really loving this “Give God Five” prayer challenge we are in right now. I have realized how often I’m so caught up in the crowd of my people, plans, responsibilities and problems that I make very little room for a Zacchaeus in my life. Forgive me for missing the ones who are climbing trees around me trying to get a glimpse of You. Help me to see with Your eyes the ones who are seeking You. Help me to see past the reputation and see the person. Help me to see the pure person past the impure lifestyle.
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