Zacchaeus Meets Jesus Series

Some people are very interested in the Royal Family of Great Britain. I must confess that for me, not so much. Just in a year over 3 million visited the Royal residence. There is clearly sky-high interest in the UK royal family. But not me. No way am I standing for hours with the crowds just to catch a passing glimpse.

That was until I was shopping at downtown Inverness, Scotland and noticed barricades, and crowds beginning to gather. I asked why and I found the Prince and Princes of Wales were coming. Well, despite my noninterest in the royal family, I thought as an American visiting UK I should not pass up this unplanned opportunity to see the Royal family passing by.

I found a utility pole about five feet high where I could sit and wait. The crowds grew as the time drew near, but I was high enough that no matter how many came I would have an unobstructed view of the famous couple. They finally came and I had a great spot, with my elevated seat, to see them pass.

I wonder what was going through Zacchaeus mind the day Jesus was scheduled to pass by him. He certainly was not religious, but this man sure draws a crowd. His curiosity got the best of him. When Jesus came to Jerico, he was determined to get a look. He ran ahead and climbed a tree and saw Jesus. He even met Jesus. His life was changed forever.

He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:1-10)

In just a few verses we find out quite a bit about Zacchaeus. His name tells us he was a Hebrew. He was a chief tax collector. The tax collector was despised. The Hebrew tax collectors were considered traitors because as a Jew they collected taxes on a commission bases for the Roman Government. They were disliked and they did not follow the Jewish law. So even though Zacchaeus was a Jew and a physical descendant of Abraham he was an outcast among his own people.

He was from Jericho. He owned his own house there. Jericho was a prosperous city so no wonder he was wealthy collecting taxes on commission there. He has even been using his influential position for corruption by overcharging in taxes for personal gain.

Then there is the fact about Zacchaeus that every Sunday school child can enthusiastically tell you. He was short. He was a “wee little man”. When we read between the lines, we get a picture of a painfully lonely man. We assume that he was hard hearted and alienated from his own people.

So, as we picture this lonely bitter man, small in stature, we assume he uses his powerful position to compensate with wealth, position and power and being harsh and demanding on others. Probably there was no one Zacchaeus could call a friend. Then came this man Jesus into town.

What drew Zacchaeus to see Jesus? Maybe it was the enormous crowds that flocked to him. Maybe he heard this man was a miracle worker. Just prior to this Jesus gave sight to a blind man and news like this travels fast. Maybe it was because Jesus, like Zacchaeus, drew criticism from the Pharisees.

Maybe Zacchaeus was there because one of his fellow tax collectors, Matthew, also called Levi (Matthew 9:9) left his tax collecting to follow Jesus. Matthew threw a big dinner party and invited Jesus along with tax collectors and sinners. Many of Zacchaeus closest associates had gone to this party and been profoundly impacted. Matthew who threw the party eventually wrote the gospel of Matthew.