Luke 19 King James Version (KJV)
19 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
2 And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheaus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Zaccheaus Divine Encounter.
1. He was a chief tax collector.
2. He was rich
3. He desired to see Jesus
4. He was very short.
* Career-wise and in the social circle, he had excelled. In wealthy and riches he had enough to be noticed and recorded in the bible.
* The above achievements did not satisfy him, deep in his heart there was a desire to see Jesus. Do you have such a desire in you?
* The above desire was met by obstacles from his physical stature to crowds surrounding Jesus. He could have settled for another time maybe the people will be less or maybe I can meet him in one of my friend's house... and so many other excuses.
* The desire to see Jesus was too strong that he thought of a solution.
Zaccheaus strategy:
1. He ran ahead: Go in advance
2. Climbed a sycamore tree: Go to a Higher Level
3. He knew Jesus was to pass that way. : It is important as we go ahead and position us in upper level to be in the right position. It would have been useless or in vain if He ran ahead used efforts to climb a tree in the wrong path which Jesus was no passing.
Let us remember what was leading him was a desire to see Jesus.
I will pause a moment here and ask you two questions.
1. Where are you?
2. Why are you There?
Our God understands our struggles, our thoughts our words and our motives in every action we do according to psalms 139:1-18
139 O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
As I mentioned in the beginning, every route, path or turn Jesus took was a moment of divine encounter to someone. That is why Zaccheaus efforts didn't go unnoticed.
V5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheaus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
v6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
It is interesting how the people who were surrounding Jesus. The ones who blocked His access murmured and complained oh he is going to a sinners house. Jesus knew him by name and this encounter changed Zacchaeus . Jesus did not tell him to give to the poor and refund the money He was convicted by the love that Jesus showed him that day. Are you struggling to do good works and live a righteous life? My dear, you can not do it on your own. Allow Jesus to come in you and he will save you.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
