What do I know about Zaccheus from this passage?
chief tax collector (not a popular guy)
rich (from the labor of others)
small in stature (he couldn't see over the crowd)
What had he heard about Jesus that made him so desperate to see Him that he would climb up a tree?
What caused Jesus to take notice of him among such a big crowd?
What did Jesus see in Zaccheus that everyone else had missed?
In verse 6 - we are told that Zaccheus received Jesus gladly - or with rejoicing.
In verse 7 - we are told that as Jesus went to Zaccheus' house, others grumbled. I thought to myself, "If I do as the Lord commands, I can expect to be grumbled about also." followed quickly by, "Am I grumbling about what someone else is doing?"
Zaccheus has a complete change of heart after encountering Jesus.
He not only wants to make amends for the wrong he had done, but he wants to give back 4 times what he has taken.
Jesus declares that salvation has come to his house.
Seeking --> Believing --> Repentance --> Change in heart and behavior
Jesus has an answer for His critics.
He says, "I came to seek and save the lost."
I love that Jesus sees the potential in Zaccheus.
I love that He sees who Zaccheus can be -
not only who he is at the moment.
I love that Zaccheus runs and climbs up a tree
just to get a glimpse of Jesus.
I'm quite sure he looked foolish.
I'm quite sure that others laughed at him.
But, in the end, Jesus sat at his table and his life was never the same.
Next time we decide that someone is beyond change - let's think about Zaccheus.
Next time we can't see any potential, let's remember that Jesus does.
Next time we need a change of heart that leads to a change in behavior, let's remember that Jesus is the game changer.
I can't wait to meet Zaccheus. What a story he will have to tell!
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