Zacchaeus was a chief publican who collected taxes for the Roman Empire which was in rule during that period. Being a chief tax collector, he would employ tax collectors under him to collect taxes from various parts of the district. So he become a well- known person, having power in government, and became wealthy. Zacchaeus as a short man - short in his structure and also “short in the eyes of people” because of collecting tax from them; he was hated by people. Besides, we see him “short in the eyes of God”— (Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God”)

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According to worldly standards, Zacchaeus was a successful man but to Jesus, he was a lost man.

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Zacchaeus heard about Jesus and was determined to see Him. He sincerely and earnestly put all efforts to see Him. Neither the worldly pressures nor the people around him nor his own limitations could stop him from seeing Jesus. We see that he ran ahead of the crowd, climbed up the sycamore tree to see Jesus who was passing by (Luke 19:4).

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Psalm 14:2 says, “The Lord looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.” God sees the sincerity in the hearts of people like Zacchaeus who constantly seek Him and He works on behalf of them (2Chron.16:9).

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In Isaiah 49:1 it says: "Listen to me, you coastlands! Pay attention, you people from far away! The LORD called me from the womb; while I was still in my mother's body, he pronounced my name.” We see here that Jesus calls out Zacchaeus’ name and tells him to hurry down as He is going to stay in his house that day (Luke 19:5).  Today He is calling to you and me to come out from our places of hiding and invite Him to stay in our “home”- our hearts. Have you responded to that call? The time of His second coming is near- will you give your life to Him before it is too late?

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Zacchaeus hurried down the tree and received Jesus joyfully. There was no place for hesitation-he was delighted; he humbled himself, believed him and received Jesus into his home and his life. When Zacchaeus received Jesus, his sins were forgiven and his relationship with God was reinstated.

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Jesus is the Pioneer of our salvation. John 3:15 says that everyone who believes in Him (Jesus) may have eternal life. Remember, Jesus took our sins upon Himself and suffered on the cross so that you and I will be forgiven. Our glory which we lost when the first man sinned is reinstated through Jesus Christ and as partakers of the cross, we too can now walk in His glory.

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Standing in that restored glory, Zacchaeus declared in Luke 19:8:   "Lord, I'll give half of my possessions to the poor. I'll pay four times as much as I owe if I have cheated anyone in any way." By hearing this Jesus said: "Today salvation has come to this home, because this man is also a descendant of Abraham.” Truly salvation had come to this sincerely repentant man who not just believed but showed it through his actions.

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Prayer:

Dear God, please give me a sincere heart of repentance to seek You that I may be saved from the wretched world and have eternal life in You. Help me Lord then to walk in Your glory. Amen.

Listen: ‘You did not wait for me’