Zacchaeus’ Example
Christianity is a rescue effort for desperate men. When there’s nothing in this world left to live for, then we can run from the world and toward our Lord Jesus Christ. He will embrace us in his arms. Jesus said, “come unto me all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” When we’re desperate and at the point of repentance we can turn from ourselves and unto the Lord.
Zachaeus was a desperate man. His story is in Luke 19: “AND Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, 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.”
Previously, Jesus had told a rich young ruler to sell all that he had and to follow him. This man left grieved and discouraged because he had many riches.
The story of Zacchaeus is a contrast to the story of the rich young ruler. Jesus asked the both of these rich men a diagnostic question to determine the condition of each man’s heart: “What is the cost of following me?” However, the underlying question is not about the cost… it’s about value. Is the value of eternal life and of walking in fellowship with the Lord worth the price of the world?
Zacchaeus’ name means “the righteous one.” He was a wealthy tax collector who received a cut from the other tax gatherers in his district. To the Jews, he was considered a “turncoat” because he worked for the Roman government and not for the people. He took pride in taxing the people beyond their means. Zacchaeus came to a point of conviction… to the realization that he wasn’t righteous after all.
Sin means to miss the mark. According to James, he who knows to do what is right and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin. Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus. He realized that even though he was rich, Jesus had something that he didn’t have. Romans 8 says that unless you receive the Holy Spirit you cannot please God. Zachaeus thought that he was seeking Jesus. However, Jesus said, “you have not chosen me, I have chosen you.”
Jesus knew what was in the heart of man. By revelation, he knew that Zacchaeus had a “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” According to the beatitudes, He who hungers and thirsts for righteousness shall be filled.
The crowds followed Jesus around because they had witnessed miracles that he had performed. Jesus drew many people but they didn’t realize that he was the son of God, the promised Messiah who would redeem mankind.
There must be conviction before conversion. We’re all convicts in the sight of God, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. In our own power we cannot approach the throne of a holy and righteous God. Zacchaeus realized that he did not live up to his namesake and that he was unrighteous. Humility and meekness is the prerequisite to receive God’s grace.
Zachaeus threw dignity to the wind. He ran before the crowd and climbed up a tree to see Jesus when he came by. In his desperation to see the Lord, he was not ashamed to shame himself before the multitude. A desperate man is not ashamed to empty himself of his pride in order to approach the Lord with empty hands.
Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus.” He addressed him by his name. Like the song says, he knows my name, He knows my every thought, and sees me when I fall. From our Father’s perspective we are “righteous in his sight” when will the we are clothed in the white robes of Christ’s righteousness.
Zacchaeus approached his Lord Jesus Christ with a heart of repentance. Repentance means to turn around. He gladly ran to the Lord and away from sin. He said, I’ll give half my riches to the poor. I’ll recompense those I’ve defrauded four times over. To follow the Lord, I’ll gladly forsake my evil ways, make restitution to those I’ve wronged, and come clean before my Lord.
The gospel message is not in great swelling words of man’s vanity but in deed and in truth. Many don’t understand what it means to be a witness for Christ. John the Baptist sent his disciples to see Jesus and then report whether or not Jesus was the Messiah. A witness does not defend the truth. A witness testifies to the truth of what he has seen with his own eyes. When John’s disciples saw Jesus, they had witnessed the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus said, “go and tell John what you’ve seen and heard.” Like John’s disciples, we have “tasted and seen that the Lord is good.” Therefore we are his witnesses: we cannot but speak the things that we have seen and heard.
A sinner can’t help but sin. It is his nature, for the natural (unsaved) man receives not the things of the spirit of God. Neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. To receive the things of the spirit of the Lord we must be born again of God’s spirit. We had nothing to do with our natural birth. Likewise, we had nothing to do with our spiritual birth. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast.
According to Philippians 3, we have no confidence in the flesh. Even though Paul was a “Hebrew of Hebrews” of the tribe of Benjamin, Paul said, “I count all things but loss for the sake of the surpassing value of knowing Christ. The righteousness I have is through the power of the resurrection of my Lord Jesus Christ.”
Those who are born again of God’s spirit are witnesses of the resurrection. Because of Christ’s completed work on our behalf we have received salvation by grace alone though faith alone in Christ alone. For he who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him. This is the gospel message. This is amazing grace. This is God’s unfailing love.
May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael