One of the popular passages in the Scriptures is that of Zacchaeus. This daily devotional looks at how both Zacchaeus and Jesus had a part in bringing salvation to Zacchaeus while in the tree.
Nuggets
- We should be excited about seeking Jesus.
- Christ will always meet us when we come to Him for salvation.
Devotions in the Salvation Comes to Zacchaeus series
The story of Zacchaeus is a great story. It shows that Jesus truly came to save all.
Jesus came to save sinners, regardless of their occupation or other reason some think they should be excluded. Jesus loves all the same.
Note: this is another instance where translators couldn’t agree on how to spell the dude’s name. When I am saying something about him, I used the spelling in the verses I used. If I am quoting someone or identifying the source material, I used their spelling.
Two different spellings — same guy — one tree.
Let's Put It into Context
We’ve looked at the story of Zacchaeus before — from his perspective. What went through his mind when He was trying to see Jesus?
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
Let’s look this time what others have for us to learn.
Wanting to See Jesus
“He entered Jericho and was passing through. There was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way” (Lk. 19: 1-4 CSB)
We should be excited about seeking Jesus.
Jesus was passing through Jericho to get to Jerusalem and the triumphant entry. This close, it might be easy for us to think Jesus would be totally focused on the crucifixion.
Nope, not Jesus. He was going to take the time to talk to one marginalized person.
Zacchaeus was a tax collector. He was particularly hated because he had gotten rich taxing his fellow Jews.
Person of Interest
Woodhouse pointed out that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector. Being in a position of authority, he probably endured greater temptations. Kelly thought that this was an indication that he was sharp and shrewd.
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The goal for Zacchaeus’ day was to see Jesus. Luke said that he was “… trying to see who Jesus was …” (Lk. 19: 3 CSB).
Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus. He heard through the grape vine what Jesus was teaching. He had heard enough to know that he wanted to see Him and hear more.
Leavitt thought it strange that Zacchaeus had never seen or heard Jesus before. With Jericho being 15 miles from Jerusalem, it does seem logical that Zacchaeus would have cut over there to check Him out.
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It is assumed that Zacchaeus was a greedy man who loved money more than God. Many see verse 8 as his admission of overcharging when he collected taxes.
If we add in here greed for power that could have gone along with being a chief, we do have someone that is far from God.
Whatever we think Zacchaeus was, he knew he had to meet Jesus. He knew He needed a Savior.
There was a problem, though. As usual, there was a crowd surrounding Jesus — and Zacchaeus was short.
Zacchaeus didn’t give up. His curiosity wouldn’t let him. Kelly also called Zacchaeus self-reliant.
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Croll made the comment that, to seek Christ, we need to go where He wants us to go. That is true. I think it would be better said that we have to go the way He is going.
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In Belief in the Christ of the Cross Is Essential devotion, we said that God is adamant that we have to come to salvation His way. That is more than going where He wants us to go.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
In Zacchaeus terms, that means Jesus couldn’t be on the main drag and Zacchaeus on a side street. Or while Jesus was at the sycamore tree, Zacchaeus couldn’t be playing treehouse in a sycamine tree (Lk. 17: 6 KJV — mulberry everywhere else). Close, but wouldn’t work.
Evans brought up a good point. Zacchaeus was being very brave to do something that probably had the crowd laughing. Did they chalk it up to his being eccentric?
How many times do we want to not be conspicuous? We don’t want to give even a hint that we are different from the crowd.
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But we need to do what we have to in order to meet Jesus. Sometimes, seeking God takes determination.
That was basically Kelly’s point. Zacchaeus didn’t bite on himself because he was short. He just did what he had to do.
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Just knowing about Him isn’t enough. We have to become acquainted with Him and ask Him into our lives.
Meeting Jesus for Salvation
“When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today it is necessary for me to stay at your house.’ So he quickly came down and welcomed him joyfully. All who saw it began to complain, ‘He’s gone to stay with a sinful man’” (Lk. 19: 5-7 CSB)
Christ will always meet us when we come to Him for salvation.
Kelly stressed that Jesus came, looked, and said. Yes, we do have to be coming the correct Way (Jn. 14: 6) for salvation. But Jesus comes to us, too.
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Jesus knew Zacchaeus needed salvation. Providing salvation was His mission.
- Salvation is the gift of life through the deliverance from evil and the consequences of sins to replace them with good and eternal life.
- The consequences of sin are spiritual death and physical separation from God.
- Spiritual death is the spiritual separation from God that occurred as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s original sin. The spiritually alive are those who have ABCDed, so they are no longer separated from God.
- Eternal life is the promise of living eternally – even if we have died in this life – because we have admitted our sins, believed Jesus as Savior and Redeemer, and confessed God as Sovereign Lord.
Glossary
Jesus is more than happy to stop what He is doing and lead a lost soul to salvation. He wants us to find life in Him.
How do we know that? Woodhouse said Jesus called Zacchaeus by name. Jesus knew everything about him.
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I am sure Zacchaeus did not expect Jesus to talk with him. He probably felt even more self-conscious about climbing the tree when He did.
It was even more unexpected that Jesus said He was going home with Zacchaeus. Luke said he welcomed Jesus joyously.
Think of it this way. Zacchaeus was seeking Jesus. Yeah, he probably heard a little bit from his perch.
It wouldn’t have been much.
Now, Jesus was going home with Zacchaeus. He could ask Him as many questions as he needed answered.
The conversation didn’t go, “I heard you had a nice house. Can I come over?” Jesus didn’t angle for an invitation. Every other version except the one I used translates it as “I must.”
That day was the day Zacchaeus would find salvation. Not the next or the next. That day.
So, Jesus had to see Zacchaeus that day.
Jesus was going to take His time to answer those questions. He was going to make sure Zacchaeus knew enough to make an informed decision.
The best part — Jesus accepts us where we are when we ask forgiveness of our sins. He doesn’t expect us to clean up our acts before we come to Him.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
True, we change our character to be more like Jesus’ on the Sanctification Road after conversion. But that is what we sign up for.
- Sanctification is the transformation of mind, body, and soul, which begins with regeneration, gradually changes our nature through the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and ends with perfected state of spiritual wholeness or completeness.
- Regeneration is being changed from spiritually dead to spiritually alive and the internal requickening in us that God brings about through the work of the Holy Spirit to give us new character.
- The perfected state indicates the combination of the spiritual graces which, when all are present, form spiritual wholeness or completeness.
- Spiritual graces are worldly morals that have been submitted to God to further His kingdom instead of enhancing this world.
Glossary
Zacchaeus may not have expected Jesus’ command, but he quickly obeyed. He came right down the tree. Leavitt quoted Moody as saying Zacchaeus was converted “somewhere between the limb and the ground.”
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Look at it this way. There was only the verse number in between the call and the climb — and that was put in later. So, obedience was immediate.
Who thinks Zacchaeus was saved at the first step?
Zacchaeus showed that he believed Jesus was his Lord and Savior. Then, he became a child of God (Jn. 1: 12).
Glossary
Kelly pointed out the change in circumstances for Zacchaeus. He was in a valley because he was too short to see above the crowd. Now, he was on the mountaintop because Jesus actually stopped for him.
The reason for this change, as pointed out by Kelly, was that it made it to Zacchaeus’ conscience. Kelly wrote, “No conversion, however loudly proclaimed, will be of any lasting value unless it includes and practically displays a New Testament conscience.”
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Our conscience is the part of our nature that impacts our moral decisions as it points us to what is right and gives us pain or pleasure depending on the choice.
Glossary
Ooo, baby. There always has to be some in the crowd. Luke didn’t label them as Pharisees, but it sounds like something they would say.
Person of Interest
The crowd probably thought they had just cause. Jesus was conversing, as Spurgeon reminded us, with an excommunicated man.
But Jesus is the Savior of the world (Jn. 3: 16). He shows mercy, love, and grace.
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Making the Connections
Kelly brought up a good point. Was it fair that Zacchaeus had to go to such an extraordinary measure in order to meet Jesus?
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What? You think it is always going to be easy getting to Jesus? You do remember Satan is going to try everything in his power to stop that from happening, don’t you? Boyd listed some of the obstacles that Satan puts in our way as education, occupation, or circumstances.
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No, I don’t think it isn’t always going to be easy when we are ABCDing. But it is worth it.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
How Do We Apply This?
- We could use an upgrade in piety and virtue.
- Watch who we interact with in case a Jesus comes to our house today.
- Give up the prejudices and love like Jesus did.
- Run to climb the tree to seek Jesus.
- Do some spring cleaning to remove everything Jesus wouldn’t want to find in our house.
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At my house, we have a dish towel that reads, “This house runs on coffee and Jesus.” Now, you may substitute something for coffee.
We can’t substitute the need for Jesus to run our houses.
Father God. It is so evident that Your priority is our salvation. Thank You. We need to be restored to You. Amen.
What do you think?
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