Part 1 in our Be the Church series

Seek the Lord, as Zacchaeus sought the Lord. He could not see the Lord because of the crowds, so he ran ahead and climbed a tree so that he might be able to view him. Luke 19:4 tells us, “So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.” Jesus probably saw him because of the earnest way that he was seeking. He probably saw the joy on his face when he was able to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Maybe this story will inspire you to start practicing climbing trees in case Jesus comes this way. But if not that, use his example. Do you do everything that is in your power to see Jesus? And when you do see Jesus in your midst, when you talk about Jesus to others, do you experience joy? Do you experience a happiness that is greater than any other when you think of our Creator and Savior? This is how Zacchaeus felt. All of a sudden, when Jesus recognized him, he lost the joy that he found in his money and wanted to give it away to right his previous wrongs, as he had cheated many in his profession of being a chief tax collector. Instead, he found joy in giving to those in need. He took an about face.

We cannot blame the disgruntled audience who mumbled, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner” (Luke 19:7). We can see that he was not a good guy at heart, at least originally. Being a chief tax collector, he supervised the capital gain that tax collectors were known to take for themselves. He was the rich man who was made rich by making everyone else poor. Everyone knew he was rich and why he was rich, so no one liked him. This is why they don’t like the fact that Jesus chose to stay at his house. But in doing so, Jesus sends a very important message. Jesus has come for the sinners – for those who need to be saved. Jesus is not necessarily here for those who are already pious and truthful. Luke 19:10 concludes this story aptly: “For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.” Ask yourself this: Are you Zacchaeus, who knows he was in the wrong and goes all in to seeking God and trying to fix his wrongs, or are you the crowd, who dissociates from those who have done wrong? Would you be upset if Jesus came back and chose to preach at a prison rather than the church? What if Jesus spent the night with that guy no one has heard from in years? Would we question his decision?