Lessons from Zacchaeus

by Travis L Quertermous

From The Reminder, July 17, 2011

Most of us are familiar with the story of Jesus’ meeting with Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. In fact, many of us can probably still sing the song we learned about him in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School, “Zacchaeus was a Wee Little Man.” As Luke told the story, Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and passed through Jericho to get there. The people of the city turned out to meet the celebrated and controversial teacher. Zacchaeus, though a rich man, had a problem—he was too short to see over the heads of the crowd. So he climbed a sycamore tree to see the Lord. Jesus saw him there and spoke kindly to him which created a scandal, since Zacchaeus was none too popular in Jericho. You see, he was the chief tax collector and they were even more hated in Jesus’ day than they are in ours! Nonetheless, this simple act of grace so touched Zacchaeus’ heart that he became a completely changed man. He offered to give half his wealth to the poor and repay fourfold anyone he had defrauded. In response, Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost” (Luke 19:9-10).

Let us ponder some questions based on this story. Is our mission in life, like Jesus’, to seek and save the lost with His gospel? Have we, at times, like the people of Jericho, misjudged people and been unkind to them? Do we, like Jesus, look for opportunities to help others, even those society has labeled unfit? Are we as concerned about the poor as Zacchaeus was? When we repent, do we, like Zacchaeus, seek to make restitution? Finally, is Jesus the center of our homes as he became the center of Zacchaeus’ home? Let us learn these lessons from a wee little man named Zacchaeus!