Just One Encounter

I love the story of Zacchaeus we find in Luke 19. It’s one of those stories that you commonly find in children’s church and in Sunday School classes. And if you’re like me, you know the song and the accompanying hand motions for it because you probably sang it 100 times before you turned the ripe old age of 15.

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he.

He climbed up in a sycamore tree, for the Lord he wanted to see.

And as the Savior came that way, He looked up in the tree,

And He said, “Zacchaeus! You come down,

for I ‘m going to your house today…for I’m going to your house today.”

It’s actually a pretty good take on the scripture, and definitely a story that many kids (regardless of age) can remember. But there is no reason that we have to abandon this favored childhood lesson once we move from children’s church to “big” church. It’s full of great insight.

Verse 2 tells us that Zacchaeus was not just a tax collector, but a chief tax collector, and was very wealthy. The tax collectors of that day were known to be crooks, dipping their hands into the money to keep something for themselves. They were frequently categorized with the ‘vile sinners’, the worst of the worst. Basically, the common man didn’t like tax collectors because they imposed harsh legalities on the people, and they were proud of their position. (If you have watched The Chosen series, you get a good idea of a tax collector by seeing Matthew’s wealth and position with the Roman officials.)

So, we have someone who isn’t known for righteous living, or for even being a good person. We have a sinner…a cheater…a swindler…we have a short man whose reputation of being a crooked tax collector was bigger than he was.

But in verse 3, we are told that Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. All of a sudden, this wealthy crook has something stir in his heart to see the One he has heard about. He’s probably heard about the miracles. Maybe he heard about the lepers that were now cleansed, or the blind man who received his sight at the hands of Jesus. Perhaps as he was collecting taxes, he overheard people talking about how they somehow miraculously were fed bread and fish, on a day that they had no lunch. What if Zacchaeus heard the same story from 50 people that day as they were waiting in line to pay their taxes?

I could interject something here about the power of the testimony…how you just never know who might be listening to your conversation, and the ripple effect it could have… but I’ll let you ponder that on your own.

We aren’t really told why he wanted to see Jesus, but the truth is evident. Something stirred a desire in his heart to see Jesus – right then – and it caused him to act. I believe it was more than curiosity; I think at that point, his desperation became greater than his dignity. Desperation will cause a man to do something that a complacent man would never consider.

When your desperation replaces your dignity, His presence becomes your pursuit.

Now this prominent official is seen climbing up a tree. Can you imagine the giggles heard in the crowd…the finger pointing…the jeering comments? He could have cursed at them or retaliated with his own sneering comments, but we hear none of that. The only conversation we have is when the Savior stops and talks to Zacchaeus.

Isn’t this a marvelous turn of events? This is something that encourages me. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus…and in turn, the King of all creation sees him. How often we forget that God sees us – that He is aware of who we are, and where we are, and what’s going on in our lives. We are His created ones, and yet we have His attention.

Jesus looks up in to the tree and tells him, “…make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house”. (Luke 19:5) This wasn’t just a passing comment, it was a deliberate invitation. Jesus made it publicly known that He wanted to spend time and develop relationship with the very one that society deemed unreachable. The crowd murmured against Jesus, even complained that He would waste His time socializing with such a sinner. I’m so glad He did! He came to seek and save the lost!

Zacchaeus may not have realized what was about to happen. He probably never expected Jesus to take the time to talk to him, much less go to his house. But when he came down out of that tree, his life changed. His heart had an encounter with the Master.

Verse 6 tells us that “he…came down and received Him (Jesus) joyfully”. Zacchaeus not only opened his home to Jesus, he also opened his heart. Obviously, the position and money had not brought the desired fulfillment he longed for, and he recognized his need for something more. The world offers a counterfeit joy – a temporary satisfaction – but the ultimate joy and peace can only be found in the presence of the One who redeems.

There was such an immediate transformation in the life of Zacchaeus that we hear him offering to make restitution for his wrongs. Jesus didn’t prompt him to do that. But when light shines in the darkness, everything that was hidden is now disclosed. There was no condemnation from Jesus; there was only love and mercy. He didn’t remind Zacchaeus of all the wrongful things he had done, He simply drew him into relationship. And the love that Zacchaeus encountered changed him from a deceitful crook into a generous giver. That’s what salvation can do.

At the end of this story, Jesus restores Zacchaeus by affirming his true identity. He calls him a ‘son of Abraham’. He had been known for his deeds and walked through life according to the world’s label of tax collector. But Jesus stepped onto the scene and introduced him as the one he was created to be: a son.

Salvation had come to the house – and the heart – of Zacchaeus. The Greek word for salvation is ‘sozo’, and it encompasses safety, preservation, wholeness, wellness and deliverance. It includes the whole person. Consequently, when Jesus said that salvation had come to this (Zacchaeus’) house, it signified that everything was now different. It was the beginning of a new life for Zacchaeus.

We never really hear anything else about Zacchaeus in scripture. There is no further record of his actions. But this account of a tax collector meeting the King was important enough to be included in scripture. I often wonder if he and Matthew knew each other prior to this account. (Maybe I’ll ask them in heaven one day.) Regardless, it’s much more than a kid’s story. It’s a powerful encounter. It’s a life being changed by the grace and love of the Savior. It’s a place of hope for those who have walked many days in darkness. It’s a call to realize that things can change. It’s an invitation to let our desperation overtake our dignity, and let pride bow in His presence.

Let’s recognize our need and do everything possible to see Him.

One encounter with Jesus can change everything.