Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus

(Luke 19:1-10)

By: Deborah Chow

Do you know who is the artist sketching of? Many of you would recognise him as Jesus. Although people easily recognise paintings of Jesus yet many do not really know who Jesus is and this lack of understanding led to distorted view of Him.

We are going to look into Luke 19:1-10 to be reminded of who Jesus is through Zacchaeus’ encounter with Him.

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and that would mean he probably paid a high bid to become a tax collector and rose up the rank to be chief of the tax collection system. He had made himself rich by factoring his portion of commission from those collecting taxes for him. Many during his time considered his wealth obtained illegally. Hence, regarded as a sinner and scorned by Jewish society. This cultural background is paramount to help us understand the crowd’s response to Jesus calling out to Zacchaeus and to know who Jesus is through him.

Jesus is a friend to sinners

4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

In Jewish culture, Jews will not share a meal or mix with sinners. Since Jesus is a Jew, He is expected to abide by the Jewish culture practiced then. However, Jesus was not going to give in to culture pressure as verse 5 tells us that Jesus called out to Zacchaeus and invited Himself to be a guest at Zacchaeus’ house. That’s counter cultural because it was not the practice! In calling out to Zacchaeus, Jesus was introducing a better culture, how people should live in this new culture - to accept sinners, receive them and not cut them off.

Likewise, our culture tells us it’s acceptable to cut-off or reject those whom we think are sinners – had committed terrible sins or living a sinful lifestyle; people whom we avoid being with, and mixing with. However, Jesus had set a pattern for all of us as his disciples to emulate –to accept sinners and not cut them off. We are to change our human perception on how we should treat people whom we deem as ‘sinners’.

I once read somewhere that “No one is too sinful that God cannot love and receive.” God not only accepted us as sinner, He demonstrated his love for us and called us his own.

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. (Rom 15:7)

Jesus was more concerned about people than what others think of him.

7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

When the crowd heard that Jesus will be a guest at Zacchaeus’ house, they grumbled and criticised Jesus for breaking the Jewish culture. The crowd was concerned who Jesus was eating with, who Jesus was talking to, where Jesus was going. On the other hand, Jesus, He did not care what people thought of him for He was more concerned for people – even people who are cut-off by society, despised and seen as unworthy. What a contrast!

To Jesus, no one was too sinful that He cannot love and receive.

When we choose to love and accept people despised by society, we are then walking in the footsteps of Jesus and that marks us out as his disciples.

Jesus brings true transformation

8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus left a great impact on his life as he publicly acknowledged his past sins and was willing to correct his wrong by giving generously to the poor and to restore anyone he defrauded fourfold.

Anyone who had truly encountered Jesus, their life will surely be transformed. No one who had truly encountered Jesus remained unchanged. You would have heard of countless testimonies of life being transformed after encountering Jesus and you yourself would have been transformed when you encountered Jesus personally.

Transformation is part of a Christian’s journey of growing to be more Christ-like (just like the transformation of larvae to become a butterfly) and this journey is not easy but one that is necessary.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Cor 3:18)

Jesus is more concerned about our eternal destiny than our present happiness.

10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Jesus calling out to Zacchaeus reveals His mission on earth. Indeed, Jesus did not come to this world to make us happy or to make our lives more comfortable; instead He came to seek and save lost sinners like you and I and many yet unsaved.

Zacchaeus was lost but was found. Similarly, we were once lost but now was found. It is written in 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

In conclusion, we have been reminded of who Jesus is through Zacchaeus: that Jesus accepts sinners, Jesus brings true transformation and Jesus is concerned about people’s eternal destiny.

Who is Jesus to you as you encounter Him in your life? Who Jesus is to you is your story, your witness for Christ.

Usually, once we begin to tell people about Jesus, they would try to brush us off or wouldn’t want to listen more. However, when we begin to tell our story of how Jesus had helped, provided, comforted us in our struggles, people will listen as they identify with the struggles that we face. Let us not be ashamed to share our story of Christ. Our story may lead people to know Christ and come to salvation. Oh, what joy it would be!

- Permai Snapshot #38 (February 2021) -