Five truths from a life changed forever
Say what you will about Zaccheaus, but he was a man on a mission and would not be deterred.
There was a buzz throughout the city that day. Jesus would be passing through Jericho. There were no plans to stop –– Jesus was passing through. There was pushing and scrambling to see him, but Zaccheaus was going to be left out and left behind.
Zaccheaus was not the most popular man in the crowd. He was a chief tax collector, rich, and short of stature. But, he was a man on a mission and would not be deterred. Running ahead of the crowd, he scrambled up a sycamore tree to get a better view. Little did he know that his life would be changed forever.
If Zaccheaus were speaking to us today, he would share five truths of his encounter with Jesus.
First, he would say...THIS MAN SEES ME. As the crowd surrounded Jesus and pushed closer to see and touch him, Jesus stopped in his tracks. “Zaccheaus, make haste and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” Jesus not only noticed Zaccheaus, he called him by name. He saw him. Not as a tax collector, but one standing in the grace of God. That is the way Jesus sees you. He sees you as men and women of promise and potential. He calls you by name, he wants to stay at your house today. THIS MAN SEES YOU.
Secondly, Zaccheaus would say, THIS MAN KNOWS ME. Jesus knew the insecurities of this man.He knew that Zaccheaus was despised and rejected by men, but God had told Jesus that Jesus himself would be despised and rejected by men. In the Bible, the word “know” means intimate knowledge. Jesus knew the secrets of Zaccheaus. But he accepted him and not only that...
Thirdly, Zaccheaus would say, THIS MAN CALLS ME. Can’t you just see Zaccheaus shimmering down that sycamore tree. Jesus called him and received him joyfully. This was the highlight of Zaccheaus’ life –– to put aside the burdens of being a chief tax collector and right away give half of his worldly goods to the poor. It was a call to be his best self –– his higher self –– his godly self. It is the same call Jesus makes to us today. Put away your sins, put away your depression, put away your shortcomings, and shimmy down whatever sycamore tree there may be in your life. THIS MAN CALLS YOU.
Fourthly, Zaccheaus would say, THIS MAN LOVES ME. This is God’s love, a love that can conquer hate, a love that can overcome evil, a love that allowed God to give his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall have everlasting life. This is a love that is all-encompassing, all forgiving, all empowering. It is the love of God through Jesus Christ, who, on that day, became the Lord of Zaccheaus’ life. THIS MAN LOVES YOU.
Fifthly, Zaccheaus would say THIS MAN SAVES ME. To the astonishment of everyone around him, Jesus said of Zaccheaus, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and save that which was lost.” And, so it is with us. Jesus came, not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. All you have to do is call His name.
“Your name, Jesus, is the name above all names, Your name, Jesus, is the name before which we bow. Your name, Jesus, is the name that shows us God. Your name, Jesus, is a strong and mighty tower, your name, Jesus is a shelter like no other. Cause nothing has the power to save but your name.”