LifeWay Family Bible Series for July 4: Jesus was just as intent on seeing Zaccheaus_62804

Posted: 6/25/04

LifeWay Family Bible Series for July 4

Jesus was just as intent on seeing Zaccheaus

Lamentations 3:19-24; Luke 19:1-10

By Rodney McGlothlin

First Baptist Church, College Station

From the congregation's perspective, Steve appeared to be a good bit shorter than my height of six feet.

Due to a problem with the baptistery glass, he was being baptized in less than three feet of water. It was going to be a difficult dunking, to say the least. He decided to help me out. He came duck walking up to me, squatting with bended knees, giving up a foot of his height. I appreciated his effort. I pronounced the usual baptismal formulas and immersed him. I buried him with Christ in baptism at about 5'7″. When I raised him to walk in newness of life, he sprang from his watery grave with newness of height, his full 6'7″ dwarfing his previously taller pastor. Six short people came forward for baptism that morning.

Zaccheaus is remembered as a short man, a diminutive dude with few friends and little hope of attaining any. Most of us have not memorized the biblical story, but we know well the children's song, complete with miniature motions. “Zaccheaus was a wee little man.” If that were not insulting enough, we rub it in with repetition. “And a wee little man was he.” What can be more insulting than to describe someone with the words “wee little”? Twice!

To be politically correct, the Bible does mention the fact that he was vertically challenged, but it does not belabor the point. I will avoid the temptation to play pop psychologist here and read a Napoleon complex into the story. The biblical text spends more time describing his truncated character than it does his sawed-off stature.

Zaccheaus had a number of things working against his first-century popularity. He was a wealthy man floating easily in a sea of poverty. Add to that the manner in which his wealth was achieved. He was a tax collector. He was no IRS man. He was more of an independent contractor who collaborated with the Romans to collect the hated taxes. Paid on commission, he was about as popular with his Jewish neighbors as a door-to-door pig salesman.

He heard Jesus was coming to town and he wanted to see him. He got the best vantage point he could find to see Jesus. He shimmied up a little tree, “for the Lord he wanted to see.”

Jesus was more intent on seeing Zaccheaus than the little tree hugger was in seeing him. “And as the Savior passed that way, he looked up in the tree.” His prey was treed and defenseless. Jesus took full advantage of the situation by inviting himself to dinner.

It was not an imposition. Zaccheaus provided his new friend with the best he could on such short notice. Jesus did not come to the dinner empty handed. He brought a covered dish of his own, with ample servings of dignity and grace. It is what Zaccheaus most needed to taste.

His new relationship with Jesus changed his life. He immediately gave half his wealth to the poor. He began to repay those he had cheated, four times more than he had stolen.

Isn't that the point of this story? Jesus is looking for sinners. He encourages them with a word of fellowship. He offers himself. He gave Zaccheaus what he needed most, a friend. “Zaccheaus, you come down! For I'm going to your house today.”

Could you use a friend today? I know one. His name is Jesus. He has been looking forward to meeting you for a long time. From the dawn of time, in fact! He will come to your house and stay. He will change your life.

Are you a Christian who needs an encouraging word today? Jesus offers you the same thing. He offers you himself. He still wants a relationship with you that will transform your life. Nothing you have ever done has made him love you any less. He remains faithful.

There is a wonderful text in Lamentations that says: “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast (short?) within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him” (Lamentations 3:19-24).

Look for Jesus today. He is looking for you.

Questions for discussion

How has your relationship with Christ made you a “bigger” person?

Whose story of spiritual transformation are you most comfortable retelling–your own or that of Zaccheaus?

Why did Jesus say, “I'm going to your house today”?

Is there a place you go to find Jesus?