The story of Zacchaeus recorded in Luke 19:1-10 is a true picture of one truly seeking to know God; Jesus was passing by and Zacchaeus had a real desire to see Him, an inner urge that in Matthew 5:6 Jesus called “hunger and thirst” saying, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”, and Zacchaeus made the most of it. But Zacchaeus had a problem, being short he could not see Jesus for the crowd. I ask who or what is hindering you from seeing Jesus? Is it a boy or girl friend, other friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, things like pleasure, money, or other earthly activities and conditions? Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus, so he ran ahead and found a place where he could see Him from above the crowd. We must love Him more than family, friends, or things, He said, “He who loves father or mother…son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” Matthew 10:37, Cf. Matthew 19:29. Not only did Zacchaeus find a way to see Jesus, he acted on it and found Him. The Bible says “you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13. Jesus always responds to those with hungry hearts, so He called to Zacchaeus, “make haste (quickly) come down, for today I must stay at your house”, Luke 19:5. The Bible says “Today if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts”, Hebrews 3:7-8. Zacchaeus responded to the call, “he made haste and came down. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says “Behold, now is the accepted time; Behold, now is the day of salvation.” Then we see the dramatic change in Luke 19:8-9; when Jesus comes in a changed life is proof of salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Zacchaeus
By Rose Hill
Zacchaeus was a man who wanted Jesus to see
So he ran and climbed a sycamore tree.
For him it became a day of great change,
For his life Jesus needed to rearrange.
Jesus said today at your house I must stay,
It’s time now to show you a better way.
Then with great joy Zacchaeus came down,
But with this, the crowd surely did frown.
Now this story does have a very good end,
For half his possessions to the poor he will send.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.