Zacchaeus was a wee little man… (and you know you hear the tune in your head from when you went to vacation Bible school or Sabbath school).
For some time, Zacchaeus indeed was small. He was an employee of that society’s IRS. That wasn’t his problem. He went a bit outside the job description and added a few policies which just happened to add to his commissions. Well, what he did was inflate the tax table and keep the difference. He was one to get it while the getting was good. He was not accustomed to respect from anyone. He missed having friends and respect. But what could he do about it?
Then he began to hear about Jesus. And not only of Jesus but of an IRS colleague – Matthew. Jesus had actually ASKED Matt to follow Him! Jesus wanted a tax collector? This he had to see!
The local grapevine grew heavy with messages that Jesus was headed for his town. And come He did! He came in the middle of a swarm of people like no one had ever seen. Poor Zacchaeus! All he could see were elbows and arms. In his urgency to see Jesus, ANY tool would do. Running ahead of the crowd, he found a good tree on Main Street and settled on a branch where the crowd would go UNDER him. Now, this was the view! His choice was superb. Jesus was going to pass right under Him. Sure enough, there was Matt…
Oh, No! He was seeing more faces than he ever wanted to see. Jesus had looked up and directed their attention. Jesus was speaking to…to…to Zacchaeus! “Zacchaeus, come on down. I want to visit with you back home.” It all WAS true. Jesus could love a cheating scoundrel.
Under the glow of love and acceptance, Zacchaeus suddenly had no problem with his priorities. The corrections needed in his life were clear. He confessed his misappropriations and made plans for correction. Oh! he was happy. He was no longer a wee little man. Though still slight of build, he had, in the words of a children’s writer “a heart that grew three sizes that day.”
How urgent are we to find vantage ground where we can see Jesus? When we do our best to be in Jesus’ path, He WILL show up just to see us. He will call us to dinner. In HIS presence we will know what to do with our lives and our resources.