Last week we became acquainted with Zacchaeus. We're now going to consider three particular things we find in the account of him trying to see the Lord. First of all was the hindrance of the crowd. We are told that “he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press” (v. 3). His height problem was only made worse by the hindrance of the crowd. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but the great numbers of people blocked any hope of that. And who could blame these people? Everywhere Jesus went he healed people, and these folks were following either for help or to see this popular man. We often read that multitudes thronged Jesus wherever he went; and yet, the multitudes were not a help in getting folks to Jesus. In fact, there were those who needed help from Jesus – the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48) and the blind man (Luke 18:35-43) to name a few – who had to overcome the crowd. Here we learn a valuable lesson: the crowds following Jesus may not always help a person who needs him.

Secondly, we see that Zacchaeus did not let the crowd finally hinder him from seeing Jesus. There was a sycamore tree close by, so he took advantage of it and climbed up there to get a better view. Without the sycamore tree it would have been impossible for him to see the Lord. And here we learn the second thing from our text: The only hope of Zacchaeus seeing Jesus was a tree. Do you see the connection? The crowd blocked the view of Zacchaeus, but a tree gave him his own view of Jesus. Sounds just like the cross, doesn't it? From the cross we truly see who Jesus is. He's more than a prophet, a good moral man, or a teacher come from God. He is the incarnate Son of God who came to earth to satisfy the wrath of God for sin on the cross and to purchase salvation for a lost world.

Finally, once Zacchaeus saw Jesus, Jesus saw him, called him, and he came down. The Lord went to Zacchaeus' house to visit. And here we see the heart change of Zacchaeus in v. 8: “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Now make no mistake about it: Zacchaeus was not saved by his works. Rather, his salvation was evident by his works. Here is a greedy tax collector who was parting with his goods to show the sincerity of his repentance. That's the way salvation works; it always changes a person. But notice the beginning of that verse: “And Zacchaeus stood...” He didn't have to climb a tree this time. Though he was shorter than the crowd around him, he stood taller than they did. He was now a man of character who cared no more about his wealth. And why was this? Because he met Jesus, and when he did, he became a different man. The one who had to climb a tree to the Savior was now standing tall by standing “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”

     With love and gratitude,
     Pastor John Nichols