To save that which was lost

To save that which was lost

Recently, I listened to a message on the popular children’s Bible Story on Zacchaeus. It is the story of a short man of very high stature, as the chief of the tax collectors. In his profession of those days, Zacchaeus was shunned by the general Jewish public as a traitor and cheater of his own people. It was common for tax collectors to collect more from the public than was required with the balance lining their increasingly rich pockets. Now Zacchaeus in his desperation to see Jesus, did the very undignified thing of climbing up the sycamore tree. Imagine a man wearing a long skirt clambering up a tree! Zacchaeus knew that his life was empty and unfulfilled despite of his vast riches, and that he was a sinner. He was looking for salvation, and searched for Jesus desperately, not caring what others would think of him.

And then to his shock and great delight, Jesus stopped and looked up at him, and offered to stay at Zacchaeus’ house. When Jesus said “I must stay at your house today”, the word “must” was a very strong word used, the same as when Jesus said “I must do my Father’s will”. When He walked the earth as a man, Jesus specially looked out for sinners as He said “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” While the crowd praised God whenever Jesus healed the sick or cast out demons, they were perplexed when He associated Himself with prostitutes and tax collectors. They did not understand that the whole purpose Jesus came was to seek and save that which was lost. They were right that Zacchaeus was a sinner, but they should have realized that they too were also sinners, and also in need of God’s grace.

Generally, in the gospels, it seems that Jesus had harsh words for the rich. He gave the example of the man who built bigger barns to store his wealth, thinking he would enjoy many more years but lost his life before he could enjoy any of it.  Also when the rich young ruler asked to follow Him, Jesus found his heart out by asking him to sell everything he had. Then the Lord further said that it is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Yet, in the case of Zacchaeus, a rich man, he found salvation.

His change of heart was immediately seen as he exclaimed “I give half my goods to the poor, and I will pay back fourfold any man I have cheated”. The fruit of his salvation was Zacchaeus’ new found generosity that he gave with a willing heart.

We should also note that Jesus did not ask Zacchaeus to leave his profession. There are times of course when a man may have to leave his job to uphold his faith, but in this case, it was not wrong for Zacchaeus resolved to be an honest tax collector. When the tax collectors came to John the Baptist, he did not ask them to leave their jobs but to not collect more than they should.

In conclusion, some things we can learn from this story is:-

(i)  Do not look down on others as worst sinners but learn to see others with the eyes of Jesus

(ii) Be desperate in seeking out Jesus

(iii) Those with wealth should use their wealth to bless others

(iv) Be honest in whatever job we have been given

(v) Jesus came to seek and save sinners like us who were list