Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector and rich. Jesus knew his name. Zacchaeus was a short man trying to make himself a big man. Jesus knew his name. As a tax collector there was no doubt that he took more than was legal to take. As a tax collector Zacchaeus was hated by the people but Jesus knew his name.
Zacchaeus name comes froma Hebrew root zakak which means to be transparent or clean (physically or morally): – be (make) clean, be pure (-r).
Here is a man who has this internal desire to fulfill his name yet finds himself trapped in the opposite lifestyle. This internal paradox must have driven him to Jesus that day. I want to be transparent in all I do…I want to be known as pure and clean….yet I am hated and despised because I have done unethical things…I have robbed others….I have done secret deals with money….I am a sinner!!
Today there are many Zacchaeus’ in important places of power and authority. Some end up being Pope or Bishop or Cardinal or Priest. Some sinners become President of powerful companies and even countries. Some like me become a dad and a husband.
The thing that occurred to me today was that Jesus knew this man’s name which got me thinking that Jesus most likely knew this man’s sins too.
Here is Jesus surrounded by people, people who also would have known Zacchaeus…and He does not whirl around with finger pointed at Zacchaeus in accusation saying Zacchaeus, ‘I know who you are!! I know you have been stealing people’s money to give to Rome!’ No. Jesus does not accuse him but instead tells him He wants to come to his home for dinner.
Isn’t that the nature of Love right there? Isn’t that LOVE in human flesh right there? Love believes all things and does not keep an account of wrongs. Jesus comes looking for the chief of sinners and when He finds us He does not ever expose our hidden sins, instead He wants to come and dwell with us…to abide with us…to sup with us. Oh Jesus I love you.
Jesus is not concerned with who is right and who is wrong but only with life and death. Who has life and who has death? Zacchaeus was dead even though he was rich and he knew it…Jesus knew that he knew it too. That is why Jesus wanted to come to Zacchaeus’ home that day. Zacchaeus needed to live and only through love and acceptance could Zacchaeus taste of the life of God which embodied Jesus.
Satan would have us focus upon the Pope because of the wrongs he may have done. Satan would have us focus upon the President for all the wrongs he has sanctioned. We can easily fall into the snare of the Devil by judging others by whether they are right of wrong. The Lord judges no one by that lowly standard.
When Jesus said He must stay at Zacchaeus’ house
“Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
What a shock that would have been to Zacchaeus…a man so despised and universally hated. Yet Jesus was demonstrating God’s love for all of us for all of us are no better than Zacchaeus. No better.
Where was the accusing finger pointing at the sinners chest? If there was one it was coming from the Pharisees who had a warped view of God’s love and character.
Love does not expose sinners. Love covers a multitude of sins.
Luk 19:9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;
Luk 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Jesus in Hebrew is Yeshuah which is often used in the Old Testament scriptures for the word salvation.(Isa 12:3;26:1) Thus when Jesus said He must stay at Zacchaeus’ house it was because SALVATION had come to that house…Jesus had come.
I remember when Salvation came to my house—to me. Jesus Himself came to live in me. Just as Zacchaeus would have felt the love and comfort and forgiveness and acceptance of the Saviour’s presence…so I felt all these amazing things….I was saved! I was saved because Jesus God’s Salvation came to my house to dwell with me. And He has never left me nor forsaken me.
How about your house?
Jesus is seeking that which is lost today. You also are a son or daughter of Abraham in need of His presence in your dwelling place. He calls you by name and in that knowledge of your name He knows all your sins already but sees you through His loving eyes with not a trace of condemnation or accusation. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.
Put your name in his cry…Luk 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him,“Zacchaeus _____________ make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Jesus sees you….just as He saw Nathaniel under the tree praying….He sees you and in that seeing Jesus knows you. He knows you…yet He says to us COME DOWN.
How often we exalt ourselves above others..and even above Jesus. Jesus takes the lowly place and bids us to come down to a place where we can be with Him. This is the mind of Christ. If any man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing he deceives himself. Come down.
If you want to be transparent pure and clean..then come down from your lofty position and humble yourself. Receive Jesus.
Receiving Jesus to your home may mean you are despised by the people you once mixed with. Jesus was not popular with everyone. Today it is the same. Those chasing the things of this world will not like you any more if you bring Jesus into your dwelling–heart. But you will know that Salvation has come to your house.
