Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho […] where lived a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him […] 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.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:1-10).
This story takes place in Jericho, where symbolically it pictures limitations and obstacles. In the Old Testament, Jericho’s walls were seen as unconquerable. They protected its residents from change and a new life. These walls were also the chief obstacle to the new life the Israelites were seeking. Are you living inside undesirable walls that you or others have built?
Zacchaeus was as Jericho’s former residents, incarcerated by the walls of past failures and present conditions. His stature and the crowds were the obstacles that hindered him from seeing Jesus, but Zacchaeus’ desire to see Jesus moved him to do what was not ordinarily done. He humbled himself by climbing a tree, something the rich would normally never do! What keeps you from truly seeing Jesus? Is it pride, the crowds, the fear of man, or your lack of effort? Are you willing to do what others are unwilling to do? Is Jesus worth your time and effort, or are you content to live with your circumstances and the obstacles to the new life you seek? Today, Jesus is passing your way! Salvation awaits you! Today, Salvation (Jesus) wants to come to your house!
Pastor Don