For he was to pass that way
“And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 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.
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:1, 10).
If there was ever a perfect narrative about conversion, then, the verses which we have just read, deserve our attention. Luke, an evangelist, and historian, yea, a physician; has carefully recorded for us this narrative. It is the story of Zacchaeus. And who was he? Zacchaeus was a publican, that is, a tax collector. Luke saith concerning him that, he was a chief tax collector. It means that our man was exceedingly rich, and for that matter (as to his title “chief”) was head of the local taxing agents. Given this man was from Jericho, a major trade route; there was much to tax.
We are told that our Lord Jesus Christ had entered the city of Jericho, and was just passing through. And behold! It is here; whereby, Luke, records about our chief tax-collector, Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus, out of curiosity, mark you, wanted to see Jesus. But because of his small stature, we are told he climbed a tree. A sycamore tree. It was a tree planted by the roadside, and was very easy to climb. So there goes our man. He has climbed the tree. The pressing of those around him, add to his shortness; it was needful he go ahead and wait for Jesus to pass there whilst he beholds him from the top.
Jesus was about to pass that way. Our man knew this to be true. He was as sure to see Christ, as those that were taller than him beheld him whilst they were on their both feet. “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zaccheaus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” What, methinks Zaccheaus, upon hearing this, might have thought to himself, “Did he just call my name? How come he knows my name, given I’ve never met him before? Behold! Has he charged me to come down; from this tree, and has he said; let us go to thine house? He seems to have many followers, but why does he stoop so low to call such a man as I, a sinner, yea, a terrible sinner?” Even so, Zacchaeus, come down! Jesus wants to enter thine house.
“So he hurried down and received him joyfully.” He did not waste a single minute. Him who was so small in stature to behold Christ, now, as it were, stands before him. “And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” This were undoubtedly those self-righteous professors, the Pharisees. They appear all godly outside but inward are ravenous wolves. They are criticizing Jesus again for associating and eating with sinners (see Luke 7:34; 15:1, 2; cf. Acts 11:2, 3).
“And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” Note, our man knows himself indeed to be a wicked sinner. The people abhorred him for his way of dealing with them falsely, and overcharging them. See how he becomes conscious of his faults. He stood at once and said, “Behold, Lord!” He knows Jesus to be no ordinary man. And observe; we are told nowhere that our Lord Jesus Christ forced him to his resolution of giving back fourfold to those who he had dealt with unjustly.
“And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he is also a son of Abraham.” At once our Lord proclaims salvation upon Zacchaeus. Not that he has earned it or “merited” for his about to do good works. No! It is given him wholly and fully by grace alone, through faith alone, to the glory of God alone. Here was a rich man who was accounted salvation, and we are told elsewhere; it is a hard thing for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, yea, that Peter would ask, “Then who will be saved?” Our Lord is quick to answer: with God all things are possible (see Luke 18:24, 25). Zacchaeus, then, bears God testimony indeed, all things are possible with him. “A son of Abraham.” Note, Zacchaeus is one of the lost sheep of Israel, to whom our Lord Jesus Christ specifically directed during His earthly ministry (See Matt. 10:6; 15:24).
Our Lord therefore saith, “For the Son of Man came to seek and save that which was lost.” Our Lord came to save such as was Zacchaeus. The teachers of the law think themselves worthy of the calling, but alas! The Great Physician has come to attend to that which is most ailing. That is, poor sinners.
Therefore, what can we learn from these verses? Let us learn the earnestness of Zacchaeus. Though short in stature, yet he was earnest to go and see Jesus. His going was out of curiosity, we are not told that he wanted to converse with him, but to see him. He was earnest that he ran ahead of his fellows so that he might have a perfect view of this man called Jesus of Nazareth, as it were, climbed he the tree. So a Christian should always go further if he is to behold his Lord. Let him when he sees pressing around about him (and make him not see Christ), go ahead and await Christ from up. Let him follow the narrow path, and surely; he must pass there.
For another thing, let us learn the meek nature of Christ. Christ saw the tax-collector and knew indeed this was a sinner, but behold! He did not pass him by. He noticed him from the tree. It shows that Jesus is keen to notice our little efforts, even of our publican. He was meek in the manner which he spoke to our man. And saith he, come down, Zacchaeus, for today I must go to thine house. Jesus is ever ready to come into the saints life, only let them invite him.
Let us learn the true nature of conversion. As soon as the publican was in the presence of Jesus, he erelong realised that he was a sinner, and in need of a Savior. It is the nature of conversion that sin will not make abode where Christ seeks to live. There was a complete change of the person of Zacchaeus. He saw and confessed his sin. He resolved to amend where he had wronged his neighbors. He beheld Jesus as his Lord. There was no lying upon this nature of conversion. Never was there a man who has come into contact with Jesus Christ that should remain the same, yea, that place their full trust upon him. It is the nature of conversion to abandon all things for the sake of Christ. And they that find Christ have found eternal life (John 3:16).
Let us learn, for one thing, the uselessness of hypocrisy of formality. A formal Christian is no Christian at all. A formal Christian is but sand made of clay, which; soon shall be swept away by the waves. The Pharisees excelled here. They thought that their outward doings made them right with God, but alas! They have a form of godliness, but thereof deny the power of the gospel to affect their hearts and minds. Let the true Christian examine himself, lest they be found among these class of hypocrites. Christ saith unto them, “Woe unto thee!” See here: https://brokenforchrist159171453.wordpress.com/2019/09/03/woe-unto-thee/.
Let us learn that salvation is by grace alone, and not our works. The grace of God saved Zacchaeus. It was nothing that he did or resolved to do that earned him salvation. It is all of God, so that no man should boast thereof (Eph. 2:8, 9). And, because it is not by works; does it free us from performing those good works? No! Our good works is a testimony of our salvation, and not saved because of those works. For the good works, behold; are performed by many a man who do not profess Christianity. But as for you that bear God’s mark, let us be zealous for good works (Titus 2).
We learn also, Jesus came to call sinners, all manner of sinners; harlots, fornicators, blasphemers, publicans, covetous, the whoremongers, etc., unto Himself. Heaven will have many harlots than Pharisees! Jesus came to call sinners, me and you. He did not come for patients who were in perfect health. He says to thee, “Come! Come! Sinner, come! And when you come, as Zacchaeus came down from the tree; behold, he will in no wise cast you out (John 6:37). It is the heart of Christ set upon the chiefest of sinners. Let them that would heed the call, receive this mercy whilst it is still called today. And if not! Alas! Thine condition will forever be lost. Our sins put him upon the cross, that we might be reconciled to a holy God.
Sinner, Jesus took the wrath of God upon Himself, that we may approach the throne of grace with boldness, and thereby receive mercy in time of need (Heb.4). And, will you still put him off, given he came and calls such as yourself? Know thus, though our sins are many, yet his mercy is more. Ah! I beseech thee! Come to Christ, join the multitudes of those redeemed sinners who art called unto God.
O but you say, “My sins are many, I cannot come. He cannot accept me.” Oh no, beloved! His mercy is more. Only but come and he shall receive thee as did the father upon seeing his returning prodigal. But, say you; if no sin of mine is too big to scare him away, how then should I come? You come by placing your faith upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and turn to God in repentance of thine sins. Confess them unto him, and he will speedily pardon you. And thereby welcome you to his family! O say you, I’m scared that I shall yet turn unto my former sins, how then can I come? Beloved, God shall give thee grace. And with Paul ye can say, “it is sufficient.” If you tarry any longer till thou make thyself well; beloved, you will never come but verily die in thine own sins. So then, it must needs be, ye come now, and not tomorrow.
Here, then, you have the door of mercy opened wide for you. I’m innocent of thine own blood, if thou will not come. Hearken to Christ’s bidding, “I came to seek and save that which was lost.” Will you come, sinner?
O LORD, and my God! Draw that sinner unto thyself. Save him! Convict them by your Spirit. Draw them to the Son, that the Son might present them to You. O LORD, will you use this labor in vain? Will these words be wasted away? Use this, O LORD, and bring many souls to Thyself. With you there is much pardon and grace. Let them come! Come sinner, come to the LORD of your salvation!
Amen!
