Bible Studies · Evangelism and Mission · Stories of Transformation · Discipleship
An encounter with Jesus? When? Where? Zacchaeus?
5 min read, approximately
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. All this comes from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s sins against them, and he entrusted to us the word of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors in Christ’s name, as though God were pleading through us. We plead with you in Christ’s name: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)
God’s Word speaks of many people for whom everything—absolutely everything—changed when they encountered Jesus: the poor, the rich, prostitutes, blind people, people who were lame or paralyzed, those possessed by demons, tax collectors, and others. But we must remember that to receive the wonderful blessings that come with encountering Jesus, a series of requirements must be fulfilled. Let us see, for example, what we can learn from what Zacchaeus did.
\1. Recognizing our condition
“There was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector and a rich man, who sought to see who Jesus was. But he could not because of the crowd, for he was short.” (Luke 19:2-3). Zacchaeus was hindered from approaching Jesus not only by his height but also by the bad reputation that came with being a tax collector. We have all gone wrong in one way or another, but God waits for the desire to “seek to see who Jesus is” to arise in us… Let us not forget that God’s Word says: “Then you will call on me, come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, because you will seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13)
But do we recognize our condition?
\2. An attitude of change
“He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way.” (Luke 19:4)
After recognizing his condition, Zacchaeus hurried to seek a solution, not to add more problems to the problem! What have we been struggling with for so long? Masturbation? Homosexuality? Lesbianism? Theft? Drugs? Prostitution? Sorcery or witchcraft? Fornication? Adultery?… In the face of all these, Jesus is the solution
“Jesus said to him: I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Yet what is our attitude?
\3. An opportunity arises
“When Jesus came to that place, he looked up, saw him, and said: Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house. He hurried down and received him joyfully.” (Luke 19:5-6)
Jesus noticed Zacchaeus’s attitude, the mixture of repentance and desire for forgiveness within him, and God will never despise this.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a contrite and humbled heart you will not despise, O God.” (Psalms 51:17)
God always offers us an opportunity, but do we notice it?
\4. Our eyes on Jesus
“When they saw this, everyone grumbled, saying that he had gone to stay with a sinful man.” (Luke 19:7)
Zacchaeus recognized that Jesus was the only one who could bring salvation to his life… He knew that paying attention to comments that would not build him up would make him lose both his direction and his time…
“keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of faith…” (Hebrews 12:2a)
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, nor will anyone snatch them from my hand.” (John 10:27-28)
When Jesus calls us, what are we looking at?
\5. Commitment
“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord: Look, Lord, I give half my possessions to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I repay it fourfold.” (Luke 19:8)
Zacchaeus counted absolutely everything as little compared with his moment with Jesus! When we encounter Jesus, every bad practice we used to engage in becomes rubbish to us. It no longer matters; we only want to leave it behind to enjoy God’s presence fully. The words arise:
“Lord, I leave all this to be with you,” and a commitment is made. That is why the apostle Paul said
“Indeed, I also consider all things a loss because of the excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost everything and consider it rubbish, so that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)
Will we agree to say “Yes” to the Lord?
When the requirements above are fulfilled, Jesus says
“…Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10)
An encounter with Jesus? When? Where? Perhaps it is happening right now, and we have not realized it.
Shall we take a look?
May God continue to bless you
and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!
I invite you to stop by the Songbook