Everyone probably has a favorite Bible character and chances are that person is considered a Major character. But there are many MINOR ones that provide excellent traits and principles to consider. One such MINOR person is Zacchaeus, who is only men-tioned by Luke in ten short verses.
From Luke 19:1-10, we learn a few facts about this man: He was living in Jericho at the time. He was a chief tax collector/district tax commissioner, and Zacchaeus was rich. He was also a short man. As Luke tells the story, Jesus is passing through the city and a large crowd followed Him. Zacchaeus sought to see Jesus, but was not tall enough to get a glimpse. Not to be outdone, he climbed up in a Sycamore tree to view the Lord as He passed by. Jesus saw the rich, short man, told him to come down, and announced that He would stay at Zacchaeus home that day. However, these facts are not the real story. There are great lessons for God’s People found in these ten verses about Zacchaeus:
- Zacchaeus set a GOAL and was DETERMINED to reach his GOAL. He wanted to see Jesus and set his mind to make it happen. Nothing was going to stop him as he “sought the Lord”. Zacchaeus was obviously DETERMINED in his job, but not nearly so much as he was in spiritual matters. Zacchaeus had several HINDRANCES or EXCUSES that could prevent him from listening to any religious teachings, but would not be denied reaching his OBJECTIVE. This great DETERMINATION helped him with his next HINDRANCE.
- Zacchaeus OVERCAME several OBSTACLES or STUMBLING BLOCKS to see Jesus. First, he had to OVERCOME his RICHES. This was no small issue since Christ said “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a RICH man to enter the kingdom of heaven”. (Matt 19:24). Next, Zacchaeus had to OVERCOME his POSITION. He was a Chief Tax Collector who purchased his territory from the Romans. His job was to collect “sales” taxes and the Chief collectors were allowed to keep all funds that remained for themselves. The crowd complained about him, but Zacchaeus would not let naysayers stop him.Next, this man had to OVERCOME the PHYSICAL HANDICAP of SHORT STATURE to seek after Jesus. Since the crowd blocked his view, Luke says, “So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way”. (19:4). Zacchaeus ran, he climbed, he OVERCAME. He was so DETERMINED that he was able to OVERCOME these three huge OBSTACLES to see the Savior.
- Zaachaeus TOOK ADVANTAGE of the OPPORTUNITY. An OPPORTUNITY to see the Savior was not available to everyone and the chance to have Him stay in your home was rare indeed. Jesus Himself said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head”. (Matt 8:20). Zacchaeus was determined and ready so when Jesus saw him in the tree, he took full advantage of this OPPORTUNITY. “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house’. So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyful-ly”. (Lk 19:5-6).
- Zacchaeus REPENTED of his sins, CONFESSED them, and DETERRMINED to make RIGHT anything that was WRONG. Even though the crowd complained that Jesus was going into the house of a sinner (19:7); Zacchaeus immediately addressed the Lord humbly. “Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, ‘Behold Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much”. (19:8). Scriptures do not give us any details, but that DETERMINED promise certainly involved a lot of MONEY, and a big chunk of Zacchaeus’ RICHES.
- Zacchaeus gladly ACCEPTED the SALVATION offered by the Savior. “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 SAVE that which was LOST”. (19:9-10). Even though Jewish society did not accept Zacchaeus because of his POSITION with the Romans, Jesus called him “A son of Abraham”. “Who also walked in the steps of THE FAITH which our father Abraham had..”. (Rom 4:12). Jesus came to SEEK and SAVE lost people like Zacchaeus and when that SALVATION appeared to him, he was ready.
As Christians in 2017, we face many of the same CHALLENGES and ISSUES that Zacchaeus faced on that eventful day. Hopefully, we have set a GOAL of ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven and realize that it is only through God’s GRACE and our DETERMINATION we will reach our eternal home. We must be DRIVEN to OVERCOME Satan as King David was. In discussing Solomon’s sins, Scripture records this statement about his father David. “And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not FULLY AFTER the Lord, as DID David his father. (I Kings 11:6). David was so DETERMINED that he WHOLLY FOCUSED on serving God. Even if it takes climbing a tree, we must maintain our DETERMINATION.
As Christians in 2017, we face many of the same CHALLENGES and ISSUES that Zacchaeus faced on that eventful day. Hopefully, we have set a GOAL of ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven and realize that it is only through God’s GRACE and our DETERMINATION we will reach our eternal home. We must be DRIVEN to OVERCOME Satan as King David was. In discussing Solomon’s sins, Scripture records this statement about his father David. “And Solomon did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not FULLY AFTER the Lord, as DID David his father. (I Kings 11:6). David was so DETERMINED that he WHOLLY FOCUSED on serving God. Even if it takes climbing a tree, we must maintain our DETERMINATION.
God’s people are commanded to TAKE ADVANTAGE of OPPORTUNITIES to serve Him and serve others. “Take great care, then, how you live, not unwisely, but wisely; MAKING the MOST of EVERY OPPORTUNITY”. (Eph 5:15-16). Zacchaeus had one OPPORTUNITY to meet Jesus and to learn of Him, and he took full ADVANTAGE. At Wilsonville church of Christ, we each have numerous OPPORTUNITIES to GROW SPIRITUALLY through Bible Studies (public and private); Meaningful Worship Services; OPPORTUNITIES to attend neighboring Gospel Meetings and hear literally dozens of Gospel Sermons on CD; etc. Remember that Zacchaeus did not make one excuse when Jesus called him down from the tree, when Jesus wanted to go home with him, or when Jesus talked with him of SALVATION. How many excuses are we finding to not take ADVANTAGE of OPPORTUNITIES?
Have we joyfully accepted the SALVATION offered by The SAVIOR by REPENTING of OUR SINS and DETRMINING to MAKE RIGHT anything that was WRONG? If we have not, it is time we LEARN and HEED these “Lessons From A Little Man”.