Vs. “For the Son of Man came
to seek and to save what was lost.”

We also know that Zacchaeus had an interest in seeing Jesus.  Why we don’t know.  Jesus’ notoriety was spreading throughout the land so he may have been curious.

Whatever his reasons were he was determined to see Jesus.  It is apparent that a large crowd had gathered in Jericho to see Jesus.  Being short Zacchaeus was unable to see over the people in front of him so he climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see Jesus.

I wonder if Zacchaeus expected what happened next.  That Jesus would see him in the tree, address him by name and order him to climb down from the tree because he was going to his house to stay.

As he climbed down from the tree was he wondering how did Jesus know my name?  Was he puffing up his chest before the crowd as though Jesus had chosen his house to stay because he was better than the rest?  Was he convicted and humbled by Jesus calling his name?  Was he wondering, why me?

It is obvious the gathered crowd was certainly asking this question.  Jesus’ choice of dinner guests did not win approval from the crowd. Jesus’ choice brought ridicule.  He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.

The details of what happened next are very sketchy.  Did they make it to Zacchaeus house? Did the crowd follow them to the house?  What did Jesus say to Zacchaeus?  Did Zacchaeus climb down from the tree and immediately say to Jesus, Look, Lord!  Here and now I give half of my possession to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.

What started out as a desire to catch a glimpse of Jesus turned into a face-to-face encounter. Jesus’ acceptance of Zacchaeus led him to declare his intent to be a different person.  He recognized his failures, his sin.  He confessed it publicly.  He sought to make appropriate restitution.  Jesus' statement testifies to a heart changed by the presence of God.  Jesus reclaims a lost child of faith and responded,

“Today salvation has come to this
house, because this man, too, is a
son of Abraham.  For the Son of
Man came to seek and to save what
was lost.”

Which raises the question, why are you here? Why do you come to worship?  What is your motivation?  Have you come expecting to be changed?  Have you come expecting to encounter Jesus?  Will you respond to God as Zacchaeus did?

Zacchaeus demonstrates how one should respond to the gospel of Jesus.  Will you follow his example?