As a boy, I loved the story of the short man who climbed a tree so that he could see the famous rabbi. Jesus was visiting Jericho and the crowds that surrounded him made it difficult for Zacchaeus to see him. But from the tree, Zac had a great view of Jesus as he approached. He did not know that Jesus had a better view of him, for Jesus could see his heart, his thoughts, his motives.
As a man standing only 170 cm. tall, I can identify with Zac's problem. Here in Vietnam that makes me a little above average height. But in Canada or the USA, I cannot look over the heads of a crowd. When I am with my sons, they always have a good view at 186 cm. tall. Meanwhile, I have to look for something to stand on, or something to climb, or find an open angle in order to see.
As a pastor, I am impressed with the dramatic change in Zac. With some people who profess to become followers of Jesus, it is hard to tell what has changed. But not with Zac. Luke notes that he was a tax collector which meant he collected the required Roman taxes from his fellow Jews. Then he collected a lot more which went into his own pocket. Tax collectors were despised as traitors and corrupt people. In Jericho, Zac was the chief tax collector and as a result was wealthy.
But after his encounter with Jesus, he is dramatically converted. Dramatic because he does what few new believers have ever done. Dramatic because the evidence of his salvation is found in what is often the last thing to change in the life of a new believer.
As a man standing only 170 cm. tall, I can identify with Zac's problem. Here in Vietnam that makes me a little above average height. But in Canada or the USA, I cannot look over the heads of a crowd. When I am with my sons, they always have a good view at 186 cm. tall. Meanwhile, I have to look for something to stand on, or something to climb, or find an open angle in order to see.
As a pastor, I am impressed with the dramatic change in Zac. With some people who profess to become followers of Jesus, it is hard to tell what has changed. But not with Zac. Luke notes that he was a tax collector which meant he collected the required Roman taxes from his fellow Jews. Then he collected a lot more which went into his own pocket. Tax collectors were despised as traitors and corrupt people. In Jericho, Zac was the chief tax collector and as a result was wealthy.
But after his encounter with Jesus, he is dramatically converted. Dramatic because he does what few new believers have ever done. Dramatic because the evidence of his salvation is found in what is often the last thing to change in the life of a new believer.
"But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Luke 19:8
It was quite obvious that salvation had come to Zac. Everyone in Jericho, when they heard what Zac was doing, would know Zac had been dramatically changed. The man whose life had been committed to money and what it provided, was now committed to God, the poor and justice. When a person makes a significant change in how they handle money, you know that something serious has happened to them. Something has changed in their perspective, their value system.
"Thank you Lord Jesus that you "came to seek and to save what was lost. Thank you that when we come to true faith commitment, you really change us from the inside out."
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