Luke 19:1-5
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 sycomore 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.
Zacchaeus was a tax collector. The Roman Empire had imposed steep taxes on everyone. Tax collectors were some of the most unfavorable people in Isreal.
Jews who chose to work for the Romans were considered turncoats. This made Zacchaeus a very unliked man. In every society, there are people who are unloved or deemed untouchable because of their behavior or lifestyle.
In spite of his disposition, Jesus loved Zacchaeus. Jesus loved the whole world enough to give His life that we may be able to go to heaven with Him one day.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was coming through Jericho. He wanted to see what the fuss was all about. But because of his short stature, he had to climb a tree to see above the crowds.
Interesting side thought…Jesus knew years before that Zacchaeus would need to climb that tree. Jesus created that specific tree for that specific purpose! God provides for our needs even before we know they exist. What an awesome God!!!
Little did Zacchaeus know he would not only meet Jesus, but Jesus would also be coming to his house. What a difference it made in his life the day he met the Saviour!
Have you met the Saviour? If so, has your faith caused a change? If not, what changes do you need to make?
I will ever be grateful for the day that Jesus entered my life and changed it forever. Thankful for His redeeming grace!
11.20.18
Wonderful devotion. Never thought about the tree. God puts “trees” in our paths to help us be closer to Him. We need to slow down and be more thoughtful and thankful for His presence.
Thank you. I agree that we all need to slow down a bit and take more time to appreciate God’s creation around us.