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 today I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:1-10

This man had an image problem:

1. Short but rich and in the most despised profession of being the chief tax collector for the Roman oppressors,
2. To his neighbours he was a sinful collaborator, for tax collectors were known to be corrupt.

Do you see that the politician type is not limited to our days, and we continue to curse and rail at them, don’t we! What did Jesus do to such a man whose circumstances will force to stay on his own or at best within circles of like reputation? What do we learn from the Lord here as His messenger-representatives here?

Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ story well, just as He knows not only our past, but our present and future. Zacchaeus did not prevent Him from doing the popularly unacceptable act of relating with such untouchables. Zacchaeus was also a creation of His that needed to be saved.

As Zacchaeus has a sordid past and present, so do most of us, the Lord did what He only can do. We couldn’t go back into our past, but He can walk into those places of sin and failure, wipe the slate clean and give a new beginning—Jesus the Messiah is the fulfillment of yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
 
He knows the worst about us, yet He believes the best. He sees us not as we are but what we will be when He is done with us. What more, He knows and holds the future. In His hands we are safe and secure (Jeremiah 29:11-13 (TLB).

Reach out to your Zacchaeus today, O ambassador of the Living God. Shalom.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele