As Jesus was walking through Jericho, a crowd was gathered around Him. A man named Zaccheaus tried to get a look at Jesus. He couldn’t see Him though because he was too short to see over the crowd. It’s amazing what this rich tax collector did to reach his goal. How bad do you want to see the Lord?
He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. Luke 19:3-4
You’ve heard the saying, “Curiosity killed the cat”. Well, it’s a good thing that Zaccheaus wasn’t a cat. In his case curiosity was very beneficial to him. I wonder if Jesus was walking down that street with the thought of calling Zaccheaus. Or did he just happened to see him?
Forethought or not, Jesus not only called to him, but He invited Himself to dinner. It was the Lord going the second mile to establish a relationship with Zaccheaus which was desperately needed. Jesus always goes the second mile if we let him.
- Parents brought children to Jesus for a touch, but he went the second mile and blessed them.
- The woman was going to the well for water. Jesus went the second mile though and gave her living water.
- Here Zaccheaus just wanted a look and because Jesus went the second mile, he found salvation.
The Crowd was Unhappy
The people who were on the street surrounding the Lord were not happy at all that Jesus went to the house of a “sinner.”
But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Luke 19:7
Maybe they reacted the way they did because they couldn’t see the possibilities of an encounter with Jesus. Zaccheaus’ life was about to change.
Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Luke 19:8
This chief tax collector was not going to overcharge or cheat anyone anymore. He pledged to give money back to those from whom he had taken too much. I think this might have been the first recorded tax refund that ever took place.
The very people who exhibited their displeasure actually benefitted from this changed man.
But however, the only thing focused in their minds was, Jesus was eating with tax collectors and sinners.
Do You Want To See The Lord?
This very rich man was willing to humble himself and climb a tree just to see Jesus. He had no expectations beyond getting a glimpse of Him. Because however, he accepted the invitation of the Lord, listen to what Jesus said.
Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:9-10
The Lord is offering us an invitation as well. Do you want to see the Lord? How bad? Are you willing to humble yourself? Will you accept His invitation? In Revelation 3, Jesus said,
Behold, I’m standing at the door, knocking. If your heart is open to hear my voice and you open the door within, I will come in to you and feast with you, and you will feast with me. Revelation 3:20
Lord, thank you for walking down the street of my life and then going the second mile by changing my life for my benefit and the benefit of those around me.
Related Posts
A related post on salvation, called Jesus Is The Ultimate Sacrifice For All Eternity.
Read more on evangelism at this post called How To Reach Lost People For The Kingdom Of God.
Let God speak to your heart as you read Luke 19.
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