Wee Little Man

He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way. When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly. When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1-10


We've all heard about Zaccheus, the "wee little man." Jesus got ever closer to Jerusalem, going through Jericho. The crowd was gathered in, as usual. Everyone in Jericho had heard Jesus and the Twelve were headed this way. Everyone wanted to at least see Him. Zaccheus made special effort to see Jesus, because he was short. We shorties have to do that sometimes. So he ran on ahead and climbed a tree to enable better viewing. He made it just in time for Jesus to spot him and ask him to come down. Jesus wanted to go home with this rich tax collector! Imagine that.
The crowd couldn't imagine it. They were offended by Jesus' choice of luncheon hosts. Jesus will always accommodate those who want to see Him. He first came to my house many years ago, and He'll go home with you, too, if you like.

There are several contrasts between the "ruler" in the previous chapter and Zaccheus. Of course, the Ruler was a religious leader and a legalist, with a smug satisfaction concerning his own good deeds. He really just wanted to call attention to his own "goodness" when he approached Jesus. Zaccheus, on the other hand, was so eager to see Jesus that he forgot all dignity, running and climbing to get a better look. He had no illusions about his own worthiness. He actually seems childlike in his desire to be near the Lord. And he hurried to receive Him "gladly!"

Jesus didn't have to instruct Zaccheus in a humble and gracious attitude, for Zac immediately volunteered to share his fortune with the poor, and "IF" (!) he had defrauded anyone, he'd return it fourfold. Well, we know he was a tax collector, don't we, and we know that fraud was characteristic of the tax collectors, hence the hatred they received from the Jewish public.

This Person whom Ruler had addressed as "good teacher," Zac called "Lord." Well, it looks like the needle's eye was about to be traversed. This rich man was coming through. How do we know? Because the Son of Man declared it. Himself. The One Who came to seek and save that which was lost. Welcome aboard, Zaccheus!