Scripture Basis: Luke 19:1-10, NIV
Zacchaeus was a tax collector in the city of Jericho. Tax collectors were disliked because they collected money for the Roman government and sometimes took more than they were supposed to, keeping the extra for themselves. Zacchaeus was no exception. Though he had great wealth, he didn’t have many friends. People saw him as greedy and dishonest.
One day Zacchaeus heard some exciting news: Jesus, the famous teacher and miracle worker, was coming to Jericho! Crowds of people gathered to see Jesus. Zacchaeus wanted to see Him too, but there was a problem. Zacchaeus was very short, and the large crowd blocked his view. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t see over the people in front of him.
Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus. He didn’t let his small stature or the crowd stop him. Looking around, he noticed a sycamore tree near the road where Jesus would pass by. Zacchaeus quickly climbed the tree. From his perch he had a perfect view of the road below.
As Jesus walked through Jericho, He came to the spot where Zacchaeus was sitting in the tree. To everyone’s surprise, Jesus stopped, looked up, and called out, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus couldn’t believe his ears! Of all the people in the crowd, Jesus noticed him. Why would Jesus want to spend time with someone like him, a man everyone else avoided?
Overjoyed, Zacchaeus climbed down from the tree and eagerly welcomed Jesus into his home. But not everyone was happy about this. The people in the crowd began to grumble and whisper, saying, “Why is Jesus spending time with a sinner like Zacchaeus?”
During their time together Zacchaeus experienced Jesus’ kindness and love. For the first time, Zacchaeus felt truly seen and cared for. This love changed his heart. Zacchaeus stood up and made an incredible promise: “Look, Lord! I will give half of my money to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times the amount!”
Jesus smiled and said, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
From that day forward Zacchaeus’ life was completely transformed. He was no longer the greedy, lonely man he had been. Instead, he became someone who shared generously and loved others, showing how much Jesus’ love had changed him.
So the first step in witnessing to others is to remember how much Jesus loves you. When we know and feel His love, it becomes easier to share that love with others. Think about how Jesus saw Zacchaeus, even when everyone else avoided him, and how that changed Zacchaeus’ life. Just like Zacchaeus, we can share with others how Jesus has made a difference in our lives!
Something to Think About
What can we learn, from the way Jesus treated Zacchaeus, about how we should treat others?
