The story we have just read seems to have little importance on the surface, but when we dig a little deeper, we soon discover its significance. This account has depth. There is more here than meets the eye. It becomes more than just a story, but an actual historical event, as recalled by the gospel writer named Luke.

I have given this sermon the title, "Jesus and Zacchaeus" because they are the two main characters, but there is a supporting cast as well. The disciples play a roll, as does the crowd that hinders Zacchaeus from seeing Jesus. And although they are not mentioned, we may assume that the religious leaders of the day took part as well. That's what we see on the surface. But the story's deeper meaning includes all the covenant people of Israel, and all of us as well. How can it include us you ask? It includes us, because the Bible was written so that we can learn from it. The Bible is not just a book of great literature and poetry; it is the word of God, written with the special purpose of relating that word to us, from which we may learn God’s will for us. So we cannot leave ourselves out. That being the case, there must be something we can learn from this story.

The first question we might ask is, "Why would Luke record this seemingly insignificant account?" It just tells us that Jesus passed through Jericho, and he had an encounter with a man of short stature. The little man climbed a tree to see Jesus, and Jesus wanted to go to this man’ house. There really is nothing unusual about this story . . . fairly straightforward. Let’s take a closer look.

The first verse of our Scripture passage says that, "Jesus went on into Jericho and was passing through." The KJV says that Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. I find this "passing through" reference rather interesting. Here we have Jesus, the man from Galilee, about whom so much had been said, and whose "fame went throughout all Syria" (Mat 4:24), entering the city of Jericho, and just "passing through."

Why was he in Jericho to begin with? Well, he was on his way to Jerusalem. His time on earth was nearly over. He was now on a journey that would finally lead him to the cross of Calvary. This was not a happenstance kind of journey. Jesus was fully aware of that which awaited him at its end. He was quite close now. Only a few more miles; a few more days, and the world would see him hanging on a cross. He had preached the gospel for three years. He raised the dead, healed the sick, fed the thousands, and now as his work on earth was coming to a close, he entered Jericho.

Yet there was no one to welcome him; no one to greet him. The elders, who normally greeted dignitaries, and important people as they entered the city gates, just ignored Jesus and his twelve followers. Surely they had seen them coming, but they made no effort to greet them, or welcome them. They just let him pass through. These pious people, who were the religious leaders of that city, ignored the Son of the living God, and let him pass by without a thought or action. Ah, but they were not the only ones who have done this. Millions upon millions have done the same. They have let Jesus "pass through" in their lives, never giving him a moment's thought, and they have missed out on the greatest of blessings!

Yet that day there was a man who had been thinking about Jesus, and he was not going to just let him "pass through" if he could help it, at least not without seeing him. This man's name was Zacchaeus. He had though a lot about Jesus lately. He had heard about him. He had heard that his preaching was totally different than that of the Scribes and Pharisees. He had heard about the works of Jesus. Perhaps he even knew that one of his disciples, Matthew, had been a tax collector, and that would be important to him, because Zacchaeus too was a tax collector.

Yes, Zacchaeus had been thinking about Jesus, and was anxious to see him. But I believe he had been thinking a lot about himself too, lately. He had been taking a closer look at himself, and he did not like what he saw anymore. Something was wrong. Something was working inside of him. There was sense of dissatisfaction, a sense of incompleteness, something missing. Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector with people under him. He leased several tool booths from the Roman government from which to collect taxes from his own people. No doubt he was despised for this, even though he might have been an honest tax collector. Yet even an honest tax collector could easily become rich. It was a very lucrative business. Financially he had it made. Still there was something bothering him. Zacchaeus had no peace of mind. He was in turmoil, not because he was a tax collector, but because there was something, or better said, Someone, missing in his life, and that Someone was the Son of God. He had no personal relationship with Jesus, and without that, he had no worthwhile future. He needed God in his life.

I find it interesting that the Bible says in verse three that Zacchaeus only wanted to see Jesus. It doesn’t say that he wanted to speak with him, or meet him; just to see him. From that we may deduce that Zacchaeus knew exactly who Jesus was. He knew what Jesus had always said about himself. He believed it when Jesus said he was the Son of the living God. Zacchaeus believed it when Jesus said that he and the Father were one. He believed it when Jesus said that God so loved the world that he gave his only Son to die for it. So seeing just Jesus would be enough, as far a he was concerned. That would make the difference in his troubled life.

Here is where this story becomes important to us. What an example Zacchaeus is for all of us. What do you want most in your life? Do you too want to see Jesus, knowing that if you have seen him, you have seen God. Zacchaeus had trouble seeing Jesus because he was a short person, and the crowds would not let him through. What is standing in your way? Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus and did so by climbing a tree. Are you equally determined?

Its a familiar story isn’t it. Every Sunday School kid knows it, and the songs that go with it. We all have an image in our mind’s eye of a little man sitting in a tree watching Jesus pass by. That was his intention. . .to watch Jesus pass by. That would have been good enough for him. But it was not good enough for Jesus. Jesus looked up and saw him, and said, "Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay at your house today" (vs 5b).

Can't you just see Zacchaeus scrambling out of that sycamore tree? The Lord himself wanted to go to his house! This was much more than he had bargained for. O how happy he was to take Jesus to his home. He welcomed him with great joy. What a load had lifted from his shoulders.

Do you see what happened here? Zacchaeus was looking to see Jesus, which would have been good enough for him. But that would have been one-sided wouldn’t it, which might have been good enough for Zacchaeus, but not for Jesus. A one-sided relationship is only half a relationship, and Jesus wanted a full, two-sided relationship with Zacchaeus, as he does with you and me. It is not good enough to just see Jesus, but as the hymn writer has it, we should want "to reach out and touch him, and listen to him." (Robert Cull, Open Our Eyes Lord). Anything less than that can never be a personal relationship with our Lord.

Zacchaeus was glad to have Jesus at his house, and I can imagine him setting his kitchen staff to work in order to fix a meal for Jesus and his disciples. And then we see the true nature of "the people who saw it." "This man has gone as a guest in the home of a sinner" (vs. 6). Who said Zacchaeus was a sinner. Did Jesus? No! These people took it upon themselves to the judge and jury of Zacchaeus. Then something wonderful happens. You see, something like this had taken place before. When Jesus first called Matthew from his tax collector's booth he went to his house as well. Then too the people were upset with Jesus, and he told them, listen, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matt 9:12-13). But this time, Jesus did not need to defend himself. Neither did his disciples need to defend him. Rather it was Zacchaeus who stood up and did so. He didn't direct his defense at the Pharisees and the Scribes, or the people, but he stood up and made a confession of his faith. How? By saying to Jesus, apparently for all to hear, "Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him back four times as much" (vs 8b). Was this an admission of guilt? Yes, but not of any specific wrong doing. Notice he says "If I have cheated anyone." He had not done any thing wrong deliberately. Is it wrong to make a good living at what you do? No! So what was this all about? Zacchaeus realized that he was a sinner in need of salvation, and the only one who could give him that was Jesus. He realized that he had put way too much stock in his earthly possessions. By his confession it is as if he says, "Yes Jesus, I know that you have entered my heart. I realize now that I have put way too much emphasis on my earthly possessions, but that has all changed. I know that after you have taken me, and I have accepted you, I have received something worth more than silver and gold." O, Jesus saw Zacchaeus as a sinner, but not in the same way the people did. Jesus sees all of us as sinners, but he also has the solution. Zacchaeus found his Savior, who would pay for his sins, only a few days later, and by doing so, he found eternal peace.

Doesn't this make you wonder how the people, and the religious leaders felt about this? Perhaps they were ashamed, and if they were not, perhaps they should have been. They had judged and condemned Zacchaeus with a heavy hand, but listen to what Jesus said. "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham" (vs 9). You see, the people who heard this thought that because Zacchaeus had gone to work for the Romans, he had forfeited his ancestry, but Jesus said, "No, this isn't so. He is no worse than any of you. He too is a descendent of Abraham." Why is this so significant? Because it was with Abraham that God made his eternal covenant, in which he promised he would always be his God, and the God of his descendants. Zacchaeus was looking for God, and he discovered him in Jesus. He knew that peace of mind could not be found anywhere else. He had been lost in his own possessions, but God sought him out through Jesus, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost" (vs 10).

It’s more than just a little Sunday School Bible story. We too are part of it, for it ask the question, “Do you have the peace of mind Zacchaeus received? If not, please read the story again, and put yourself in his place. AMEN