Zacchaeus

Here is a story in the bible that we love to teach. It is a story of how Jesus loved sinners. I think there is a little more to be learned here. I feel like sometimes we view the stories in the bible as just that, nice stories. But they are real life events. It is a history book that is not finished. It is written, but the events have not all happened yet. Let’s put the story is modern day terms. Zacchaeus is the man that has everything. He has money. He has the nice house. The people that are “friends” with Zacchaeus like him, because they want his money. The people that don’t like him hate him because of his money. This is the person we are afraid to talk to because he will just shoot us down. I think he was lonely because he knew that no one liked him for him. Yet no one was willing to get to know him. Then Jesus comes along and acknowledges him, he eats with Zacchaeus. Jesus has nothing to gain from this relationship, but He reaches out to him just the same.

I was on a mission’s trip recently where we did some street evangelism. We were witnessing in a highly Mormon area. There were people that I let pass by because I was afraid to talk with them. I thought they would know more about their religion than I did. After reading Zacchaeus I wondered how many of them needed to hear the message I had to bring. How many friends, family, and co-workers do we not share Jesus with because we are afraid that they will not respond? We look at people and say “They have all they need.” But they don’t! Why? Because they do not have Jesus! Zacchaeus was a lonely man that needed Jesus, and it took Jesus making time for Zacchaeus in order for him to change. How many people would trust in Jesus if we took time out of our lives to share Jesus with them? He came to seek and save the lost!!!!