Where Are You, God? 30 First Encounters With GodSample

Day 18: Zacchaeus - The Tax Collector

Zacchaeus was short in stature and even shorter on friends. As Jericho's chief tax collector, he was wealthy but utterly despised by his own people because he worked for the enemy, the Romans.

Picture this scene: Jesus is passing through Jericho, crowds are pressing in from every side, and a grown man is desperately climbing a sycamore tree just to catch a glimpse.

For someone of Zacchaeus's social standing, this was humiliating—but his curiosity about Jesus overcame his pride.

The Unexpected Invitation

As Jesus reached the tree, something remarkable happened. He stopped, looked up, and called the tax collector by name: "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today" (Luke 19:5). Jesus didn't wait for an invitation—He invited Himself.

The crowd's reaction was immediate and predictable: "All the people saw this and began to mutter, 'He has gone to be the guest of a sinner'" (Luke 19:7). To eat with someone was to accept them, and the people couldn't understand why Jesus would associate with such a notorious collaborator.

Transformation at the Table

Something profound happened during that meal. Zacchaeus stood up and made an extraordinary declaration: "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount" (Luke 19:8).

This wasn't just generous—it was revolutionary. Jewish law required only 20% restitution for theft, but Zacchaeus volunteered 400%. His encounter with Jesus had transformed his heart completely.

The Seeking Savior

Jesus' response revealed His mission: "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" (Luke 19:9-10). Jesus didn't come for the righteous but for the lost—and He actively sought them out.

Seeking the Despised

While the crowd saw a corrupt tax collector, Jesus saw a lost soul worth saving. While others muttered about His choice of dinner companions, Jesus was fulfilling His purpose. He came not for those who thought they had it all together, but for those who knew they needed help.

Your Sycamore Tree

What lengths have you gone to just to see Jesus? Like Zacchaeus, your desperate seeking will be met by His intentional finding. No matter how others see you, Jesus sees someone worth seeking, worth saving, worth sharing a meal with.