Zaccheus

One day, on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus passed through Jericho, a tropical paradise, comparable to Palm Springs in California or Palm Beach in Florida. Many priests lived there (reminding me of the Isle of Patmos, where priests stand on practically every corner and offer, for a small fee, to give a tour of the cave in which the disciple John supposedly lived).

On this day the multitudes had gathered in Jericho to see and hear and pay homage to the Galilean rabbi who had just performed His greatest miracle – the raising to life of his friend, Lazarus.

Because caravans traveled through Jericho, many publicans lived there, too – to collect taxes from travelers and residents alike. One meaning of publican is “a keeper of a tavern, or pub” (when I study my Bible, I always have my dictionary handy), but the publicans in Jericho were Jews who collected taxes for the Roman Empire.

Jericho’s chief tax collector was Zaccheus, the most hated man in the city. He, along with the other publicans, was dishonest, an extortioner, a man who practiced fraud and bribery, too. He was a very rich, powerful and proud man of the world, living in pomp and luxury. Even though men and women of his time judged him as unworthy of salvation, Sister White tells us that Zaccheus had a soft spot in his heart.

We, too, tend to judge people too quickly. We think some will respond to God’s love and willingly give them studies, but they fall away. Others we won’t even offer to study with, because we think they haven’t the slightest interest.

Zaccheus had gone to listen to John the Baptist with his straightforward message: “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matt. 3:2). The publican was unhappy. He wanted a better life. He felt guilty for his sins. So when the chance came he decided to go see a “notable person,” this man Jesus, about whom so much had been told.

Have you ever gone to see a notable person? One time I decided to stop at a Chicago street corner on my way to visit my mother, to see President Clinton pass by with his cavalcade of cars, SWAT teams, security guards and so on. The president even waved directly at me, but I wasn’t really impressed.

Another time, as I studied the Bible with a man in Greece, a parade of people passed by. “There is probably a bishop or another important church officer in that car “ I said, pointing to the imposing vehicle in the midst of the parade. “No,” said the man with whom I was studying, “We are more important.”

Zaccheus joined the crowd. The others, however, didn’t care that he wanted to see Jesus. He most certainly was recognized as a hated publican. People may have intentionally jabbed him in the ribs while they had the opportunity! But Zaccheus was a smart Jew with a great desire to see Jesus. In the midst of all those people, he realized it was impossible for such a short man as himself to see anyone coming. So the publican ran ahead of the crowd, holding onto his turban, perhaps holding up his brightly-coloured silk robe. He climbed up into a sycamore tree, which Sister White says is a fig tree, and looked – not up or around any more – but down on the people. The noise and commotion stopped. There stood Jesus!

And Jesus spoke directly to the astonished man: “Zaccheus, come down, I want to visit with you in your home today.” The astonished little man may have jumped down from that fig tree!

The people, the priests, all those others in the crowd – what did they say? “Jesus, this performer of miracles, this man who can raise people from the dead, is going to eat with a sinner. Can you believe it? A sinner!”

And Jesus did eat and talk with Zaccheus. But when Jesus was through, Zaccheus was no longer the sinner he had been. “I will give half my goods to the poor,” he exclaimed. “I will restore four times the amount of everything I have taken in a wrong way from anyone.” “Today,” said Jesus, “is salvation come to this house.” Not only Zaccheus was converted, but his family was also influenced by the change in his life.

No man – not even rich Jews – can do the impossible, but “with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27. Zaccheus had yielded to the Holy Spirit. Have you yielded?

Have you repented? I hope so, but repentance is not enough. You must change your ways – your character and your conduct.

You call yourself a Reformer. Are you really one? Has your character and your conduct changed over the years? Ask your husband or your wife, or someone else who has known you a long time.

Zaccheus was a business man. He had been a shrewd one. How do you deal with people in your office, work, or in your store? In farmer’s markets, I used to haggle, I’d habitually try to talk to people into giving me goods for a lower price than what they asked. It’s customary in many countries. But I no longer do that. I realize that everybody has a right to be paid a fair price for what he or she has taken the time to produce and bring to the market.

When Zaccheus was converted, salvation came to his house. It was a blessed place. When people walked in, they felt the presence of God. What hangs on the walls or your home? Is it neat, orderly, clean? Is your bed made? When someone unexpectedly knocks on your door, do you dash to put on something decent? Do you run to turn off the TV, then answer the door and say, “Oh, I’m so sorry.” Don’t be sorry. Be ready. Be prepared for Jesus to come to your door at all times!

Zaccheus did not receive Jesus as a guest, but as his Saviour, to live and abide in his heart and soul forever.
When was the turning point in the life of the publican? It came when he accepted the presence of Jesus in his life. Sister White said that we should let the presence of Jesus Christ be “enshrined” in our hearts. There are many shrines in the world – in Lourdes in France, Tarpon Springs in Florida, USA and in Tino’s in Greece, for example. Jesus’ shrine is indestructible. It will last forever!

Cain left the presence of the Lord. How many believers have gone out of the presence of Jesus Christ? “I’m not going back to that church,” they say. “I’m offended.” Yet the Lord says, “In thy presence is fullness of joy.” (Ps. 16:11). Someday, however, men “shall shake at my presence.” (Ezekiel 38:20). Your home life – inside and outside – should have the presence of Jesus.

If Jesus Christ is present in your life, nothing can get in – no cares or anxieties. Sister White says that “worry is sinful.” How can we doubt or be unfaithful to Him? To be in the presence of Jesus is to have a barricade against all bad influences. Where do your thoughts take you? Do you turn to Jesus or to your sins? Do you say, “I am afraid?” That is selfishness. You don’t trust Him. Remember His words in Heb. 13:5, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” and in Ps.139:7, “Whither shall I flee from thy presence?”

His presence comes with the security of His knowledge. We make plans. We forecast what will happen each day. He then comes and upsets all our plans. He wants us to be like children so He can tell us that He reigns in our lives. In His joy is our strength. When you grieve Him, you become grieved. He wants to share His best with you. “Search me, O God, and know my heart,” God says in Psalm 139:23.

Our lives should be our present to Him. He wants to visit us over and over again.
When will you come down from your tree?

Five Alpine climbers went up Mt. Everest, with a special guide in front of them and in the back. An avalanche partly covered them all. Climber one fell into a crevice. “Help me,” he screamed. Moments later, climber two fell, then number three and number four. “Help us, help us,” they cried. But the fifth climber was prepared. As soon as climber one fell, climber five dug his stake deep into the ice. He was prepared to help climber one, then climber two, climber three and climber four. They were all saved because of that one saviour. We too may be saved by our one and only Saviour, Jesus Christ.
AMEN

John Theodorou
USA