I'M CHANGED

Jesus came to save all of creation and everyone in it – no matter how much we think they do or don’t deserve to be saved!

This week we are going to learn about someone called Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus was a tax collector. Tax collectors were known for being corrupt, making themselves rich by exploiting and cheating people out of money and keeping it for themselves. Zacchaeus became rich by using his position to take as much as he wanted. He was hated by all around him.

Let’s take a look at this amazing story of how this ‘sinner and thief‘ met Jesus and had his life transformed.

BIBLE READING

Jesus and Zacchaeus

1Jesus went on into Jericho and was passing through. 2 There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was a little man and could not see Jesus because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way.

5 When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, ‘Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.’

6 Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed him with great joy. 7 All the people who saw it started grumbling, ‘This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner!’

8 Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much.’

9 Jesus said to him, ‘Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also, is a descendant of Abraham. 10 The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’

Luke 19:1-10

This may be a children's video but it's definitely worth a watch:

A FEW THINGS TO REFLECT ON

* The fact that Zacchaeus made such a great effort to get just a glimpse of Jesus.

* The fact that of all the people Jesus could have approached, he picks out Zacchaeus. We don't know if Zacchaeus wondered the same thing or not.

 * The fact that Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ name without needing to ask.

* The fact that Jesus was a busy man and there were a lot of demands on his time yet he chose to spend time with Zacchaeus, a sinner.

* The fact that immediately Zacchaeus came down and welcomed Jesus gladly. He could have stayed in the tree. He could have made excuses as to what shape his house was in. He could have just ignored Jesus. He didn't.

* The fact there was an instant change and conviction in Zacchaeus’s attitude from meeting with Jesus. He turned from wrong and started to put things right. He chose to give half of his possessions to the poor, and pay back anyone that he may have cheated, up to four times the amount they paid him originally.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Zacchaeus was very small but notice that Jesus looked UP at him. This is quite a powerful image and probably quite significant. Jesus never looks down on or diminishes people. He always wants to make something greater of them.

And Jesus knew all about Zacchaeus. It could even be said that he had come to that place especially to meet him. No one can escape the sight of God. He sees us. He sees what our lives are like.

And what happened? Just being in the very presence of Jesus changed Zacchaeus completely. Jesus didn’t even ask him to repent.

But what did Zacchaeus have to give up? Well, apart from his sinful ways, his wealth and probably his job.

Sometimes we also may have to give up things for the sake of Christ.

But What does he gain? Jesus says he gained salvation that very day.

AND WHAT COULD BE GREATER THAN THAT!