“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 week, we look at the story of Zacchaeus, whose short stature is the subject of many a Sunday school song and story! (Sorry if you just got that “wee little man” lyric stuck in your head now…if you know, you know). But Zacchaeus being short and climbing a sycamore tree to see Jesus is not the main point of this story. Jesus invites himself over(!) to his house, even though Zacchaeus’ role as a tax collector made him a hated figure in his town. Sitting at table with someone conveyed all kinds of messages.

In the story, we are not given any clue as to what motivated Zacchaeus to be so generous.  Was it simply because he was in the presence of Jesus?  Were there words exchanged between guest-Jesus and host-Zacchaeus that led to Zacchaeus’ repentance?  We do not know.  

What follows is a beautiful proclamation:

“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 proclaims that salvation has come:  some scholars wonder if Jesus is referring to himself here, or if the act of repentance by Zacchaeus is truly evidence of a changed heart.  Zacchaeus is declared to be a part of a family—a son of Abraham. And then Jesus declares his mission statement—to seek and save the lost.

Zacchaeus teaches us something.  In the presence of Jesus, he is moved towards a generous heart, to repay whatever he has cheated, even four times more.  In the presence of Jesus, he hears that he belongs to a family.  In the presence of Jesus, he knows he has been found.

May we celebrate the grace and love of our Lord, and learn from Zacchaeus and his changed life!

Grace and peace,

David