Zacchaeus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he, he climbed up in a sycamore tree, the Savior for to see.
And as the Savior passed that way he looked up in the tree, and he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down, for I’m going to your house today, for I’m going to your house today.”
Does that sound familiar? Perhaps you’re groaning about that being stuck in your head all day, or asking yourself, “What did I just click on?”
Whether you’re new to learning about Jesus or grew up singing songs about popular Jesus stories, we believe there’s always more to see, more to learn, and more to experience.
Today, we dive into Jesus and Zacchaeus, a familiar story about a short man with a big impact, where we unpack two key perspectives and leave you with two big challenges.
Let’s start where it all begins — in the Word.
Luke 19:1-10 (NLT) Jesus and Zacchaeus
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
PERSPECTIVE 1: ZACCHAEUS — WHY WOULD A HEALTHY, WEALTHY MAN WANT TO SEE JESUS?
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. So did many others. There were crowds hoping to catch a glimpse of him outside Jericho. But only one man climbed a tree — Zacchaeus.
This is where context is relevant. It would be unusual to see a man of power climb a tree like a child, especially in tunic-like clothing. It’s still unusual today.
But he wanted to see Jesus, desperately. And that also doesn’t make a lot of sense. Most people who wanted to see Jesus, wanted to be healed, heard, helped, and hear his teaching. But Zacchaeus was a seemingly healthy man — he was able to climb a tree at least. And we know he was wealthy — he was a tax collector. And we also know he probably would not like what Jesus had to say — enter countless warnings about the pitfalls of money and greed. So why was he adamantly searching for Jesus?
Let’s revisit when we learn about Matthew. Jesus invited a tax collector to be one of his closest followers. Matthew held a banquet in his home with Jesus, as his guest of honor with other tax collectors. No one would have done that.
Luke 7 and 15 teach us that Jesus taught the crowds, including tax collectors and notorious sinners. Even they agreed Jesus’ teachings were right and true.
In Luke 18, Jesus shares a parable about a religious ruler and tax collector. We immediately know who is good and who is bad. (Spoiler alert: the religious leader would be good and the tax collector would be considered bad.)
Unless Jesus told the story. Then he flipped the script, like always, challenging us to see things his way rather than a worldly way. In Jesus’ parable, the religious person was not the hero and the tax collector was not the villain.
So maybe Zacchaeus heard about Jesus from Matthew’s dinner party or maybe he heard about Jesus from his coworkers in the crowds hearing stories like that. Either way, it’s no wonder Zacchaeus was desperate to see Jesus.
PERSPECTIVE 2: JESUS — WHAT HAPPENS WHEN JESUS SEES US?
As we know, Zacchaeus’s climbing adventure paid off. He saw Jesus.
More importantly, Jesus saw him.
And then Jesus called him by name.
And then Jesus went to his house.
Jesus gives us so much more than we can imagine. Zacchaeus just wanted a glimpse of the man he’d heard about. But Jesus saw him, called him by name, and went to his house. He wanted to be with him, share a meal with him, get to know him, and ultimately change him.
Simply put, Jesus doesn’t just see us. He knows us, by our name! He wants to spend time with us, wherever we are. He wants to transform us, from any state we’re in. It’s not a head nod, a “sup dude,” a small wave, or a casual exchange. It is intentional beyond levels of intention we could ever imagine. It’s intimate. It’s safe. It’s life-giving.
Jesus saw a heart after transformation and transformed him, he did. This is what happens to people who meet Jesus and get to know him — they’re changed.
Jesus is right here, right now waiting to do the same thing with each of us. While we may not be able to see him, we can meet him in his Word. Every time we open our Bible and read the Gospels, we’re with him — encountering him as we learn from his encounters with others that are still relevant, true, and mind-blowing today.
Jesus doesn’t just see us, he changes us.
Romans 12:12 (NLT): Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
How does this familiar story matter now?
CHALLENGE 1: DO WE, LIKE ZACCHAEUS, TRULY WANT TO SEE JESUS?
As a man in good health and power, would you climb a tree in a dress to catch a glimpse of Jesus?
Do we still want to see Jesus, no matter how long we’ve known him? Looking for Jesus is not something we grow out of or graduate from. It defines our entire life of discipleship. We should always want to see, learn, and experience more of Jesus.
And the reality is, even when we’re not looking for him, when we’re avoiding him, hiding from him, or really don’t want to be noticed — Jesus sees us. He more than sees us — he knows us, wants to be with us, and loves us.
Don’t hide. Seek. Seek and be found.
“For the Son of Man[a] came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10
CHALLENGE 2: DO WE HELP OTHERS SEE JESUS?
Jesus wants his followers to help others see him too. Here’s a new perspective: We should never be the crowd forcing someone up a tree to get a glimpse of Jesus. Instead, we should willingly and joyfully be showing Jesus to those we meet and know.
We know encounters with Jesus lead to transformation. Don’t withhold that opportunity to share who Jesus is with others. Wisely put, a lack of obedience is disobedience. Listen to that whisper to share the love of Christ with someone.
Our Young Life leaders know this all too well. They go, just like Paul describes in Romans 10:14-15. “How can anyone believe in him if they’ve never heard about him? How can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Our leaders are out there telling kids about Jesus and you can too.
And our Young Life kids know this. They’re experiencing life to the full because someone helped them see Jesus. They’re learning the thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. [But Jesus’] is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:10)
So go. Seek Jesus and help others see him too. Be the reason someone experiences life to the full.
Let’s Discuss.
This article was inspired by “Jesus and Zacchaeus”, episode 1 of Words & Ways — a mini podcast from Young Life with a goal to get to know and become more like Jesus each day by spending time in God’s word. Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments.
- How does the big picture of Luke bring clarity and depth to the story of Zacchaeus?
- Is there a reason you are intentionally not trying to see Jesus right now? If so, what are the circumstances? Why are you avoiding him?
- What are some ways you regularly try to “see” Jesus (that is, be with him, learn about him, experience him)?
- Who are the Zacchaeuses in your life — people (or groups) who you maybe avoid or even look down on? What are some ways (even unintentionally) that you make it difficult for that person to see Jesus?
- What is one way you can help other people see Jesus?
- Zacchaeus was changed in deep ways. His relationship with money — a centerpiece of his work and life — was completely turned upside down and inside out according to Luke 19:8. What are some ways that Jesus has changed you at your deepest core? What are some ways that you sense him changing you right now? What are some things in your life in need of change that you’ve not yet surrendered to him?
Listen to more episodes of Words & Ways on Apple or Spotify.
