The Transformation of Zacchaeus

Text: Luke 19: 1-10

INTRODUCTION
All of us have been to the doctor because we needed help. We may have started with self-medication - taking pills, resting, drinking water - until the point we say, "It’s time I go to see a doctor." We go with expectation that they would be able to diagnose the cause of your illness and prescribe the right medicine. And if they can’t, we are referred to the specialist. They will run a number of tests to determine your problem. These are times of great anxiety, because we do not know what’s wrong with us, and how it can be solved.

Zacchaeus was in a similar situation. Not that he was physically sick - in fact, he was probably quite fit being able to climb a tree. He was an outcast of the society. He needs acceptance, he needs fulfillment... he was spiritually sick. There was this emptiness in his heart. How do we know?

The Bible says he was a tax-collector, and he was rich, being the chief tax-collector. In Jesus’ time, they were hated by the society. Verse 7 - when Jesus wanted to go to his house, the crowd mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a "sinner".

But why? Why was he looked down upon?
1. because of who they work for - the Romans. Jews were forced to pay taxes to Roman government. They were unhappy, but they have no choice. And yet these tax-collecting Jews are helping "foreigners" to collect their taxes - they were considered as traitor to Israel.
2. From what he shared at the end of this story - he has been cheating. People knows them to be dishonest. Why are they so rich? Through dishonest means.

In the Gospels, when tax collectors were mentioned, they were mentioned together with "sinners", "prostitutes". They were of the same class. In Jewish (rabbinical) writings they are classified with robbers.

Zacchaeus was not only a tax collector but the chief tax collector, so he was likely hated even more.

As an outcast, Zacchaeus was not popular among the people, and most likely very lonely. He needed something - probably acceptance, probably fulfillment in life... something that can fill the emptiness in his heart. He was rich, he can buy anything he wants, but money cannot satisfy the longing in his heart.

That probably explain why he has such a great desire to see Jesus. Having heard so much about Jesus, he wanted to see Him personally. He was so passionate about it that he was willing to climb up a tree - Middle Eastern adult, chief tax-collector, wealthy - wearing nice clothes.

This encounter with Jesus changed him completely. He realises TWO things:

(1) HE REALISE THAT JESUS WAS THE ONE LOOKING FOR HIM

He was up on the tree. Jesus was walking by. Everyone’s eyes were on Jesus. Nobody probably take note of him. Yet the Bible says Jesus reached the spot and stopped. He looked up to Zacchaeus and called him!

Was Zacchaeus looking for Jesus? Or was it Jesus who found Zacchaeus? Apparently, it was Jesus who sought Zacchaeus. It was Jesus who stopped under that tree. It was Jesus who looked up. And it was Jesus who called him... by his name! Jesus KNEW his name!

No wonder God revealed to prophet Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." God is not playing hide-and-seek with us. He wants us to know him - as our Creator and our God.

Today, man search for God. We use all kind of means and ways to find God. We thought that by our own efforts we can make it to God. Yet the truth is, God is reaching down towards man. God is revealing Himself to us. The Bible revealed that God came down to this world in the Person of Jesus. Jesus himself said in verse 10, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

Religion - man looking for God. Christianity - God looking for man. For man looking for God - many obstacles - our finite mind, limited intelligence, language.

Can man really find God? If we play a hide-and-seek game with God, who do you think will win? When God hides, can man find Him. If man hides, can God finds him?
The one more intelligent being - God - will find the one less intelligent - us.

No wonder the Psalmist says (Ps 139:1-14)
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

Dear friends, you may be small, nobody take notice of you... but God knows you. Even if you’re up on a tree, Jesus knows you’re there. Jesus came to look for you. He is your Saviour. Accept Him today. Zacchaeus experienced Jesus’ seeking love...


(2) HE REALISE THAT JESUS CAN TRANSFORM HIS LIFE

Zacchaeus experienced Jesus’ saving power...

Jesus knew Zacchaeus. He called out his name. First time - never met but he knew his name. "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." (v.5)

He knew Zacchaeus’ heart. He was seeking for Jesus. There was emptiness in his heart.
Jesus inviting Himself to his home. This was the only instance in the 4 Gospels where we see Jesus inviting Himself to someone’s home.

Rev 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
Zacchaeus’ heart longs for Jesus.

Jesus did not merely visit him. He probably stayed for a day or two. No one would want to go into a "sinner’s" house, yet Jesus did because that is why He has come.
Zacchaeus got to know Jesus - who is He and why has He come. He came to know God and His will. Not only did he receive Jesus into his house, he eventually received Him into His heart. He believed Him. He realised he was in need of forgiveness - for his sin and the wrongs he has done. He did that and experienced God’s grace.

It is so beautiful. Jesus came for Zacchaeus because He knew he was lost. We are all lost, the Bible says. Isa 53:6 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way..." We do not know God, our Creator. We have sinned. Unless there is some intervention, we are eternally lost. But God came for us... by sending Jesus.

Zacchaeus too was lost in sin, until God intervened in a merciful way. It is the same for us today.
God knows you... He came to look for you. How can we be hiding? How can He not know what is going on in our lives? If Jesus can call Zacchaeus by name... God can call each one of us by name.

When Zacchaeus believed and accepted Jesus, something happened. He experienced a transformation... His heart was changed. Jesus states in verse 9: This day[today] is salvation come to this house. Zacchaeus experienced a new life - "abundant" life.

Verse 8 - give half of my possessions to the poor - love for the needy...; pay back 3 times the amount those I have cheated...sign of true repentance.

Previously - living for self, now - care for the poor, needy. Previously - cheating others, now repaying those whom he had cheated; he was utterly honest……he would have literally become bankrupt because half of his possession he gave to the poor, the rest of it he return in 3 times to those who he has cheated.

Zacchaeus was deeply convicted by his sin and desired to walk right, in obedience to God. No one can change him, no rules can help him, no education can correct him - but Jesus transformed him. How? When he believed the words of Jesus. Faith in Christ changed him.

2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

God can change your life and mine, if we allow Him. Put your trust in Jesus. We can become new creation in Christ. God will give us a new heart - a new desire to walk right and do well. Only Jesus can transform our lives from what we were, into something new and wonderful.

CONCLUSION
Luke 19:9-10
Jesus said, "Today salvation has come to this house... For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

We are lost, but we do not know. Many followed Jesus, but few truly believe what He says. Zacchaeus believed and was blessed. Would you want to believe Him today?

Do you know that you are lost and in need of rescuing?

God still loves you today. He came to seek and save you. Zacchaeus experienced Jesus’ seeking love and saving power. There was nothing special in Zacchaeus for Jesus to single him out. Jesus simply loved him.

God can change Zacchaeus, He can change you. He made you in the first place. You think you go to church to look for God? Actually, God has led you into His church so that you can hear Him. He is calling you to return to Him today. Invite Him today into your life.

Then we will experience the same joy Zacchaeus had that very day!