He brings us back to where we belong!

Luke 19:1-10

Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. 2 There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. 3 He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way--he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by. 5 When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home." 6 Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. 7 Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, "What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?" 8 Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, "Master, I give away half my income to the poor--and if I'm caught cheating, I pay four times the damages." 9 Jesus said, "Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! 10 For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost."

Food for thought!

If yesterday was about a man whom Jesus helped to see again, today is about another man who wanted to see Jesus. The other one could not see Jesus because he was blind; this one could not see Jesus because he was short. The first shouted at the top of his voice in order to attract Jesus' attention; this one climbed a tree to attract the attention of Jesus. The other one was very poor, a beggar; this one was very rich. For both these two men, the major obstacle to get to Jesus were the people. One had to shout louder, the other had to climb a tree. If you too don't do something extraordinary, you won't beat the crowds.

So, have you asked yourself what you really want to do or be in life? And have you determined that you will pursue it against all odds, despite the obstacles, and regardless of the circumstances? Are you ready to pay the price?

Like yesterday's blind man, Zacchaeus determined to see Jesus, and would let nothing stop him. For Zacchaeus to mingle with the crowd at all was a courageous thing to do, for many a man would take the chance to get a nudge, or kick, or push at the little tax-collector. It was an opportunity not to be missed. Zacchaeus would be black and blue with bruises that day. He could not see, the crowd took an ill delight in making sure of that. So he ran on ahead and climbed a fig tree. Things were not easy for Zacchaeus but the little man had the courage of desperation.

Zacchaeus was a man who had reached the top of his profession; and yet he was the most hated man in the district. Zacchaeus was wealthy but he was not happy. Inevitably he was lonely, for he had chosen a way that made him an outcast. He had heard of this Jesus who welcomed tax-collectors and sinners, and he wondered if he would have any word for him. Despised and hated by men, Zacchaeus resolved to reach for Jesus.


The story ends with the great words, the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost. We must always be careful how we take the meaning of this word lost. In the New Testament it does not mean damned or doomed. It simply means in the wrong place. A thing is lost when it has got out of its own place into the wrong place; and when we find such a thing, we return it to the place it ought to occupy. We too get lost when we are in a wrong place at a wrong time. Thanks to Jesus, because his job is to restore us to where we belong, as he did yesterday with the blind man, and today with Zacchaeus. To him be praise and glory and honour, both now and forever.