Jesus' Love has the Power to Transform

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” -Luke 19:10

Jesus' encounter with Zaccaeus reveals that Jesus’ love has the power to transform. In Luke 19:1-10 we read that Jesus sought out Zacchaeus and that He became a follower of Christ.

As Jesus was passing through Jericho, a man named Zacchaeus was there. Ironically, the name Zacchaeus means “righteous one.”  Zacchaeus, however, was not living up to his name.[1] He was a chief tax collector and very wealthy. Taxes were collected by the Roman government by Jewish agents known as tax collectors. These men were detested for helping the pagan leader and for often cheating their own people.[2] They were included in the group called “sinners” who were considered evil for not following the Mosaic Law as interpreted by the teachers of the law.[3] The position of chief tax collector was only referred to here in this passage. The job probably consisted of overseeing a district, with other tax collectors under him. This was a prosperous region, so it is not surprising that Zacchaeus was rich.[4]

Zacchaeus had a strong desire to see Jesus, but he was a short man and because of the crowds, he was not able to see. He ran ahead in the direction Jesus was going and climbed a sycamore-fig tree. This type of tree was sturdy and grew from 30 to 40 feet high. It had a short trunk and branches that spread out. It would be able to hold a grown man.[5] It was not common for a man in the East to run, especially a government official. Yet Zacchaeus ran and climbed a tree like a child curious to see this man, Jesus.[6]

When Jesus arrived at the tree, He looked up and called out, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus immediately came down and warmly welcomed Jesus. Interestingly, Zacchaeus thought he was the one seeking Jesus, (Luke 19:3) but the truth was that Jesus was, in fact, seeking him (Luke 10:10). Jesus came to seek out the lost.[7]

The people who saw this began to grumble that Jesus had chosen to be a guest of a sinner. Jesus paid no attention to them, however, and willingly entered the home of Zacchaeus. When he entered Zacchaeus’ home, he was a sinner; but when Jesus left, Zacchaeus was a saved man.[8]

While with Jesus, Zacchaeus was moved to tell the Lord that he would give half of what he owned to the poor and that he would pay back four times the amount to anyone he had cheated. Requirements had been made in the law for the restitution of stolen property. Zacchaeus’ offer of repayment was the extreme repayment required under the law in cases of theft (Exodus 22:1; 2 Samuel 12:6).[9] Zacchaeus was not saved because of the good he promised to do, he was saved because he responded to Christ in faith. He trusted Christ as his Savior and then showed evidence of his faith by making restitution to those he had cheated. A living union with Christ should result in a changed life (James 2:14-26).[10]

Jesus told Zacchaeus that salvation had come to his house because he too was a son of Abraham. Though Jewish society excluded Zacchaeus, Jesus stated that Zacchaeus was a true Jew. He was “not only of the lineage of Abraham, but one who also walks ‘in the footsteps’ of Abraham’s faith (Romans 4:12).”[11] Jesus said that the Son of Man had come to seek and to save the lost. “Son of Man” is a messianic title. This was a summary of Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth -” to bring salvation, meaning eternal life (Luke 18:18), and the kingdom of God (Luke 18:25).”[12]

Here we see Jesus reaching out to someone whom others despised. We too can reject others as outcasts based on their looks or way of living. Thankfully, Jesus never did. “His example is our pattern.” As Christians, we must continually be willing to accept the degraded and outcast to share the love of Christ with them. Love for Jesus should motivate us to do all things.[13]

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[1] Warren Wiersbe, “Luke 19”, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary, The Complete New Testament, (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007), pg. 202.

[2] Zondervan, The NIV Study Bible, study note on Luke 3:12.

[3] Zondervan, Mark 2:15.

[4] Zondervan, Luke 19:2.

[5] Zondervan, Luke 19:4.

[6] Wiersbe, p. 202.

[7] IBID

[8] David Guzik, “Study notes on Luke 19”, Blue Letter Bible (2001).

[9] Zondervan, Luke 19:8.

[10] Wiersbe, pp. 202-203.

[11] Zondervan, Luke 19:9.

[12] Zondervan, Luke 19:10.

[13] Guzik