The children’s song only describes the man as ‘wee little.’ Small of stature. Needed a Sycamore tree solution to see the Savior coming his way.
Luke the Gospel writer fleshed him out more fully. Wee Z occupied a corner office with the Roman I.R.S. guaranteeing him a six-figure income. Of both legal and illegal origin.
Definitely not well-loved by the crowd. Zacchaeus belonged outside the religious circle.
Spiritually curious, though. Something about Jesus compelled him to go see. Scooted up the tree he did.
Jesus surprised everyone. Not the least wee Z. “…Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” -Luke 19.5
Two questions rolled through Z’s head:
1. “How does he know my name?” and 2. “If he knows my name, what else does he know.”
The crowd knew Z wasn’t worthy of Jesus. “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner,” they mumbled. -Luke 19.7
Yet Jesus went. And Zacchaeus was never the same.
Three Cs become clear when you get to know Jesus:
No Coincidences. No Condemnation. No Cost.
No accidents or historical digging or hoops to jump through.
You and me and Z are more alike than we realize. We’re also more liked by Jesus than we realize.
Jesus cares more about who we are and where we are going than where we have been.