Scripture Snapshots:
ZACCHAEUS
Series 2 Lesson 10
Do your parents ever complain about having to pay taxes? No one likes to pay taxes, but without taxes, we would not have smooth roads, police and fire protection, snow removal (depending on where you live), or parks. Do you know what else we would not have? Schools! Your school was built and operates by using tax money. Your teachers and custodians are paid through taxes. Taxes are a necessary part of government, but everybody expects to pay only their fair share.
Taxes have been around a long time. Even Jesus paid taxes rather than offend the government leaders. One day, he told Peter, one of His disciples, to go cast a hook into the sea. He told him to look into the mouth of the first fish he caught. When Peter did, he found a coin, enough to pay taxes both for himself and Jesus.
The city of Jericho was a beautiful place located near the Jordan River. The people who built the city found a bountiful spring there. No doubt shade trees and fragrant flowers were in abundance. Zacchaeus should have enjoyed living in such a beautiful city, but nobody in Jericho liked him. You see, Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector. In those days, Rome ruled the nation of Israel. The people could live on the land and even keep the Jewish laws, but the Romans forced the Jews to pay extremely high taxes. They hired Jewish men who would collect the money for them. The Jews hated the Romans and considered these tax collectors as traitors since it seemed that they were willing to join with the enemy.
To make matters worse, many of the tax collectors were dishonest. If a man owed $100 in taxes, the tax collector might tell him he owed $150 and keep the extra $50 for himself. This made the tax collectors very rich. They lived in nice houses, had fancy clothes, and even servants. Being rich is not a sin, but is a sin to be dishonest. They were allowed to collect more than the assigned amount of taxes and keep the rest as their pay. But many of the collectors charged much more than they should have charged. This made them thieves as well.
The Bible doesn’t tell us if Zacchaeus had a family, but if he did, they would be shunned. When his wife went to market, the clerk would cheat her by giving a false weight for the things she bought, or he would sneak rotten fruit into the bottom of her basket. His children, even though dressed in the best clothes, wouldn’t be asked to play at recess. No one wanted to be seen talking to them or eating lunch with them.
Each morning, Zacchaeus woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast, and was out the door to collect more taxes. Knock, knock. As the door opened, the man inside got an angry look on his face. “Oh, it’s you Zacchaeus. I suppose you are here for my taxes.” “Yes, that’s right. It says here that you owe the Roman government $150” (it actually said he owed $100). “That’s too much. That’s unfair.” “Well, you can pay, or I could just go get the soldiers. They’ll come and take your house and put you in jail. It’s your choice.” The man reluctantly paid the extra amount. What choice did he have? And so it went from house to house. At the end of the day, Zacchaeus went home and divided his money. “One pile for the Romans and one for me.” How he loved to run his fingers through all that money. Perhaps he’d buy a new chariot or add another room to his house. He really loved his money. Still, he felt empty inside. Something was missing, but he didn’t know what.
Zacchaeus had everything he wanted, except friends. No one invited him to their home, except maybe another tax collector. People would walk on the other side of the street when they saw him coming. No one ever greeted him with a smile. He told himself it didn’t matter, but deep inside, it hurt. To make himself feel better, he’d count his money.
Jesus knew what was missing. Zacchaeus had left God out of his life. A part of every person longs for a relationship with God. God created us that way. It is sad that people try to fill that emptiness with all kinds of things, such as having fun, getting things, drugs, alcohol, relationships, popularity, and, like Zacchaeus, money. One of the reasons that Jesus went to Jericho was to help Zacchaeus.
That morning started like any other day for Zacchaeus. He got ready as usual and started out the door. He noticed right away that something was different. His street was empty, but he could hear commotion coming from the main street that ran through the center of town. Zacchaeus quickly went to find out what was going on. He saw a big crowd coming, and many others were lining the street, just waiting to get a look at what was happening.
Zacchaeus stopped someone and asked, “Who is coming into town?” When the person saw who it was, they just walked on. They had no intention of talking to that tax collector. Traitor! Thief! He tried several times, but got the same reaction. Finally, perhaps, he overheard the children talking. “I can’t wait to see Jesus. Maybe He’ll bless me!” It was Jesus! Zacchaeus had heard of Him. It was Jesus who had given sight to two blind men in town. He had heard that He was a great teacher and taught about Heaven. In his heart, Zacchaeus knew that a wicked man like himself was not worthy of Heaven. Now he began to get curious about Jesus. He was no longer thinking about collecting taxes. Instead, he wanted to get a glimpse of this Teacher.
The crowds were thick, and Zacchaeus was not very tall. He couldn’t see over the people. It would be useless to ask if he could get through the crowd to the edge of the street. He knew better than to ask. Judging from the noise of the people surrounding Jesus, He was getting closer and closer. He would soon pass by, and Zacchaeus would not get one glimpse of Him. Then an idea came to his mind. Wasn’t there a tall sycamore tree just down the street? He could climb up into the tree and see Jesus from there. No one would even know.
Quickly, Zacchaeus picked up his robes and ran to the tree. With much effort, he grabbed onto a low branch and boosted himself up. Higher and higher he went until he found a great spot. He could sit there and see Jesus coming up the street. The leaves hid him, so no one would see him and make fun of him. He felt like a little boy again! His heart was beating from the run— and from the excitement. Zacchaeus looked down the street and, for the first time, got a look at Jesus. People were calling out for help from all sides. Some were trying to touch Jesus. Some pushed and shoved. Yet in spite of this, Zacchaeus could see that Jesus was not impatient or upset. Instead, He reached out and touched many of them. From his view, Zacchaeus could see people being healed right in front of his eyes. People said that Jesus was the Messiah. Maybe it was true! As Jesus came closer and closer, Zacchaeus became more excited, but he knew that he must sit very still or someone might spot him.
Now, Jesus was right under his tree. “No one has a better view than me,” Zacchaeus may have thought to himself. Suddenly, Jesus stopped and looked up into the sycamore tree. He looked Zacchaeus right in the eye. Then an amazing thing happened. Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, you come down. I’m going to eat at your house today.”
Was Zacchaeus dreaming? No, Jesus had really called him by name. He scurried down through the branches and was soon standing right in front of Jesus! Zacchaeus led the Savior through the streets until they came to his house. People followed, wondering, “Doesn’t Jesus know who He is with? Maybe He isn’t the Messiah if He wants to eat with that sinner.” They didn’t understand that Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was to save sinners.
Jesus wanted to save Zacchaeus, so He followed him to his house. As soon as they arrived there, Zacchaeus probably called his servants to wash Jesus’ feet. He had a delicious meal prepared with the best of everything. Nothing was too good for Jesus. As they ate, Zacchaeus told Jesus about how wicked he was and how empty his life had been, even though he was rich. Jesus told him that He had come to fill that emptiness and to give Zacchaeus eternal life. Zacchaeus was ready for that change in his life. Right then and there, he asked Jesus to forgive his sins and to save him. Immediately, Zacchaeus was born into God’s family. When the meal was over, he said, “Lord, from now on I’m going to give half of all I have to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I’m going to pay back four times what I took.” Jesus smiled and said, “Today salvation has come to this house.”
Jesus went on His way to help others, but Zacchaeus was never the same. Zacchaeus went door to door around town, making things right with those he had cheated. In time, people understood that Zacchaeus was a new man because he had met Jesus. They no longer avoided him, but greeted him on the street. Maybe some even invited him to supper.
What about you? Are there things in your life that need to be changed? The Bible says that” if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation.” To be “in Christ” is to belong to Him because you have taken Jesus as your personal Savior. Jesus can fill the emptiness in your life and forgive you of all your sins. He changes you and gives you joy and peace. God wants to give you a new life just like he did for Zacchaeus. Do you want to receive Jesus as your Savior, like Zacchaeus did?
ADMIT that you are a sinner.
BELIEVE that Jesus paid for your sins on the cross. He died and rose again.
COMMIT your life to Him.
Trust Him fully to forgive you and give you new life.