Zacchaeus

Luke 19:1-6 ESV
“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus… he wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him… When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”   So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.”

History tells us that Zaccheaus was a tax collector and a scoundrel. He cheated people on their taxes and made himself very wealthy. Strangely enough, Zaccheaus name means innocent and pure, far from his reputation. But Jesus knew Zaccheaus’s reputation and he knew his heart.

I’m sure everyone was murmuring that day when Jesus called Zaccheaus down from the tree and told him He was going to have dinner at his house. But the outcome of this meeting was beneficial for everyone that was cheated by Zaccheaus. Zaccheaus vowed to repay everyone that he had cheated.

Jesus seeking out Zaccheaus means to me that no one is hopeless, no one is too bad to be saved. Also, with this salvation, a lot of people became blessed monetarily. My last point; the reputation that Zaccheaus had was turned around and the man whose name means innocent and pure became just that, innocent and pure. There is hope for everyone!

Prayer:
No one saw the benefits of Zaccheaus being saved. A scoundrel became a child of God and lives were changed through his salvation. In your name Lord, Amen!