Have you ever attended a parade and wanted to find the best spot to see it? Maybe there was a large crowd, or you were shorter than the people in front of you. If you were a young child, your father may have put you on his shoulders for a better view.
There was a man in Jericho who was small in stature. He’d heard about Jesus’ teaching ministry, and one day, as the crowd gathered in the streets to watch Him pass by, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree.
And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but because of the crowd he could not, for he was small in stature. So, he ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.
- Luke 19:3-4
He was seeking
Luke tells us that this man, Zacchaeus, was a chief tax collector. He was rich (v. 2). News had spread about the teaching, healing, and miracles Jesus performed among the people. Today was the day! Zacchaeus had the chance to see this man as He walked through Jericho—just a glimpse of the religious teacher everyone was talking about.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
- Luke 19:5-6
Jesus called his name
Zacchaeus climbed that tree only because he was curious about Jesus. He wasn’t expecting to be seen or noticed. Jesus looked up into the tree and called him by name. He wanted to go to Zacchaeus’ house. We join the crowd and exclaim, “What? Really?”
This man was despised for being a greedy tax collector. He was rich because he had overtaxed the people. Zacchaeus did not feel worthy for Jesus to speak to him, let alone for Jesus to enter his house and dine with him. Zacchaeus was a sinner (v. 7).
Yet when Jesus looked up into the tree, He called Zacchaeus by name. His response makes me smile. Zacchaeus climbed down from the tree and, with a joyful heart, led Jesus and his entourage to his home. Can you picture the bounce in his step and the wide grin on his face?
Zacchaeus changed his behavior
No doubt, the servants in Zacchaeus’ house were in a frenzy, working quickly to prepare a marvelous feast. What did Jesus and Zacchaeus talk about at the dinner table? We can be assured that Jesus wanted Zacchaeus to hear the good news, and He extended mercy, grace, and compassion to him.
And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
- Luke 19:8
Zacchaeus’ response to Jesus was immediate, and it cost him dearly. He didn’t just say, “I’m sorry. I won’t steal money from people anymore.” No, he restored fourfold the money he had stolen and gave half his wealth to the poor. He opened his heart completely because of the mercy shown to him. Zacchaeus changed how he would live for the rest of his life.
Jesus came to seek and to save
As Jesus entered Jericho, he looked up into a sycamore tree. He looked directly at Zacchaeus and began a conversation with him. Jesus was not afraid to get close to him, and he shared a meal with Zacchaeus in his home.
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
- Luke 19:9-10
On this particular day, Zacchaeus wasn’t a minor character as Jesus passed through Jericho. He was the very person Jesus came to visit.
Head to Heart
Maybe you relate more to Zacchaeus than you’d care to admit. Not the tax collecting — but the tree-climbing. The keeping-your-distance-just-in-case. The wondering whether you’d even be welcome if Jesus really knew what your life looked like up close.
Jesus didn’t wait for Zacchaeus to come down and clean up first. He called him by name while Zacchaeus was still up in the branches, still hiding in plain sight.
Jesus saw him.
Jesus knew his name.
Jesus wanted to spend time with him.
That’s who Jesus is with you too. He looks up into the very tree you climbed to hide in and says, “I see you. Come down. I’m coming to your house today.”
Journal Prompts:
Where in your life have you been watching Jesus from a distance — curious, wondering — yet not really believing He’d stop and notice you?
What might change in your heart if you believed He already had called your name?
Prayer: Lord, thank You that You don’t wait for me to come down before You call my name. Help me receive Your welcome today — not as something I’ve earned, but as the gift it has always been. Let that welcome change me as it changed Zacchaeus. Amen.
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