1- He was a very prominent and a very well-renowned chief tax collector of his time, in Jericho. Jericho itself was a very busy commercial/trading/retail/municipal hub by then. Meaning that the opportunity to collect the tax was very massive for Zacchaeus, as a chief tax collector, even at the expense (oppression) of the tax subjects.
2- Zacchaeus had grown very wealthy from his tax collection exploits; which seems to have also included some extraneous ways of getting rich; through fraud, threats, intimidation and corruption.
3- Zacchaeus had become a symbol of lack of empathy and compassion for his tax subjects. He was thus disdained and loathed in equal measure, by his tax subjects, as a result of this. He had become the face of a tax collection regime that showed no mercy nor empathy towards its tax subjects. But only unbridled appetite for more taxes; without compassion nor empathy towards the tax subjects.
4- Meanwhile, deep within Zacchaeus, he longed for something more than money. He longed to see The LORD. He longed for The LORD. So when the opportunity came to see The LORD, he put aside his stature and status in the society, and grabbed (without wasting time) the opportunity fully (overcoming his height challenge), by climbing a tree, so as to have an unhindered view of The LORD.
Zacchaeus got more than “he had bargained for”, for in what must have even surprised Zacchaeus himself and everyone else, The LORD Jesus Christ spotted him, and wanted him to climb down and come and meet him, at his (Zacchaeus’s) home. To have a deeper fellowship with him. A visitation of The LORD. The presence of The LORD in his life.
Christ Jesus knocked and wanted Zacchaeus to open his door for him (physically and Spiritually). To open his house (home) to The LORD. To open his heart to The LORD.
When he met The LORD, there and there, Zacchaeus Repented of his sins and Received The LORD.
Let us therefore open our heart (s) (house) to The LORD, that He may come in, dine with us and dwell in us; as He grants us Salvation and Eternal Life.
SHALOM!!!
Luke 19:1-10 ‘“Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to The LORD, “Look, LORD, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”’
REPENTANCE PRAYER:
Precious Jesus,
I acknowledge today that you are LORD and Savior of all mankind,
and today I have recognized my shortfall,
I Repent and turn away from all Sin.
Please cover me with your Precious Blood,
and establish your Word in my life,
that I may be found in Righteousness and Holiness
and write my name in your Book of Life
and baptize me with the power of the Holy Spirit
in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
AMEN.
Your Brother in Christ Jesus, and a Shepherd of The LORD,
Kevin Mirasi