By Nick Dalgety
“Come down Zacchaeus, the Lord’s in your street. He’s got joy in His heart and bread to eat. No sin too deep, no past too wrong. When Jesus calls you can’t stay long.” [COME DOWN ZACCHAEUS BY HOLY GROOVE]
Childhood memories of the little man:
Zacchaeus. One of the great characters of the Bible. I first learnt about him as a child reading a Children’s Bible and singing ditty with my mates about this little man.
Now that I’m a grown up! – this blues rendition by Holy Groove of Yeshua calling down Zacchaeus, spoke to me. Memories coming back of guitar jam sessions with my friend Greg when going to Uni in Christchurch.
Little Zacchaeus climbs the tree:
Zacchaeus was a wealthy, despised chief tax collector in the ancient city of Jericho who worked for the Roman Empire. The people saw him as a traitor and corrupt.
He got word that Yeshua (Jesus) was coming to town and decided that he really wanted to see Him.
But being small in stature he climbed a sycamore tree to improve his chance of getting a glimpse of this miracle-making Man. We pick up on the Story in Luke’s Gospel and read these words:
He (Yeshua) looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” [LUKE 10:5]
I want to eat at your house, Zacchaeus!
Zacchaeus is shocked, yet delighted. You mean Yeshua, you want to sit down and eat with me!
The people complained, horrified that Yeshua would be a guest at a tax collector’s house, and a known sinner too!
Immediately Zacchaeus said to Yeshua, “I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
Yeshua then declared, “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.”
How I am quick to judge:
What lesson is there in this story for me? How quickly I can judge another by the role they play in life – the politician, car salesman, recent immigrant, out of towner, ex con or the bureaucrat!
Yeshua looks to the heart of a man. Responding to Yeshua’s grace, Zacchaeus was willing not just to repent but act to rectify where possible, the wrong.
Yeshua wants to eat with you too!
Salvation came that day to Zacchaeus and Jericho. What about salvation this day in your house?
About the Author
Nick Dalgety is a Kiwi born in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. In recent times my wife and I have made Nelson in the top of the South Island home.
My day job involves working with people making a living from land and sea. In my spare time my passion is taking pictures that celebrate what is iconic about Aotearoa New Zealand. Inevitably this involves discovering amazing people, in their special place making and doing what they do best.
When travelling overseas, I often seek out similar experiences. I created Provenance101 to share these experiences.
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