Jesus knew who he was. Jesus knew why he was here. Jesus knew his purpose and did not stray from it. “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10)
It is strange to realize that I have well outlived the earthly life of my Savior. Jesus walked on earth in the form of a man for only 33 short years and officially did ministry only for the last three. He did not have time to waste. Three years hardly seemed sufficient enough to make a change in the culture and hearts of mankind, and yet Jesus was so intentional, wise, truth-filled, and holy that his ministry – his purpose – continues to impact on a worldwide scale!
This Jesus – who never lost sight of his identity or purpose, was the same one who created divine appointments throughout the entirety of his ministry.
As I was reading this morning out of the book of Luke, I noticed that Jesus had made a declaration to his disciples about heading to Jerusalem. In that declaration, Jesus began to prep his disciples for what would happen to the Son of Man. He begins speaking of his own death, the torture that would accompany it, and even of his resurrection. His followers hear him speak – but they aren’t understanding what they hear.
With the cross looming before him, and the specific time laid out (Passover) and approaching, Jesus still makes a divine appointment with a tax collector from Jericho. A sinner? Yes. A despised man? Most certainly. Yet Jesus shows up on the scene of one of the oldest cities in the world to continue to show us that he came to seek and save.
“When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus…” No doubt a smallish man dangling in a tree would gain some attention. Yet the fact that Jesus would interact with this man – and in the way in which he chooses to interact – again set apart the Son of God from other religious leaders. Jesus “called him by name. ‘Zacchaeus!’ he said, ‘Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.‘” (Luke 19:5) Jesus not only saw Zacchaeus, but he singled him out – calling him by name and extending to him the greatest honor and opportunity – to have Jesus as a guest in his home. Jesus’ time was limited. And yet, Jesus knew that this man would be a life transformed by a day in the presence of God’s Son.
I cannot imagine what must have been going through Zacchaeus’s mind. “Why me?” Perhaps he might have been even feeling a bit embarrassed by the attention that was certainly now upon him once the LORD acknowledged him up in a tree. Whatever Zacchaeus was feeling or thinking we do know his response. “Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.” (Luke 19:6)
I love that image. Zacchaeus took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. It stuck with me this morning. In part because we too, like Zacchaeus, are great sinners in need of a savior. And when the Savior comes to our house, how do we greet him? How do we treat him? Do we open the home up to him with great excitement and joy? Are we allowing him to have full access to our home or just the parts we want him to see?
When Jesus prepared to leave Zacchaeus’ home, Zacchaeus was a changed man. He was going to make things right with the people that he had wronged. He was going to conduct his work as a tax collector differently. Honestly. He was going to become a giver of his wealth and possessions. He was changed. Transformed.
Are we?
Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost. That means Jesus came to save us. You and I. Just as Jesus took time to meet with Zacchaeus, Jesus longs to meet with us. He wants us to invite him into our homes. He wants us to invite him into our lives. He wants us to invite him to have the most important seat in our hearts. If we allow Jesus this sort of access we too, will be transformed. We too will experience great excitement and joy.
Let’s not miss the opportunity extended for a divine appointment with the Savior of the World.
Blessings!