Come Down

Have you ever felt unwelcome, unwanted, or undesirable? It is a pretty safe assumption that those words could be used to describe Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus had the type of job that was neither reputable nor honorable. He was certainly not the most popular guy in Jericho. In fact, as a tax collector, he was most likely despised by everyone in town.

It was common for tax collectors of that time to overcharge people and then keep extra money for themselves. And as the chief tax collector, it is fair to guess that Zacchaeus was pocketing an even bigger cut as he gathered up taxes from the other tax collectors.

Unwelcome, unwanted, undesirable. And yet, when this man named Jesus entered town, Zacchaeus did not think about those things. He did not worry about social norms. He breeched etiquette and climbed a tree to get a peek as this stranger passed by. It was not a noble move, but Zacchaeus really wanted to see Jesus. He didn’t worry about other people’s reactions to him.

Zacchaeus wasn’t well-loved. He may have even felt invisible. But Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus and figure out who this man was.

As Jesus passed, not only did Zacchaeus see the man he had heard so much about, but Jesus saw Zacchaeus as well. Jesus looked up in the tree, saw Zacchaeus, and called him out. Jesus asked him to come down and invited him into fellowship.

And how did this man respond? With haste and with joy. Zacchaeus hurried down from the tree and received Jesus into his home with great enthusiasm.

The people of Jericho were not Zacchaeus’ biggest fans to begin with, so it is no surprise they began to grumble when they saw Jesus with him. Why Zacchaeus? He was a sinner—why should he be the one to host Jesus?

But Jesus looked beyond the man’s social status or reputation, and beyond the junk and mess in his life. Jesus reached out to him and offered a way out.

Jesus was not blind to the junk and mess in Zacchaeus’ life (there’s a Bible word for that junk or mess: sin). He saw it, but He offered a way to get rid of it.

Zacchaeus repented. He admitted to all the junk and mess, even offering to right all the wrongs. And then he accepted the gift of forgiveness Jesus offered him.

Do you feel unwelcome, unwanted, undesirable, or invisible? Are you looking for a way to fix the junk or mess in your life?

Know that Jesus sees you. He welcomes you as you are and wants to be near to you. He is calling out to you. His arms are open wide as He invites you into fellowship.

Jesus offers hope and forgiveness of your sin, a way to get rid of the junk and mess. That forgiveness restores you and makes you right in the eyes of God.

All you need to do to start this new life is believe in and trust Jesus. Confess that junk and mess to him. Turn away from it, and receive His gift of salvation, just as the tax collector did. That’s exactly why Jesus came to earth: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 NIV). Jesus is our hope.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I confess my need for You in my life. I come to You with all of my brokenness and surrender it to You. Please forgive me of my sins and make me new. I want to know You and have a relationship with You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Listen to the song or watch the video as you think about this story.