War Cry - May, 2015 Page 35

The War Cry | MAY 2015

moved people aside to make room for
Him. Zaccheus could hear his heart
pounding as Jesus approached. He
congratulated himself for finding such
a strategic spot to see it all. Then,

Jesus stopped right at the tree! The

crowd stopped as well and fell silent
as He spoke.

Jesus called up to Zaccheus, "Quick,

come down! I must be a guest in your
home today!" (Luke 19:5). Zaccheus

was shocked. Nearly falling out of the
tree as he climbed down, he felt joy
he had not felt since childhood. The

stunned crowd parted for him and he
boldly led Jesus to his home. Even the
crowd's grumbling could not dampen
his delight. Jesus had "gone to be the
guest of notorious sinner" (vs. 7). In a
city of priests, He had chosen the com-
pany of a rogue.

The Bible does not say how long

Jesus was with Zaccheus, nor does it

give the faintest hint as to what was
discussed. People milled around, the
disciples unable to explain yet another
incomprehensible action by their Lord.

Why would Jesus take time with one

person, and such an evil one at that,

when there were thousands waiting
to see Him in Jericho's streets? For
Zaccheus, this was an unimaginable
privilege. All he had wished for was
a glimpse of Jesus, but now he was
honored with His presence. Jesus

exceeded all his expectations. And He

will exceed yours as well.

It was now time for Jesus to con-

tinue on to Jerusalem. When the
door opened, everyone turned to hear
what Jesus would say. Instead, it was
that hated little man who spoke, that
cheater, that scoundrel. Hopefully

Jesus had put him in his place. In-

deed, Jesus had--not with a hammer
but a hug.

Clearing his throat, Zaccheus

spoke: "I will give half my wealth to
the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated
people on their taxes, I will give them
back four times as much!" (vs. 8). The
onlookers couldn't believe his words.
Did Zaccheus just sentence himself to
living in poverty?

Jesus addressed the crowd: "Salva-

tion has come to this home today, for
this man has shown himself to be a
true son of Abraham. For the Son of
Man came to seek and to save those
who were lost" (vs. 10).

Despite his wealth, his power and

his value to the Romans, Zaccheus had
been very much lost: lost like a city
that is captured by the enemy, like
a traveler who takes the wrong road,
like a prisoner whose sentence robs
him of every freedom. But Jesus said
that He came to seek and to save those
who are lost. The city that fell to the
enemy will be taken back. The traveler
will find the road he needs. The pris-
oner will find freedom. Because Jesus
seeks us. He is looking up and down,
over here and there. Why? Because He
wants us. We are His beloved.

An old poem by an unknown poet

goes:

"Zaccheus," said the Carpenter gently,

"What did you see that made you desire

this peace?"

"Good Master--I saw mirrored

in Your eyes

The face of the Zaccheus

I was meant to be."

Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee

is Editor�in�

Chief and National Literary Secretary.