Are You Looking For Jesus, or Is Jesus Looking For You??

Hey Neighbor!

Zacchaeus had seen and heard all of the hustle and bustle going on in town. A few Individuals gathering together had now become large groups, which continued to build, and now there were full-scale crowds accumulating in Jericho.

Well, there was no point in Zacchaeus attempting to inquire about the reasoning behind this commotion, because no one would be willing to speak to him in an open forum.

You see, Zacchaeus was a tax collector, in fact- He was the ‘chief’ tax collector…so nobody wanted to talk to him. I can understand how he felt…I used to work for the IRS😏

Because he was a tax collector or a ‘publican,’ Zacchaeus was considered to be a corrupt heathen, a cheat, and a devoted sinner.

Zacchaeus had been shunned by the people.

So anyway…As Zacchaeus overheard the different conversations between individuals in the crowd, he had learned that Jesus was going to be passing through Jericho today and something stirred within Him in anticipation.

He had heard about the miraculous feats of Jesus. In fact- some of the people in the crowd were going on and on about how Jesus had very recently healed a blind man, just outside of town.

It seems that the self-righteous folks outside of Jericho had attempted to hush and hinder the blind man from approaching Jesus, but the man shrieked and screamed all the more!!

He cried out to Jesus saying, “Son of David – Take Pity and Have mercy on me!!”

Jesus had commanded his disciples to bring the man forward and Jesus healed the blind man- giving him back his sight!!

He who was once blind, could now see!!

Well Zacchaeus did not suffer from a physiological blindness, but because he had become a slave to sin, he was left in a spiritual state of darkness.

But Somehow, Zacchaeus found the faith to believe that if he could just set his eyes on Jesus, today he could be freed from the stronghold of sin’s captivity.

However, in addition to his sin struggles, Zacchaeus was also height challenged…as the song says – Zacchaeus was a ‘wee-lil’ man!!

Zaccheus was indeed quite a small man, very short in stature. He was no King Saul, who was a head taller than the average man in Israel.

But Zacchaeus had an idea 💡

He had to make his way through the crowd, like the woman with the issue of blood.

And in his determination and much like an exuberant little child, Zacchaeus decided that he would run ahead of the crowd and climb up into a tree!!

From the height of the the sycamore, he had a nice aerial view, but now he realized that he had never seen Jesus before.

How would he be able to pick Jesus out from between and betwixt his disciples, plus the congested crowd of folks- all tightly packed together, along the roadside.

He wondered if Jesus would look like Moses, with His face all aglow, or would He look just like an ordinary man??

Well as the crowds approached, and while Zaccheus was making every attempt to spot Jesus…Uh Oh!!

Jesus had spotted him!!

And He called Him By Name!!

• And when Jesus reached the place, He looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today. (Luke 19:5)

Oh My!! How did Jesus know Zacchaeus Name??

You see…Zacchaeus had a low opinion himself, much like his statue, he believed himself to be a minute, worthless, and wicked fellow.

Zacchaeus had climbed up into that tree, a rich man financially, but poor in spirit – possessing nothing more than a heart and a mind to know Christ, but How is it that Christ could possibly know him??

While Zacchaeus had been up in that sycamore, seeking, searching, and looking for Jesus…

In a million years, he could have never imagined that Jesus had come passing through Jericho looking for him!!

But there He was, standing before his very own eyes…Walking and Talking Salvation!!

Jesus had come knocking at Zacchaeus’ door, hoping for an open invitation to step over into the threshold of Zacchaeus’ heart.

Jesus Christ wanted to come and ‘sup’ with a sinner- like Zacchaeus!!

And as Jesus expressed his urgency to save Zacchaeus- today, he hastily climbed down out of that sycamore…confessing his sins before Jesus and repenting of all of his wrongdoings!!

You see…

Jesus had come to Jericho seeking him who was ‘not worth finding!!’

He had come to talk to the wretched sinner that nobody else was willing to talk to!!

He had come as the physician, making an urgent house call to see about his ‘sin sick’ patient, Zacchaeus!!

And now Zacchaeus was ready and willing to receive Jesus into the ‘heart’ of his Home!!

Yes!!

Zacchaeus joyfully welcomed Jesus into his home in Jericho!!

And although Zacchaeus remained in the city that was built under a curse, Jesus had found him, and now Zacchaeus was no longer kept captive, under the corruptible curse of sin!!

Luke 19:1-10

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Thanks For Stopping By Today!!

Until Next Time

God Loves 💕You and So Do I!!

-Tam