Five Soul Stirring Challenges Zaacheus Overcame And How We Can Too!

TEXT: Jesus and Zacchaeus 1Then Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy. 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature. 4So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, since Jesus was about to pass that way. 5When Jesus came to that place, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today.”…

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There were three women at the crossroads that day, Naomi, a widow had lost her husband and two sons in Moab. She stood right outside Moab refusing to go further until she had told her two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth what was on her heart. She told them both they should return to their families they would have a better chance of re-marrying in their own country with their own families. They both lifted up their voices and wept, refusing to part from her…

STORY

Zacchaeus, name meant: Pure, innocent. Zacchaeus is a boy’s name of Greek origin that also bears Hebrew significance. The popular phrase “Blessed are the pure of heart: for they shall see God” can be attributed to Zaccheus, one of Jesus Christ’s disciples.

In essence, his name and the life he had been leading showed he was a lost sheep. The story of how he (Zaacheus) reveals Jesus true original mission.

It showed he was living far from his God ordained purpose and destiny. Jesus called him by name and what happened next restored him to God’s original design and path for him. You may be saying, well how did you get all of that out of his name and Jesus’ response to him. Let’s take a brief look at his story.

Zacchaeus in the Bible: a story of repentance, transformation along with a beautiful picture of God’s RECOMPENSE through RETRIBUTION
The story of Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector in Jericho, is found in Luke 19:1-10. He was known for being wealthy and was disliked by the Jewish community because he collected taxes for the Roman government, often exceeding the required amounts for personal gain.

His encounter with Jesus
Despite his social standing, Zacchaeus was eager to see Jesus as he passed through Jericho. Because he was short and the crowd was large, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to get a better view. Jesus noticed him in the tree, called him by name, and declared he would stay at Zacchaeus’ house that day.

The transformation
The crowd was shocked that Jesus would associate with a known sinner, but Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus joyfully into his home. This encounter had a profound impact on Zacchaeus, leading him to repent of his dishonest practices and demonstrate a transformed heart. He publicly pledged to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay fourfold anyone he had cheated, according to Bible Gateway. Jesus affirmed Zacchaeus’ transformation, stating that salvation had come to his house and that he was a son of Abraham.

END OF STORY

WORD STUDY

Dictionary – Definitions from Oxford Languages – ret·ri·bu·tion /ˌretrəˈbyo͞oSH(ə)n/ noun: retribution

punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act. "employees asked not to be named, saying they feared retribution"

Synonyms of retribution
1: recompense, reward
2: the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment especially in the hereafter
3: something given or exacted in recompense especially : punishment

Retribution and recompense both involve repaying or compensating, but they differ in context. Retribution is primarily associated with punishment for wrongdoing, often implying a deserved consequence for a harmful act. Recompense, on the other hand, can refer to both punishment and compensation for something, including services, loss, or injury.

RETRIBUTION:

Meaning: The act of punishing or taking vengeance for wrongdoing, sin, or injury.
Focus: Primarily on punishment as a consequence of harmful actions.
Examples: Prison sentences for criminals, divine punishment for sins.
Synonyms: Punishment, revenge, retaliation, requital. 

RECOMPENSE:

Meaning: To repay, compensate, or make amends for something.
Focus: Can involve both punishment and compensation for various things, including services, loss, or injury.
Examples: Financial compensation for damages, payment for services rendered.
Synonyms: Compensation, repayment, remuneration, reward, atonement. 

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM ZAACHEUS STORY

Jesus disregarded the disapproval of the people in the crowd and general attitude of the rejection of Zacchaeus. He pushed past the frowns when he went straight up to the tree looking up saying, “Zacchaeus come down out of that tree. He wanted to dine at Zaacheus home. Remember he had gone against the grain of choosing another tax collector to be on his team of disciples and students of the faith, Matthew.

1. REJECTION. Don’t judge by appearances alone. Man judges by appearances, what we can see. Matthew 7:1, which states, “Judge not, that you be not judged.”
2. DOUBT. It took faith for Zaacheus to push past certain feelings to even go see Jesus. The verse “faith without works is dead” is found in James 2:26.
3. INACTION or INERTIA. In his actions, he demonstrated Restitution, a type of recompense – demonstrated by God to his people. For the LORD is a God of recompense; he will surely repay.” Jeremiah 51:56
4. MISUNDERSTANDING. Man goes by appearances mostly but Jesus looked at his heart. He discerned his willingness to change and make things right. 1 Samuel 16:7, where the Lord tells Samuel, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
5. MISSION. Our Mission is His Mission. He came to seek and save the lost. The physician didn’t come to make well people well. The physician came to make sick people well. Disciples wanted to call fire down on village that rejected Jesus…Through Jesus, Zaacheus connected with his true purpose. There was a stark contrast between the Old Testament Retribution and The New Testament – New Covenant command of love and forgiveness and leaving the (Recompense – Retribution) unto God. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

In summary, we started with an overall view of significance for Zacchaeus through defining his name. Then we took a quick look at the short story of Zacchaeus encounter with Jesus, his desire to see him, his faith actions that brought him to the full attention Jesus. And despite the disapproval of most the surrounding crowd, Jesus not only took notice of him but requested to go to Zacchaeus home. Zacchaeus willingness to change and generous actions drew Jesus’ approval and declaration that salvation had come to his household. We were reminded of five faith principles: Judge not; faith without actions is dead, the display of God’s Recompense through Retribution, Jesus discerns the heart of man, Jesus’ mission to seek and save the lost. Speaking of missions, it is now the same mission of His (Christ) disciples.

*Painting: Artist James Tissot (1836–1902) James Tissot wikidata:Q381248
Title: Zacchaeus in the Sycamore Awaiting the Passage of Jesus

End of Blog

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Pastor Earma, 24 Book Christian Author & Co-Founder of Grace Covenant House. What did you think of today’s blog? Pastor Brown loves to hear from you. Do you have a comment? Please post your thoughts, comments or questions below in the comment box. For more of her teaching, click here to sign up for the Graced Life blog.