Day 25: Zaccheus, the Tax Collector
As Jesus was heading toward Jerusalem, He had to pass through Jericho. A hush came over those who were on the street that day as they looked to the horizon and saw the Man coming whom they had heard so much about.
Zaccheus had just made a tax collection from one of the street venders when the hubbub began. Straining to see over the crowd, Zaccheus became frustrated again by his stature. It had always plagued him and humiliated him. But he was rich and he had great power over those whom he was charged to collect from. Maybe his greed had become his compensation for his lack of height.
Knowing that he would never get a glimpse of the Man, Zaccheus ran ahead and climbed into a sycamore tree. Perching in the tree was just fine with Zaccheus. He had heard that this Jesus seemed to know things He couldn’t possibly know. Yes, the tree would do just fine. He would see Jesus, but maybe Jesus wouldn’t be able to see him—or his cheating, selfish, tax-collecting ways that had made him so wealthy.
“Here He comes. He doesn’t look like a god. He looks like a man to me,” Zaccheus mused to himself. But as he was, Jesus stopped right in front of the tree and looked up—right into Zaccheus’ fearful eyes. Zaccheus had never been so terrified. What would Jesus say to him or about him?
“Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house,” were the words that broke the uncomfortable silence. Out of sheer relief Zaccheus scrambled out of the tree and received Jesus’ invitation to entertain Him that night. Conviction ripped at Zaccheus’ heart, and he boldly proclaimed his sin of defrauding the people out of more money than he was owed. Half of all he had he pledged to the poor, and to all he had defrauded, he would return four times as much.
Are you trying to hide your sin from Jesus? When Jesus looks in your heart and reveals your sin, are you willing to let Him in? Are you willing to make restitution for your sin? Jesus saved you to seek out your heart. Will you go the extra mile for the sake of being in the Presence of Jesus?
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