Jesus Never Waivered In His Mission

Once Jesus left His ministry years in Galilee behind Him, He fixed all His attention to Golgotha. His sacrifice on the cross was the fulfilment of why He was born into this world. For almost three years Jesus shared the message God had instructed Him to deliver to the Nation Israel. “Repent, for the Kingdom of God/Heaven is at hand.”
JESUS NEVER WAVERED IN THAT MISSION
Even though Jesus was on His way to take part in the Feast of Passover at Jerusalem where He would be crucified, He remained true to his mission. He did not neglect those with whom He came across who needed the salvation God was offering.
One such example is found in the encounter with Jesus and Zacchaeus.
As Jesus was making His way from Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee, towards Jerusalem, He and His disciples came to the town of Jericho. Jericho is 10 miles northeast of Jerusalem. In the OT we remember the story of the Children of Israel conquering Jericho by walking around the outer walls of the city 13 times. Once a day for 6 days and 7 times on the last day.
This city had been renovated by Herod the Great. He had aqueducts, a fortress, palace and a hippodrome near the ancient city.
It is interesting that Zacchaeus is a name that is derived from the Hebrew word זַכַּי (zakkay), meaning “pure” or “innocent.” We do not know very much about Zacchaeus: which tribe he was born. Where he was from, etc.
As the story unfolds, we will see that Zacchaeus is a model of repentance and the grace of God.
The story of Zacchaeus the tax collector only appears in one passage, the Gospel of Luke 19:1–10. Tax collectors were independent contractors, normally drawn from the conquered people. In Palestine and Judea, they would have been Jews. The Roman Empire employed publicans, their task was to collect taxes. A religious tax for the maintenance of the Temple, maintenance of roads and bridges. The tax burden was so heavy as the publicans would receive the tax that Rome required, and then they were free to charge any other taxes they desired, without retribution. The merchants were also required to pay tolls on road use, docking on lakes and seas. Taxes were collected on all produce, manufactured items, fish and any other tax they could collect without rebellion breaking out.
It has been estimated that the total tax burden, during the time of Christ in Palestine was greater than 40%. The tax collectors were hated for their tendency to abuse their power for their own gain.
Zacchaeus was the worst of the worst in the eyes of the Jews. He wasn’t just a publican, he was in charge of all the publicans in Jericho. However, from Jesus’ point of view, he was a lost sinner who needed, salvation.
I find it interesting that Jesus calls out to a short man, who had climbed into a sycamore tree, by his name; Zacchaeus.
Of all the people in the crowd that day, Jesus chose one man, the worst of the worst in Jewish society, a tax collector. All the crowd heard Jesus conversation with Zacchaeus, “Hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” And the crowd grumbled.
Luke 19:6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
Under the Mosaic Law, a confessing thief, was only responsible for paying back the original amount taken, plus 1/5th. (Leviticus 6:4-5; Numbers 5:6-7)
Zacchaeus’ oath and promise illustrates the great transformation of the life of a publican. Half of my goods includes his personal possessions, not just his salary. This was a great concession, demonstrating a real change in his heart and soul. This change will be a great testimony to those in the community, not only those that he robbed and those that would hear the news.
Jesus on His way to the cross, encounters the most unlikely man that would become a follower of Jesus. All the wisdom in the crowd could not understand the motives of Jesus.
You could almost hear Zacchaeus say, “Once I was blind, but now I see. Once I was lost, but I was found by the Shepherd.
Keep your spiritual eyes and ears open to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you will find your “Zacchaeus” today.
John 4:35 “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.”