Searching For the Truth: Encountering Jesus through Faith

Shared on January 12, 2025

Introduction

Are you searching for the truth?  Jesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).  Jesus also said that whoever seeks, will find (Matt. 7:7-8).  We should all know and understand that when we seek for Jesus, Jesus will come to us.

Zacchaeus, the Chief Tax Collector

In our lesson this week, we are introduced to Zacchaeus in Luke 19:2.  Scripture tells us that Zacchaeus was a wealthy chief tax collector.  This means that Zacchaeus had much money and many possessions as well.

As we have seen with Matthew, as a tax collector, Zacchaeus would have been disliked.  It was believed that tax collectors were greedy schemers that would steal from the poor and become rich.  Because of their actions, tax collectors held the reputation of being wicked sinners.  As the chief tax collector, it is highly likely Zacchaeus was greatly despised.

Desperately Trying to See Jesus

Now, Zacchaeus desperately sought to see who Jesus was (Luke 19:3-4).  Jesus was a well-known figure by this period in time in Luke’s gospel – He was nearing His last days on earth.  The implication from this scripture is that Zacchaeus had never seen Jesus, though, it is very likely that Zacchaeus had heard about Him.

On this occasion, Jesus was passing through Jericho, where Zacchaeus lived. So Zacchaeus made his way to see Jesus, however, his height hindered him as he couldn’t see over the crowd.  Rather than letting his height be a hindrance, Zacchaeus put forth great effort to see Jesus.  Question: Do you have such a desire to find and see and see Jesus? 

One of the more troubling things I’ve seen in our society is how there is little to no desire to get to know Jesus.  If you don’t desire to know Jesus, that means you have no desire to know the way to the Father.  If you don’t desire to know Jesus, that means you don’t desire to know the truth.  If you don’t desire to know Jesus, that means you have no desire for life more abundantly.

The world is filled with many obstacles that can hinder us from seeing Jesus should we allow them to do so.  Yes, there are many hills, mountains, and valleys – trials and tribulations – that can keep us from Christ, and therefore, know the truth.  However, we should never let such hindrances hinder us from knowing Christ when Jesus said such obstacles can be moved by faith (Matt. 17:20).

Zacchaeus didn’t allow his height to keep him from seeing Jesus.  Zacchaeus chose to climb into a tree, over the crowd, so that he could see Jesus.  Should we let our trials and tribulations keep us from searching for Jesus?  Absolutely not!  Let us keep searching for Him in all of trials and tribulations!

Jesus Will Come to You

When Jesus came to the place where Zacchaeus was, He looked up into the tree and called for Zacchaeus to come down (Luke 19:5).  Jesus informed Zacchaeus that He must stay with him at his house.  Now, this scripture is truly remarkable and we must understand why.  

I believe that anyone would have been able to spot Zacchaeus being in that tree.  However, the fact that Jesus knew Zacchaeus by name when the two had never crossed the same path had to amaze him.  In fact, it almost seems like Jesus greeted him like a well known friend, right? As Jesus taught, a good shepherd knows his sheep by name – Jesus is the good shepherd (John 10:3).

Something else that is remarkable is Jesus’ coming to Jericho.  Why was Jesus there? What business did He have in Jericho? You see, Jesus came to Jericho specifically for Zacchaeus!    

Jesus taught that if you ask, it will be given to you.  Jesus also said that if one seeks, one will find.  Jesus taught that if one knocks, it will be opened.  Now, these things will be done because God will do it— God will answer, God will come, and God will open to you.  All one needs to do is turn their heart to the Lord and He will be there!

Zacchaeus wanted to know and see Jesus. As Jesus came to Zacchaeus because Zacchaeus sought him, He will come to you if you sincerely see Him.

Let’s pay attention to how Zacchaeus responded to Jesus’ calling for Him.  Zacchaeus moved with haste (Luke 19:6).  To move with haste means to move swiftly.  If you’re searching for Jesus and He calls you by name, don’t you hesitate to move! Move with gladness that Christ has come calling for you!

Zacchaeus received (or welcomed) Jesus joyfully.  Let’s not equate Zacchaeus’ joy with happiness as joy and happiness aren’t one in the same.  Sure, Zacchaeus was glad but he rejoiced in his soul that Jesus was coming to His home.  Zacchaeus got the opportunity to know Jesus personally which was exactly what he wanted!

The Saving Kind of Love

Note the attitude that Luke 19:7 shows the people having about Jesus going to be a guest of Zacchaeus.  As it was with Matthew, Jesus entering Zacchaeus’ house was controversial because the people considered Zacchaeus to be a sinner.  

We must consider what it would mean if Jesus had lived to satisfy the thoughts of those people and not go to be with sinners.  If Jesus didn’t teach sinners, who would know that they are living sinfully today?  If Jesus didn’t preach to sinners, who would know that they need to repent today?

Without Jesus, there is no salvation — nobody would be saved.  Some may say that the world would still have God’s law to be able to live by.  As Paul pointed out, the Mosaic Law makes known what is sinful (Rom. 7:7).  For example, when one doesn’t honor their father or mother, nor love their neighbor, we know that is sinful.  We also know that putting another god before God is sinful because the law makes this known.

While the law and its commandments make sin known to mankind, it does not provide a way to be delivered from sin.  Was this a failing of the law?  No.  It is not the law that fails man, but man that fails the law because no man can keep the law in its entirety.  As James put it, when one failed in one part of the law, they would be found guilty of failing the law in its entirety (Jas. 2:10).

The Lord knew of man’s nature to sin repeatedly, which is why He gave the world Jesus Christ.  God, you must understand, sent His only begotten Son, not to a righteous world, but to a sinful world.  Jesus told the religious leaders that He didn’t come to call the righteous, but rather, He came to call sinners to repentance (Luke 5:31-32).

The people may have questioned and second-guessed Jesus’ abiding with Zacchaeus, but this certainly followed the Son’s role.  Jesus very much desires to enter into the home of the sinner so that He can minister to them.  The Lord has no desire for anybody to be lost – that is why He sent Christ!

Zacchaeus Seeks Forgiveness From Christ

Filled with the joy of receiving Christ into his home, we will see Zacchaeus tell Jesus of who he was (Luke 19:8). 

Making confession to Christ

Zacchaeus said, “I give half of my goods to the poor.”  Zacchaeus, like lots of men of great wealth, likely had stored up a lot of his wealth just for himself.  Of course, the action of storing up and keeping only for oneself is a sign of greed and selfishness.

A rich young ruler once came to Jesus asking what more he needed to do to be able to enter heaven (Luke 18:18-23).  Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give the profits to the poor and the ruler would have treasure in heaven.  The rich young ruler was too greedy and loved his wealth which, sadly, kept him from having treasure in heaven.

Zacchaeus said, “If I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”  Tax collectors had their reputation but Zacchaeus comes off as a man that just wanted to do the right thing.

Now, I do believe Zacchaeus may have hurt some people for just doing his job.  Some of us have likely had jobs where we have had to give bad news or maybe not be able to help in a manner we wish because of the job.  Zacchaeus told Jesus that he had the desire in his heart to pay those he may have hurt.  In fact, Zacchaeus told Jesus he would go overboard and pay them back four times what may have been lost!

Zacchaeus, I believe, was a man simply seeking relief from his reputation. Jesus is a good place to turn to for relief, isn’t He? Remember that Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28).”  If you are in relief of all the burdens that life put on you, relief from the weight of your sin, take Jesus up on His invitation.

Saved by faith

Notice Jesus’ response to Zacchaeus’ confession (Luke 19:9).  “Salvation has come to this house” could be taken to mean a couple of things.  Jesus is salvation and He literally came to Zacchaeus’ house.  Salvation, deliverance, only comes when one chooses to faithfully follow Christ.  

Notice that Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Because he also is a son of Abraham”.  Sure, Zacchaeus was literally of the blood of Abraham, but notice that Jesus doesn’t necessarily mention Abraham’s blood.  You see, Abraham was a man of great faith and because of his faith, he was rewarded by God.

Zacchaeus was of the faith of Abraham.  All of us who are of faith today are also of such faith as well.  Salvation had also come to Zacchaeus’ house because he faithfully sought it from Christ.  Again, when you faithfully seek salvation from Christ, it will be found because Christ will come to your house.  One is saved by faith— salvation is no accident!

Jesus said that the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10).  Sinners are the lost – they are lost in the dark.  One that is lost in the dark should cry out for help for one to lead them out of the dark.  Crying out for help means one can admit they need help.  How many of us will admit that we are in the dark and we need help to come out of the dark?