Jesus from house to house (7) In Jericho, the house of Zacchaeus

"[Zacchaeus] sought to see Jesus, who he was ..." He ran forward, went up to a sycamore tree to see Jesus, for he was going to pass there. When Jesus came to this place, he lifted up his eyes and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for I must remain in your house today." Luke 19: 3-5

Zacchaeus, a Jewish publican, exercises in Israel a hated function, that of collecting taxes for the benefit of the Roman Empire. His situation ensures him big incomes, especially since he is chief of the publicans of the region. Indeed, publicans paid heavily on taxpayers to get rich. They belonged to those misguided Jews who had denied their country and pact with the occupiers. As such, they were excluded from the Jewish community.

But Zacchaeus has spiritual needs. The person of Jesus, of whom he has heard, attracts him. He wants to see who he is. He does not merely hear, but wants to approach him personally. He spares no effort to achieve it. His small size leads him to run and climb on a tree. Zacchaeus represents for us the example of a man who thirsts for truth and is ready to receive grace. Jesus then goes to meet him.

That day, there are many others around Jesus. But Jesus looks at each one and sees him whose heart is dissatisfied. He goes far beyond the desire of Zacchaeus, because he offers him an immediate encounter with him, which makes him overjoyed.

Certainly Jesus shocked more than one by doing so. But nothing stops him, nor the hostile attitude of those around him, nor the social status of a person, nor his past. What touches him is the profound need of a soul that seeks and has the feeling of its misery. This is the mission he gave himself : "Today salvation has come to this house, seeing that he too is the son of Abraham ; For the Son of man came to seek and save that which was lost "(Luke 19: 9, 10).

In this scene, one is struck by the rapidity of the response of Jesus and the joy that his presence provides. Even if today the Lord does not walk our paths, it remains accessible to all who want to know who he is and he comes to his home. He never refused an invitation.

Source (Please the Lord)