With Jesus it is never too late to make a new start and ensure that our lives are set in the right direction. Jesus came to make it possible for our lives to be redeemed and transformed.
In Luke 18, He takes the Twelve aside (v.31) and explains that the purpose for which He has come will involve being mocked, insulted, spat on, flogged, and killed (v.32). But ‘on the third day He will rise again’ (v.33). It is the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus that provides hope for every human being.
The blind man is an example of someone whose life is totally transformed by an encounter with Jesus. A man, whose life had ended up with him sitting by the roadside begging, is transformed when he cries out for mercy. Jesus says to him: “Go ahead – see again! Your faith has saved and healed you!” The healing was instant: He looked up, seeing – and then followed Jesus, glorifying God’ (vv.42–43).
Next, Zacchaeus encounters Jesus. Zacchaeus was probably not young. As ‘a chief tax collector’, he had reached the top of his profession (19:2). He was still able to run and climb a tree at least (v.4) – but he wasn’t getting any younger. He had become wealthy (v.2) and his work was probably his priority. As a chief tax collector Zacchaeus would have had people working under him. He would have been promoted many times and could look back with satisfaction upon his achievements. Yet, as a tax collector the personal cost of this work was ostracism and unpopular. People in Zacchaeus’ situation often resent their job and feel trapped in their chosen life.
Zacchaeus was almost certainly from a religious home. His parents called him Zacchaeus: ‘the righteous one’. But now religious people regarded him as a ‘sinner’ (v.7) because he was collecting taxes from his own people to give to the Romans and taking a lot of it for himself.
Still, ‘He wanted to see who Jesus was’ (v.3). He must have realized he had a need. For all his money, success and ‘religion’, there was still something missing. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus without Jesus seeing him (v.4).
Many people feel that because of their sin and imperfections, God will turn away from them. But God loves imperfect people and, instead of turning away from you, He turns towards you.
Zacchaeus did not realize that you cannot hide from God. Jesus knew him and He even knew his name. Zacchaeus did not realize that Jesus loved him and wanted to know him (v.5). Whatever you have done in your life and whatever your imperfection, Jesus loves you and wants to be in a relationship with you. But He requires a response. In a dramatic moment of encounter, Jesus said, ‘Come down immediately’ (v.5).
Zacchaeus humbled himself and obeyed Jesus. He did not put it off. He came down ‘at once and welcomed him gladly’ (v.6). Jesus was not put off by the crowd (v.7).
The result was a total transformation in Zacchaeus’ life (v.8 onwards). He decided to ‘give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount’ (v.8).
His whole family was transformed. Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham’ (v.9). Salvation came to his household in the arrival of Jesus. Salvation means freedom. It means a relationship with Jesus that goes on forever. This even puts a midlife crisis in perspective.
Finally, you, like Zacchaeus, can be part of God’s transformation of society. The transformation in Zacchaeus and his household brought benefits for the poor and justice for those who had been cheated. The transformation in you, can change your life, your family, and your community!
Lord, thank you that you love imperfect people and that it is never too late for us to change. Thank you that you died for me and rose again so that I could have a totally new life and set my life in the right direction. Thank you for the relationship with you. That is what it’s all about!
Peace,
PTV
