Zacchaeus
Luke 19 tells the story of a man many of us first met through a children’s song—Zacchaeus, the “wee little man.” But there’s far more to his story than his height.
“He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.” Luke 19:3 (NIV)
Zacchaeus climbed a tree because he wanted to see Jesus.
That desire resonates deeply with me. There have been seasons in my life when I felt small—insignificant, left out, overlooked. I’ve known the ache of wanting to be seen, and more importantly, wanting to see Jesus.
Zacchaeus wasn’t just physically small. He was morally compromised, socially rejected, and spiritually starved. Scripture tells us he was a chief tax collector and very wealthy—rich, but not full. The kind of wealth he had came at the expense of others. He wasn’t just viewed as a traitor; he likely carried within him the shame and bitterness of his own choices.
I can relate. When I was seeking to see Jesus for myself, I was carrying a heart full of guilt, resentment, and rebellion. Outwardly I may have seemed fine, even “rich” in all the ways people value. But inside? I was depleted. Lonely. Isolated. Hardened.
But Jesus saw Zacchaeus.
“When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’” Luke 19:5 (NIV)
Jesus didn’t pass him by. He didn’t condemn or shame him. He called him by name. He invited Himself into Zacchaeus’s life.
That moment changed everything.
The God of the universe knows your name and stops for you. He calls for you—not to scold you, but to stay with you. To bring salvation to your house, just as He did with Zacchaeus.
