Zacchaeus! You come down!

Luke 19 tells the story of a man named Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector in Jericho. Back then, the tax collectors were Jews, chosen by the Romans, to be responsible for taking the taxes and money owed to the government. The sticky thing about this, however, is that these Jews had the ability to cheat their own people, taking even more than they owed, because the Romans told them anything additional they took, they could keep. If the Jews declined to give the tax collector the money they asked for, the handy dandy Roman soldiers were there to let them know who was boss, sometimes even to the point of killing them. Zacchaeus had become filthy rich taking money from his own people. The Jews described tax collectors as "filthier than an animal," which basically meant that they weren't even worthy to be called a human.

Zacchaeus, whom was incredibly short by the way, heard that Jesus was coming to town. Since no one even gave a flip about him, he had to climb up into a tree in order to even see Jesus pass by. Jesus noticed him though. In verse 5 He said, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today."

Weird, right? Especially considering staying with someone at their house was incredibly personal and seen as a high social accomplishment. Why would Jesus want to hang out with the man who steals money from his own people? What could he possibly have in common with someone who is so obsessed with financial gain that they gave up their societal rights just to make more money?

Of all of the names that we call Jesus, "friend of sinners" is one of my favorites.

Jesus loved Zacchaeus regardless of his occupation. He loved Zacchaeus regardless of his idolatry of money, and because of that, Zacchaeus freely received that love and grace. You know what else he did? In verse 8 he says, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold." Money was no good to Zacchaeus anymore. Money couldn't love him the way Jesus could. It couldn't comfort him, hold him, or provide for him the way Jesus could.

The difference between Christianity and a lot of other religions, is that those other religions preach that good works will help you. Good works will save you and allow you to be accepted by the higher powers. If your change your life and become better, than you will be accepted. Jesus says the exact opposite. Jesus says, you already are accepted, and that compels you to want to change.

God's acceptance isn't the reward for having cleaned up your life; it is the power to actually clean up.

Zacchaeus came to Jesus filthy with sin. By because of his love and belief, Jesus said that salvation came to his house (v9). Zacchaeus didn't go change and then run back for acceptance, the acceptance of Jesus came straight to him. He chose to follow Jesus, which meant he couldn't follow money anymore, and that was okay with him!

Most religions say "Go and do." Jesus says, "It's already been done."

Don't think that you have to clean up your life in order for God to love you. Come to Jesus just as you are and embrace the acceptance that He offers you. The filthiest, most horrible sins you've ever committed were already paid for and wiped away by Jesus himself. Come to God, and worldly things will grow dim, while the light to Jesus shines brighter than ever before.