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The Little Man Who Became Important
This chapter is based on Luke 19:1-10.
The city of Jericho was surrounded by lush tropical plants and
trees. Running springs watered it, and it gleamed like an emerald in
the setting of limestone hills and desolate ravines. The city was a
great center of commerce, and Roman officials and soldiers, with
strangers from many places, were found there. The collection of
customs on the transport of goods made it the home of many tax
collectors.
The “chief tax collector,” Zacchaeus, was a Jew, and his country-
men detested him. His rank and wealth were the reward of a profes-
sion that they regarded as another name for injustice and extortion.
Yet this wealthy customs officer was not entirely the hardened man
that he seemed. Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus. The report had spread
far and wide that He had treated society’s outcasts with kindness
and courtesy. John the Baptist had preached at the Jordan, and Zac-
chaeus had heard of his call to repentance. Now, hearing the words
reported to have come from the Great Teacher, he felt that he was a
sinner in God’s sight. Yet what he had heard of Jesus kindled hope
in his heart. Repentance, reformation of life, was possible, even for
him. Was not one of the new Teacher’s most trusted disciples a tax
collector? Zacchaeus immediately began to follow the conviction
that had taken hold of him and to make restitution to those he had
wronged.
When the news spread through Jericho that Jesus was entering
the town, Zacchaeus determined to see Him. The tax collector
longed to look on the face of the One whose words had brought hope
to his heart.
The streets were crowded, and Zacchaeus, who was small, could
see nothing over the heads of the people. So, running a little ahead
of the crowd to a wide-spreading fig tree, he climbed to a seat among
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