Taken from a sermon by Bryant Wright, Founder

 “Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short, he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way…” Read the entire story here: Luke 19:1–10.

When a well-known figure visits a small town, the whole place often lights up.

Streets buzz with excitement, and people remember the moment for years to come. That’s what happened in Jericho the day Jesus came through. By then, His miracles and teaching had already stirred the nation. His arrival turned an ordinary day into something unforgettable– especially for one man: Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus wasn’t exactly anyone’s favorite neighbor. As a wealthy tax collector who worked with Rome, he was resented, even despised. And yet, despite the ridicule, he longed to see Jesus for himself. Too short to see over the crowd, he did something no self-respecting adult would do: he scrambled up a sycamore tree. What a picture of desperation and hope– willing to look a little foolish just for a glimpse of the One he believed could change everything.

What happened next is stunning. Jesus stopped right under that tree, looked up, and called him by name. Not only that, He invited Himself to Zacchaeus’s house! That one moment flipped Zacchaeus’s world upside down. And in that moment, we see the heart of Christ: love that crosses social lines, grace that refuses to be bound by reputation or past mistakes.

And Zacchaeus’s response? Repentance. Transformation. The man who had once hoarded wealth became generous. The one known for exploiting others pledged to make things right. His encounter with Jesus turned greed into grace.

The greedy man became generous. The cheat became a restorer. His encounter with Jesus changed him from the inside out.

This story reminds us that Jesus meets unlikely people in unusual places– and no one is too far gone for His love. It also challenges us to reflect on our own spiritual journey.

How far are we willing to go to seek Him?

Are we open to the kind of life-changing transformation He brings when He calls us by name?

DIG DEEPER
Read “Who was Zacchaeus in the Bible?” at GotQuestions.org.