Let's Be Curious About Zach's Transformation

A Genuine Relationship With Jesus Always Leads To Transformation

When we last left the story of Zacchaeus, he had just climbed down from the tree in front of a huge crowd of people. What made him come down? An invitation from Jesus. Actually, it was an invitation Jesus made for himself. Can you imagine Jesus inviting himself to your house?

“‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.’” (Luke 19:5b)

So, Zach is back on solid ground and the Bible says he’s joyful! I wonder when the last time Zach would have been described as joyful was, if there ever was a time.

“So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.” (Luke 19:6)

That’s the good news! The bad news is that the crowd didn’t respond joyfully. In fact, they responded with scorn not only for Zacchaeus, but also for Jesus!

“And when they saw it, they all grumbled, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.’” (Luke 19:7)

Consider that this is a group of people who were just running to celebrate and be near Jesus, and now, because he didn’t behave the way they assumed he should behave, they immediately grumble and turn against him.

This won’t be the last time that happens to Jesus!

But, Zach’s response to Jesus is the one that really matters, and the one I think we can take to heart. Simply put, Zacchaeus’ life is transformed!

“Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord…” (Luke 19:8a)

Picture this scene for a minute. I imagine a bunch of people being at Zach’s house, probably other tax collectors but also townspeople and religious leaders. And, while the story is only a few verses, the whole story must have taken several hours from the time Jesus first set foot in Jericho to the point where he’s enjoying a meal at Zach’s house.

I wonder what the conversation was like between Zach and Jesus that day!

Whatever it was, Zach’s personal encounter with Jesus changed him from the inside out. Zach’s transformation was evident to everyone. He turned from a man focused on himself to a man focused outwardly on others. In short, he repented!

Repentance takes humility, turning from a life of selfishness to a life of radical generosity.

Zach stands up in the middle of the party, probably gets everyone to quiet down, looks at Jesus and makes a proclamation.

“‘Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And, if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will restore it fourfold.’” (Luke 19:8b)

Can you imaging the looks on the faces of the other tax collectors, or how about those in the crowd who immediately realize they are going to receive a huge tax refund?

But, really Zacchaeus spiritual transformation is the most important thing, and that’s exactly what we see proclaimed by Jesus!

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.’” (Luke 19:9)

Notice, Jesus doesn’t just proclaim that Zacchaeus is saved, but also announces that Zach is part of the family again! When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, our lives are transformed and we are welcomed into the family of God!

Transformation is a very important thing to understand, particularly in our culture where the focus of many who claim to be Christians is solely on love. A lot of well meaning people in our culture try to convince us that Jesus loves us and accepts us exactly how we are, but that’s only half true. Yes, Jesus absolutely loves us where we are, just like he loved Zacchaeus! But Jesus does not accept us as we are, if we are hellbent on staying the way we are.

No. Jesus accepts us as we are, if we are humble and repentant and willing to submit to him and be transformed by him! Zacchaeus was humble enough to respond to Jesus’ love by turning from his sin and giving his life (in this case his money) away.

The same must be true for us! We cannot cling to our old lives, our old identities, our old stuff, our old sins and be in a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. We must be willing to give all that up, to live a new life in him, to put our identity solely in him, and to turn from our sins in repentant response to him.

Living a life with Jesus is transformative! And the good news is Jesus is offering that transformation to everyone.

Remember the question I asked in the first paragraph? Can you imagine Jesus inviting himself to your house? Can I suggest that he’s doing just that right now? He’s inviting himself into your life. Will you receive him joyfully and be transformed?