Pam Padgett ... teacher
Luke 19:19 1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the
chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to
see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he
was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into
a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And
when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and
said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day
I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down,
and received him joyfully.
Zacchaeus was very rich man and of reputation, being chief among the
publicans. Yet it was so important to him to see Jesus that he
climbed a sycomore tree. Its hard to imagine a wealthy man, or a
man of reputation, going to such lengths. Often wealth and
reputation puff us up. But Zacchaeus humbled himself, doing
whatever he could, that he might see Jesus. And Jesus saw him and
called to him, going to his house that day.
We also see that Zacchaeus purposed to deal well with others, giving generously to
the poor and repaying four times the amount if he had taken anything falsely. Rather than trying to keep as much as he could for
himself, he humbled himself, going beyond what would be expected toward
others.
Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord;
Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I
have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore
him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation
come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was
lost.
As I read this account, the humbleness shown by Zacchaeus stood
out to me. And I recalled that Jesus humbled Himself and did not seek
reputation for Himself.
We are to follow in these things as well.
Phillipians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in
Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not
robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no
reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a
man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even
the death of the cross.
Jesus said ... Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I
am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your
souls. (Matthew 11:29)