I want to speak to you about a wonderful meeting between a big sinner and a great Savior. If you want to see Jesus showing mercy and love, see Him face to face with a great sinner. In dealing with a case that in the eyes and thoughts of other people was absolutely hopeless, we see Jesus as a great Savior. It was a wonderful moment in Jericho, when Jesus passed through its gates.
The text is Luke chapter 19, verses 1 through 7. "And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who He was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him; for He was to pass that way.
"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. And he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That He was gone to be a guest with a man that is a sinner."
I wonder if you will be as wise as this man, Zacchaeus, the publican, the rich sinner, the most despised sinner in the city? I believe Zacchaeus was an intelligent, honest, earnest seeker after Jesus Christ. Perhaps he was just waiting for this opportunity.
I do know this―he acted like a man who had counted the cost, who thought the whole question out, and who knew what he was going to do when the opportunity came, without hesitation or reservation. He made instantly the acknowledgment that makes a man Christ's man forever.
It is no good to sit and sing about the "Sweet by and by." I am afraid we say all sorts of sanctimonious things to ourselves where there is no seeking of and surrendering to the will of God. Zacchaeus says, "I want to see this Man, this wonderful Savior, this Jesus of Nazareth." And this man, away back in the crowd, wanted to see Jesus enough to run.
This man ran. May God open your eyes. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus enough to climb a tree. Imagine one of the richest men in the city doing what he did to get a look at Jesus! But it is the man who is prepared to be laughed at for Christ's sake who gets the blessing.
I am not saying that it is essential to climb a tree, but I admire the spirit that makes a man so far forget himself and his position and reputation, in his longing enthusiasm and urgent desire to know God and eternal life. That is the spirit that lands us near the blessing.
And Jesus, who saw Nathaniel under the fig tree, came along the pathway that led to the foot of the tree. He "came to the place." What place?
The place where there is a seeking soul. Jesus always comes there.
He knows the place where there is a seeking soul; He knows where to seek you who come in with a burdened heart, you who come in with tearful faces, and you who come in, haunted by your past and longing for a new start in life. Jesus knows where you are sitting, and He is very close to you. God help you to believe it.
"Jesus came to the place," and when He got to the place He stopped. Then, "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." verse 5. And Zacchaeus made haste. He did not stop to confer "with flesh and blood," or to make excuses, or to hide in any subterfuge of lies; he made haste and came down and he received Him joyfully.
Zacchaeus did two things: he sought, and he surrendered. The man who does like Zacchaeus will be saved. The people around him said, "Oh, he is a sinner." They saw an object for hate. Jesus saw a man, and loved him. Because He loves you, Jesus sees more in you than anybody else does. Don't reject Him tonight. He comes with an open door for you. Let Him save you. God help you!