The beloved physician Luke wrote how, “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 sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way”, and in chapter nineteen and verse five of his book Luke shares how Jesus told Zacchaeus, “make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at your house” where we read:
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 your house.
The verse reads, “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, ...” Luke began with the words, “and when Jesus” or “and at the time and moment the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “came to the place” which means “arrived, appeared and came forth to where the sycomore tree was located”, “he looked up” or “Jesus gazed with an upward glance”, “and saw him” which means “and observed, noticed, discovered and discerned Zacchaeus”, “and said unto him” or “and uttered, declared and proclaimed to Zacchaeus” the following words. Luke shared how Jesus stopped at the “sycomore tree”, gazed upward, observed Zacchaeus in the tree and said the following words to him.
The verse continues, “... Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at your house.” Luke added the word, “Zacchaeus” whose name means “pure”, “make haste” which means “diligently speed and be eager”, “and come down” or “and descend”; “for to day” which means “because, since and on account that this very day or time between sunrise to sunset” “I must abide” or “I, Jesus, have need and necessity to remain, tarry, sojourn and continue” “in your house” which means “within your, Zacchaeus', dwelling place, abode, habitation and home”. Luke shared how Jesus told “Zacchaeus” to hurry down from the tree because He was coming to his house that very day.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus took notice of “Zacchaeus” in the “sycomore tree”. “Zacchaeus” only thought to “see” Jesus, but Jesus actually invited Himself to “Zacchaeus” home. First, Jesus knew “Zacchaeus'” name, and then Jesus presumptuously invited Himself to the well known and disliked “chief tax collector's” dwelling place. Jesus knows everyone by name, and His desire is to “dwell” or “abide” within their lives. “Zacchaeus” becomes a great model for any person who wonders whether their physical features or their status will keep them from “seeing” Jesus because this story tells all who read it that Jesus knows them, and He desires to dwell with them if they will only believe and trust in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.
Next time Luke shares how Zacchaeus, “made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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