89 Jesus & Zacchaeus

In Luke 19:1–10, Jesus Christ enters Jericho and seeks out the most unlikely of hearts—Zacchaeus, a wealthy and despised tax collector whose life was built on exploitation. Though hidden in a tree, Zacchaeus is seen, called by name, and invited into grace before he ever has a chance to change, revealing that salvation begins with Christ’s initiative, not our merit. This encounter transforms Zacchaeus from a man of greed into one of radical repentance and restitution, demonstrating that genuine faith produces visible change. Jesus’ declaration that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” reminds us that no one is beyond redemption, and that true salvation is not only about being found, but about being made new.