From the story of Zacchaeus, we learn that love and acceptance is what changes us. Another biblical principle that comes to us from the story of Zacchaeus is that no matter what I’ve done, Jesus wants me. I have an album by Brenda Lee in my oldies but goodies collection. The title song is “I Want to Be Wanted.” That’s a true emotion for every human being who ever walked on the face of this earth. We all want to be wanted. Zacchaeus is no different. I’m sure I don’t need to go into too much detail explaining how bad this little man was. Everyone seeks to find meaning and purpose in life. We all look for it in our relationship with others in our society in one of three ways or a combination of several ways. First, we might look at our appearance! The magazines and TV in our country broadcast the faces of the beautiful, but most of us are just normal-looking people as far as the world is concerned. I expect Zacchaeus was even less than that. If we fail in appearance, especially in our teenage years, we’ll find acceptance from others through our achievements. We might turn to affluence if we aren’t as bright as others or can’t produce in the athletic arena. Money will buy you anything, right? Our world often lives by the golden rule: he who has the gold rules! My son Chuck gave me a secular principle based on Paul’s comments about love. He said, “These four things remain: faith, hope, love, and money. But the greatest of these is money…” It will buy anything, right? Absolutely not! The great apostles of the ’60s, John, Paul, George, and Ringo, had one thing right: “Can’t buy me love!”
Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, but he was despised and hated by his community. He worked for the occupation forces of Rome. I wonder if it wasn’t his physical handicap that prevented his access to the temple courts and the religious rituals of Israel. As an outcast he was just plain “unacceptable” in oh so many ways. But He was another lost soul. He had no meaning and no purpose in life just like many in the world today. His wealth didn’t make him happy, and when Jesus came around, he wanted to check him out. Jesus stops and notices him amongst all the people in the crowds. Jesus notices you. Jesus called him by name. Jesus knows your name. Jesus then called Zacchaeus. He said, “Hurry and come down, for I must stay and dine with you at your house today…”
As simple as this little story is, I hope you let God tell you that no matter what you’ve done, he wants you! The world may reject you! You may not be the most beautiful person in the world. But Jesus wants to fellowship with you. He wants to hang around you! You might not be the greatest at any activity in the world. You may not have accomplished a whole lot in this world, but Jesus wants to hang around you. The final book in the Bible explains this. Jesus says, “I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you and you with me.” (Revelation 3:20)