The Desire of Ages
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 61: Zacchaeus
This chapter is based on Luke 19:1-10.
On the way to Jerusalem "Jesus entered and passed
through Jericho." A few miles from the Jordan, on the western edge of the
valley that here spread out into a plain, the city lay in the midst of tropic
verdure and luxuriance of beauty. With its palm trees and rich gardens watered
by living springs, it gleamed like an emerald in the setting of limestone hills
and desolate ravines that interposed between Jerusalem and the city of the
plain. {DA 552.1}
Many caravans on their way to the feast passed through
Jericho. Their arrival was always a festive season, but now a deeper interest
stirred the people. It was known that the Galilean Rabbi who had so lately
brought Lazarus to life was in the throng; and though whispers were rife as to
the plottings of the priests, the multitudes were eager to do Him homage. {DA 552.2}
Jericho was one of the cities anciently set apart for the
priests, and at this time large numbers of priests had their residence there.
But the city had also a population of a widely different character. It was a
great center of traffic, and Roman officials and soldiers, with strangers from
different quarters, were found there, while the collection of customs made it
the home of many publicans. {DA
552.3}
"The chief among the publicans," Zacchaeus, was a
Jew, and detested by his countrymen. His rank and wealth were the reward of a
calling [553]
they abhorred, and which was regarded as another name for injustice and
extortion. Yet the wealthy customs officer was not altogether the hardened man
of the world that he seemed. Beneath the appearance of worldliness and pride
was a heart susceptible to divine influences. Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus. The
report of One who had borne Himself with kindness and courtesy toward the
proscribed classes had spread far and wide. In this chief of the publicans was awakened
a longing for a better life. Only a few miles from Jericho, John the Baptist
had preached at the Jordan, and Zacchaeus had heard of the call to repentance.
The instruction to the publicans, "Exact no more than that which is
appointed you" (Luke 3:13), though outwardly disregarded, had impressed
his mind. He knew the Scriptures, and was convicted that his practice was
wrong. Now, hearing the words reported to have come from the Great Teacher, he
felt that he was a sinner in the sight of God. Yet what he had heard of Jesus
kindled hope in his heart. Repentance, reformation of life, was possible, even
to him; was not one of the new Teacher's most trusted disciples a publican?
Zacchaeus began at once to follow the conviction that had taken hold upon him,
and to make restitution to those whom he had wronged. {DA 552.4}
Already he had begun thus to retrace his steps, when the
news sounded through Jericho that Jesus was entering the town. Zacchaeus
determined to see Him. He was beginning to realize how bitter are the fruits of
sin, and how difficult the path of him who tries to return from a course of
wrong. To be misunderstood, to be met with suspicion and distrust in the effort
to correct his errors, was hard to bear. The chief publican longed to look upon
the face of Him whose words had brought hope to his heart. {DA 553.1}
The streets were crowded, and Zacchaeus, who was small of
stature, could see nothing over the heads of the people. None would give way
for him; so, running a little in advance of the multitude, to where a
wide-branching fig tree hung over the way, the rich tax collector climbed to a
seat among the boughs, whence he could survey the procession as it passed
below. The crowd comes near, it is going by, and Zacchaeus scans with eager
eyes to discern the one figure he longs to see. {DA 553.2}
Above the clamor of priests and rabbis and the shouts of
welcome from the multitude, that unuttered desire of the chief publican spoke
to the heart of Jesus. Suddenly, just beneath the fig tree, a group halts, the
company before and behind come to a standstill, and One looks upward whose
glance seems to read the soul. Almost doubting his senses, [554] the
man in the tree hears the words, "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down;
for today I must abide at thy house." {DA 553.3}
The multitude give way, and Zacchaeus, walking as in a
dream, leads the way toward his own home. But the rabbis look on with scowling
faces, and murmur in discontent and scorn, "that He was gone to be guest
with a man that is a sinner." {DA 554.1}
Zacchaeus had been overwhelmed, amazed, and silenced at the
love and condescension of Christ in stooping to him, so unworthy. Now love and
loyalty to his new-found Master unseal his lips. He will make public his
confession and his repentance. [555]
{DA 554.2}
In the presence of the multitude, "Zacchaeus stood, and
said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and
if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him
fourfold. {DA 555.1}
"And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to
this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham." {DA 555.2}
When the rich young ruler had turned away from Jesus, the
disciples had marveled at their Master's saying, "How hard is it for them
that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" They had exclaimed
one to another, "Who then can be saved?" Now they had a demonstration
of the truth of Christ's words, "The things which are impossible with men
are possible with God." Mark 10:24, 26; Luke 18:27. They saw how, through
the grace of God, a rich man could enter into the kingdom. {DA 555.3}
Before Zacchaeus had looked upon the face of Christ, he had
begun the work that made him manifest as a true penitent. Before being accused
by man, he had confessed his sin. He had yielded to the conviction of the Holy
Spirit, and had begun to carry out the teaching of the words written for
ancient Israel as well as for ourselves. The Lord had said long before,
"If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou
shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may
live with thee. Take thou no usury of him, or increase: but fear thy God; that
thy brother may live with thee. Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury,
nor lend him thy victuals for increase." "Ye shall not therefore
oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God." Leviticus 25:35-37, 17.
These words had been spoken by Christ Himself when He was enshrouded in the
pillar of cloud, and the very first response of Zacchaeus to the love of Christ
was in manifesting compassion toward the poor and suffering. {DA 555.4}
Among the publicans there was a confederacy, so that they
could oppress the people, and sustain one another in their fraudulent
practices. In their extortion they were but carrying out what had become an
almost universal custom. Even the priests and rabbis who despised them were
guilty of enriching themselves by dishonest practices under cover of their
sacred calling. But no sooner did Zacchaeus yield to the influence of the Holy
Spirit than he cast aside every practice contrary to integrity. {DA 555.5}
No repentance is genuine that does not work reformation. The
righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken [556]
sin; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the
conduct. Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of heart and
life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven. {DA 555.6}
The Christian in his business life is to represent to the
world the manner in which our Lord would conduct business enterprises. In every
transaction he is to make it manifest that God is his teacher. "Holiness
unto the Lord" is to be written upon daybooks and ledgers, on deeds,
receipts, and bills of exchange. Those who profess to be followers of Christ,
and who deal in an unrighteous manner, are bearing false witness against the
character of a holy, just, and merciful God. Every converted soul will, like
Zacchaeus, signalize the entrance of Christ into his heart by an abandonment of
the unrighteous practices that have marked his life. Like the chief publican,
he will give proof of his sincerity by making restitution. The Lord says,
"If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in
the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; . . . none of his
sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: . . . He
shall surely live." Ezekiel 33:15, 16. {DA 556.1}
If we have injured others through any unjust business
transaction, if we have overreached in trade, or defrauded any man, even though
it be within the pale of the law, we should confess our wrong, and make
restitution as far as lies in our power. It is right for us to restore not only
that which we have taken, but all that it would have accumulated if put to a
right and wise use during the time it has been in our possession. {DA 556.2}
To Zacchaeus the Saviour said, "This day is salvation
come to this house." Not only was Zacchaeus himself blessed, but all his
household with him. Christ went to his home to give him lessons of truth, and
to instruct his household in the things of the kingdom. They had been shut out
from the synagogues by the contempt of rabbis and worshipers; but now, the most
favored household in all Jericho, they gathered in their own home about the
divine Teacher, and heard for themselves the words of life. {DA 556.3}
It is when Christ is received as a personal Saviour that
salvation comes to the soul. Zacchaeus had received Jesus, not merely as a
passing guest in his home, but as One to abide in the soul temple. The scribes
and Pharisees accused him as a sinner, they murmured against Christ for
becoming his guest, but the Lord recognized him as a son of Abraham. For
"they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham."
Galatians 3:7. {DA 556.4}
Click here to read the next chapter:
"The Feast at Simon's House"
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