We are fixing to head to the cross. Yet it not quiet passion week. Most of think little about who is over the money in our land. No one consider who is chief treasure over our state or county, or even town, yet these people help in deciding how much taxes were are to pay on property, and automobiles every year to meet they government budget of the community. Their goaled to even tax our water and our sewer. Yet there job maybe less noble because of their collection, it does not make them less human and in need of Christ. Must who know our local taxation department know they are nice. The thought of them being thief like Zacheus is far from most people’s minds, beside the increases on the taxes. I have decide the taxation in America had to be different then in the days of Roman rule, because no one seems to think Zacheus was worthy to know Jesus. Zacheus was top rank in the publican/tax collector department of his town. He was well known, but apparently not well liked. He was rich and if so rich why did he need to climb a tree to see Jesus, does not money buy you whatever you want, and the answer is not when a crowd is involved. A crowd cares not your rank, unless you have body guards around you. Jesus sure did not seem to need body guards but there was more then occasion that the disciples help keep the crowd back from Jesus. Today the crowd that was around Jesus seems to be reporters. With reporters they were going to reach Jesus first to find out exactly what he was going to do in that city. Wanted to be witness of the events around Jesus and be a crier in to the surrounding towns of the events.

Jesus looked up and seen Zacheus and said I am going to your house. Now had Jesus wanted to get away from the crowd this might have been a sure way to do it, for Zacheus was consider unclean. Yet not only unclean but filthy rich unclean. A person of nobility and someone that in truth should never had to climb a tree because of his rank in life, but he did. His need to see Jesus was a matter of his heart condition. Jesus looked up and said Zacheus come down, because he was going to his house. What greater message is the fact Jesus is coming to your house. To everyone that feels the conviction of Jesus on their hearts door, knows the power of Jesus forgiveness for he comes and knocks on each hearts door. He knows the hour you will let him enter, but the question is still the same will you come down from that petal stool you are sitting on to allow Jesus into your heart today. Zacheus comes down from the tree and as the crowd whispers and glares at Zacheus, he begins to promise to pay back anything he stolen or anything he took from the crowd. I have to wonder if this wowed the crowd or not. The purification of Zacheus came with Jesus acknowledgement of who he was. One can not forgive a person that is a mystery without knowing who, he or she is. No Jesus knew who Zacheus was even before he looked up in that tree. Yet it matter not the man was rich or hated by the people. Much like the thief on the cross beside him, he found mercy for both that repented.

The crowd was opposition to who had a right to see Jesus. When the church world frowns on a sinner entering the church is the day the church has literally died from being the open door to the lost and dying, but has become the lost and dying themselves. Were the reporters well liked perhaps not. Yet they knew by tradition Jesus was not suppose to go to this man’s house.

The rich man’s house, a place the poor does not enter, and only certain people of work ethics can come in. A rich man house one does not go into unless one is invited. Yet Jesus invites himself, showing human equality to this man. Showing him he had the right to see Jesus despite what others thought. People might think because of wealthy man ability to buy anything in the world, the need for Jesus is less. Yet it is further from the truth. Even the rich man needs Jesus. In life much like not being able to get through the crowd to meet someone popular, there time when storms, famine, heart ache even come to the wealthy. Even money can not buy their way out of every situation. Faith is needed and hope in God and Christ Jesus to carry one through those times and beyond. To be a rich man is to be humble to know the need of a Savior, because your wealth can not buy you a seat in heaven. Can not buy you lunch with God. Yet one might get a glimpse despite the crowd, if one can just climb up far enough above the crowd to look down.

In Shakespearean days the threater was built so the rich sat in the top seats so they could see the stage more easily and be kept from the poor class of people. The box office seats were places of nobility. There desire to see the stage, without the filth of the world touching them. Zacheus instead of fighting climb above them in the box office seat of the streets of his village. Jesus invites him to come join the crowd. The crowd does not understand why a filthy rich person needs Jesus, but within seconds of coming down from that tree Zacheus repents and promises to repay.

A believer can not forget their own need of repentance their own need of Jesus when they first meet. They are part of the crowd, but the lost is still around. Those searching for Jesus. Are you going to ask them to come join you. Are you going to ask people to get off their box office seat of watching and come join you. Jesus is coming to the house of the sinner not just walking with the righteous. Are you in need of Jesus to come to your house, then just come down from the box office seat and join the crowd. We all need Jesus, we all need to repent and turn from sin. Let us not forget our own need of a Savior.

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for salvation through your Son despite of who we are, for you cared enough to knock on my heart’s door. In Jesus precious name, Amen.