WHEN I THINK of Zacchaeus, I see Danny DeVito–someone short, crooked, and a little flamboyant…

As an employee of the Roman government who made himself rich by skimming the tax money, Zacchaeus was ostracized from Jewish society.  He’s scum.  And since he manages the local tax collectors, he’s a crook managing other crooks.  His mere presence disgusts his fellow Jews because he is a reminder that they are an occupied country.  Roman soldiers stand next to his tollbooth, enforcing his collections.

But Jesus boldly intrudes into Zacchaeus’s life.  He stops and looks up at him, and then invites Himself over for dinner and to stay the night.  This is similar to the President stopping his motorcade to say he’s coming to your house–Jesus is the hottest thing to hit Israel in a few hundred years.  If you were Zacchaeus, you’d be honored.  Yet I doubt the President would say “I must stay” or “come down immediately” (literally, “hurry up”).

But in the first century “good people” didn’t eat with tax collectors because a meal was not just about eating; it was a sharing of life.  Jesus’ willingness to eat with Zacchaeus told everyone that Jesus not only accepted the tax collector, He also forgave him.  This disgusted the crowd.  Jesus had broken a social taboo.

When we love, we get dirty.  Here the dirt comes the opinions of people who look down on Jesus for associating with someone who has stolen from his fellow Jews and divided their money between himself and the Roman government.

Why does Jesus intrude?  He’s on a God-directed mission to seek and save what was lost.  Jesus sought out Zacchaes.  He didn’t just wait for people to come to Him.  He is an invading king.  But what a strange kingdom:  the poor, outcasts, prostitutes, Samaritans, and women!  No wonder Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).  Paul E. Miller, “Saying ‘Yes’ To Gentle Intrusion,” Love Walked Among Us, 149-150

Mike Benson