The story of Zaccheus is a well-known favorite, and certainly one of the most often told Sunday School stories. The liability here is that we think of it as just a Sunday School story. Then there’s the song: “Zaccheus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he.” The focus is on the fact that he was short. But that’s not the point of the story—that Zaccheus was short. In fact, his stature is incidental to the story as it is really about his conversion. Also in the Sunday School song, he comes across a just a “nice little man.” The truth is that he was a liar, a cheat, and disliked by many people.

Jesus didn’t come to save nice people, He came to save sinners.

The point of the story?

• Jesus seeks and saves sinners.

• Zaccheus is an example of how that works out.

As we approach Easter, we are being challenged to pray for, and reach out to people to attend Easter Sunday worship. Some people will respond to the call to salvation, but they first need to hear it.

As you are praying and considering people in your circle of influence, here are some big lessons from a little man: Zaccheus.

• Some sinners seek the Savior.  In the story, Zaccheus wants to find out who Jesus is. So he ran and climbed up into a sycamore tree. I believe he was truly seeking Jesus. He ran. He climbed a tree. Both actions were undignified for an adult man, let alone a rich man. This demonstrates there is much more at play here than simple curiosity about Jesus.

But the Apostle Paul said, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God” (Romans 3:10-11). How can we say this sinner was seeking the Savior? In this story we see the human side of salvation, but in the rest of the story we also see the divine side. Some sinners seek the Savior, because...

The Savior seeks sinners.  Jesus, somehow in the midst of a great crowd, knew Zaccheus was up in a tree, and knew him by name. Jesus called to him and told him to come down to dine with Him. Jesus is the one who initiated the contact.

You may be fearful to “initiate contact” with people who don’t know Jesus. But if Jesus is seeking them, then He has already initiated contact. You are simply the means by which He is making personal contact with those who don’t know Him. Prayerfully, and boldly act in that confidence. This is not on you. God is working. “Salvation is of the Lord!”

Zaccheus is seeking to see the Messiah, but all the while the Messiah, Jesus, was seeking him. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

• Our task of reaching the lost is urgent. Notice the urgency in the entire passage. Zaccheus ran and climbed into a tree. Jesus said to him hurry and come down. Zaccheus hurried and came down. And, verse 10 says the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost. When you lose something, even something of comparably little significance (like your car keys) you turn over every stone, go to great lengths with great urgency to find that which was lost.

A couple of weeks ago I was frantic to find my car keys because I was late (you know the feeling). Sadly, I don’t have the same urgency about evangelism. How much more urgent is seeking people who are lost apart from the Son of Man—especially when we know that heaven and hell are at stake?

God is working to save sinners, and we are His contacts here on earth. All the while, His Holy Spirit is working on their hearts.

Remember these things as you pray and consider whom to invite. Remember too, that Jesus didn’t come to save nice people, but sinners. We often consider people, and say to ourselves, “They would make great Christians.” But the Son of Man is often seeking the most unlikely people to believe in Him—like Zaccheus. Learn to see people as Jesus does: Lost. In need of forgiveness. Forgivable.