Seeking Jesus: The Story of Zacchaeus and Grace

Oct 27, 2025

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Seeks and Welcomes the Outcast

Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus in Jericho reveals that Christ intentionally seeks out those who are marginalized, despised, or considered unworthy by society, offering them not just a passing glance but genuine fellowship and acceptance. Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector and social outcast, is not only noticed by Jesus but is called by name and invited into relationship, demonstrating that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love and grace. This radical welcome challenges our assumptions about who is worthy of God’s attention and reminds us that Jesus comes for the lost, the outsider, and even those we might overlook or judge. [42:15]

Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Reflection: Who in your life or community do you tend to overlook or judge as unworthy of your time or kindness, and how might you extend Christ’s welcome to them this week?

Day 2: Vulnerability and the Courage to Seek Jesus

Zacchaeus’ willingness to climb a tree—risking embarrassment and exposure—shows that seeking Jesus often requires vulnerability and a willingness to step outside our comfort zones. True spiritual growth happens when we are honest about our needs and take bold steps to encounter Christ, even if it means being seen in our weakness or imperfection. Like Zacchaeus, we are invited to become seekers, to put ourselves in places where we might truly see and be seen by Jesus, trusting that our vulnerability will be met with grace rather than shame. [51:31]

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel called to take a vulnerable step toward Jesus, even if it feels risky or uncomfortable?

Day 3: Grace Precedes Transformation

The story of Zacchaeus demonstrates that God’s grace and acceptance come before any change or restitution on our part; Jesus welcomes Zacchaeus before he has done anything to “deserve” it. This grace is not conditional on our actions but is freely given, and it is this very acceptance that inspires true transformation and generosity. We are reminded that God loves us as we are, not as we should be, and that our response to this love is to be changed from the inside out, motivated by gratitude rather than obligation. [01:00:01]

Reflection: In what ways have you felt the unconditional grace of God in your life, and how might you let that grace inspire a new response or change today?

Day 4: Generosity as a Sign of Encountering Christ

Zacchaeus’ immediate and extravagant generosity—giving half his possessions to the poor and repaying those he defrauded fourfold—shows that a genuine encounter with Jesus leads to a radical reordering of our priorities and resources. Authentic faith is not measured by words alone but by the tangible ways we use our time, money, and talents to serve others and make things right. When we truly meet Christ, our hearts are opened to the needs of others, and we are moved to act with justice and compassion. [58:44]

Reflection: What is one practical way you can use your resources—time, money, or skills—to serve someone in need or make amends this week?

Day 5: Jesus Calls Us to Community and Transformation

Jesus’ invitation to Zacchaeus is also an invitation to all: to come as we are, to be welcomed into God’s family, and to be transformed together. The story challenges us to recognize both our need for grace and our tendency to grumble or exclude, reminding us that there is room at Christ’s table for everyone—outsiders, insiders, seekers, and even skeptics. As a community, we are called to create spaces of radical hospitality, where all can encounter Jesus and be changed by his love. [01:02:33]

Reflection: How can you help create a more welcoming and transformative community—at church, at home, or in your daily life—so that others might experience the love and acceptance of Christ?

Sermon Summary

Time is a gift, and each of us is entrusted with a certain number of hours every week—168, to be exact. While a handful of those hours are spent together in church, the vast majority of our lives unfold outside these walls. Yet, the call to follow Jesus is not limited to Sunday mornings or church activities; it is a 24/7 invitation to live out Christ’s love in every place and moment. Whether we are serving, welcoming others, or simply being present in our daily routines, we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever we go. When we bring our hours and efforts together, the impact multiplies, and God’s work is accomplished in ways we could never achieve alone.

Reflecting on the story of Zacchaeus from Luke 19, we see a man whose life was defined by wealth and social isolation. As a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus was both an outcast and a collaborator with the oppressors of his people. Yet, beneath his riches and reputation, there was a longing for something more—a desire to see and know Jesus. Zacchaeus’s willingness to climb a tree, risking embarrassment and vulnerability, reveals a heart that is seeking transformation.

The remarkable twist in the story is not just Zacchaeus’s search for Jesus, but Jesus’s search for Zacchaeus. Jesus stops, calls him by name, and insists on coming to his house. This act of grace—unearned and unexpected—shocks the crowd and upends their assumptions about who is worthy of God’s attention. Zacchaeus responds not with words, but with radical generosity, offering restitution and care for the poor. His encounter with Christ leads to a reordering of his life, not as a prerequisite for acceptance, but as a joyful response to being seen and loved.

This story challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we willing to be vulnerable, to seek Jesus even when it means stepping out of our comfort zones? Are we open to the possibility that God’s grace might reach those we least expect—and even ourselves, in our own places of need? Jesus comes to seek and to save the lost, the found, the grumblers, and the outsiders. There is room at the table for all, and the invitation is for each of us to be transformed by grace and to extend that grace to others.

Key Takeaways

1. The Christian life is not confined to the hours spent in church, but is a continual calling to embody Christ’s love in every aspect of our lives. Our faith is lived out in the ordinary moments—at work, at school, in our homes, and in our neighborhoods. When we recognize that every hour is an opportunity to serve and love, our lives become a living testimony to God’s presence in the world. [30:07]
2. Zacchaeus’s story reminds us that transformation often begins with a longing—a holy curiosity that compels us to seek Jesus, even if it means risking vulnerability or stepping outside our usual patterns. True spiritual growth requires us to move beyond comfort and reputation, to become seekers who are open to being changed. [51:31]
3. Jesus’s grace is radical and disruptive, extending welcome to those whom society deems unworthy or beyond redemption. The invitation to fellowship is not based on merit or prior change, but on God’s initiative and love. This grace challenges our assumptions and calls us to extend hospitality and acceptance to others, even those we struggle to understand or forgive. [53:29]
4. Authentic encounters with Christ lead to tangible change in our lives, especially in how we relate to others and steward our resources. Zacchaeus’s generosity is not a condition for Jesus’s acceptance, but a natural outflow of being seen, loved, and forgiven. Our own generosity—of time, money, and spirit—becomes a sign of God’s transforming work within us. [58:44]
5. The story invites honest self-reflection: Are we among the grumbling crowd, resistant to God’s grace for others, or are we willing to be surprised by the wideness of God’s mercy? Jesus seeks out both the outsider and the insider, offering each of us the chance to be changed and to participate in the work of reconciliation and love. [61:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:28] - Counting Our Hours: Living Faith Beyond Church
[30:46] - Serving Others Inside and Outside the Church
[32:44] - Welcoming and Including Others
[35:36] - Prayers for Reformation and the Church
[39:00] - Prayers for Families, Nation, and Those in Need
[40:18] - The Lord’s Prayer and God’s Grace
[42:15] - Reading: Zacchaeus in Luke 19
[44:12] - The Familiarity and Challenge of Zacchaeus’s Story
[45:30] - Jesus’s Unusual Route to Jericho
[46:48] - The Role and Reputation of Tax Collectors
[48:50] - Zacchaeus’s Name and Longing for More
[50:49] - Zacchaeus’s Vulnerability and Search for Jesus
[52:50] - Jesus’s Radical Invitation
[54:47] - Hospitality: Welcoming Jesus as We Are
[57:29] - Transformation Before the Meal
[58:44] - Generosity as a Sign of Encountering Christ
[60:39] - Grace for the Grumblers and the Outsiders
[61:55] - The Courage to Seek and Be Changed
[62:33] - Jesus Comes for All: The Promise of Inclusion

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Living Faith Beyond Church Walls

Bible Reading

Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)
1 He entered Jericho and was passing through.
2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.
3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.
4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.”
6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”
8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”
9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.
10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Observation Questions

What actions did Zacchaeus take to see Jesus, and what do these actions show about his character? ([50:49])
How did the crowd react when Jesus chose to stay at Zacchaeus’s house, and what does this reveal about their expectations? ([53:29])
What was Zacchaeus’s response to Jesus’s invitation, and what did he promise to do? ([58:44])
According to Jesus, why did he come, and how does this relate to Zacchaeus’s story? ([43:31])

Interpretation Questions

Zacchaeus risked embarrassment and vulnerability by climbing a tree just to see Jesus. What might this say about the kind of longing or curiosity that leads to spiritual transformation? ([51:31])
The crowd grumbled when Jesus chose to spend time with Zacchaeus, someone they saw as a sinner. What does this reaction reveal about how we sometimes judge who is “worthy” of God’s attention? ([53:29])
Zacchaeus’s generosity came before any proof of change or acceptance from Jesus. What does this suggest about the relationship between grace and transformation? ([58:44])
Jesus says he came to “seek and to save the lost.” How does this mission challenge our assumptions about who belongs in God’s family? ([01:02:33])

Application Questions

The sermon talked about having 168 hours each week, with only a few spent at church. What are some specific ways you can live out your faith in the “ordinary” hours of your week—at work, at home, or in your neighborhood? ([30:07])
Zacchaeus was willing to step out of his comfort zone and risk looking foolish to see Jesus. Is there an area in your life where you feel called to take a risk or be vulnerable in order to grow spiritually? What might that look like this week? ([51:31])
The crowd was surprised (and maybe offended) by Jesus’s choice to spend time with Zacchaeus. Are there people in your life or community whom you find it hard to welcome or include? What would it look like to extend grace to them? ([53:29])
Zacchaeus responded to Jesus’s love with radical generosity. Is there a way you feel prompted to be more generous—with your time, money, or attention—because of God’s grace in your life? ([58:44])
The story invites us to reflect on whether we are more like Zacchaeus (seeking Jesus) or the grumbling crowd (judging others). When have you found yourself in either role? How can you move toward being open to God’s surprising grace? ([01:01:55])
Jesus’s invitation was not based on Zacchaeus’s past or reputation, but on love and grace. Is there a part of your life where you struggle to believe you are fully accepted by God? How might this story encourage you? ([01:00:01])
The sermon mentioned that when we bring our hours and efforts together, the impact multiplies. What is one way your small group could serve or show Christ’s love together outside of church this month? ([32:07])

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God for the courage to seek Jesus in new ways, the humility to welcome others as they are, and the grace to be transformed and to extend that transformation to the world around you.

Sermon Clips

“There was something in his life that longed for something more. I think there was a hole that food and money could not fill because he heard something about Jesus. And maybe he heard the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector in the temple or or maybe he heard his servants whispering about the story of the prodal son. We don't know what. But there was enough that Zakius wanted to go see Jesus for himself.”

“And I am reminded of a story that was told to me by a country pastor decades ago. And he said he lived in a very small town. And the pastor was expected to visit every member multiple times a year. And there was one family in the church. They were good people. They, you know, they were on every committee. They gave enough. But if you went to visit them, you had to give them two weeks notice.”

“And then there was another family who came occasionally to church and if the pastor was driving by, he would just show up and they would um welcome him, but they'd also put him to work. Like if they were uh if they were um weeding, he'd have to weed in the garden. If they were shucking peas, they'd give him a bowl and peas and put them to work. if they were having a meal, they would put an extra chair in and he would just eat with them and he was included in this full and really lovely way.”

“But yet, he was kind of an outcast in his own town. The Romans did not consider him one of theirs and the local people wish he wasn't around. So they had that kind of tight smile when he passed by so we wouldn't pay more attention to you or at least think you respect him and probably said awful things about him when he wasn't within earshot.”

“And Zakius was an exceptional tax collector because he was the chief tax collector in in the town which meant he extorted really well. He Yeah. Ah he worked for the oppressor and he's also a Jewish person. So he took advantage of those that had been conquered, those that were in distress, and gave it to himself. And he had, I can guess, a really nice place to live and was dressed very well and had magnificent food to eat.”

“And I think when you're in school, I think sometimes you are good at making people feel welcome. You're a new kid at a school, aren't you? Yeah. You kind of started the school this September. Do you remember that way back? I've seen you, Sebastian. Sometimes you will go up and say hello to new kids or people in church. And that's one of the ways we do what Jesus wants us.”

“But everywhere that we're outside of church, we're supposed to be doing God's work. That's the hard one. So everywhere. So I know you do it outside of church. You do it when you help give food because I bet you help carry the food to give people. Do you ever knock on the doors for your papa? You call them. That's really smart. Okay. And do you sometimes say hello to people? Yeah. So you're nice and they know you're from the church. That's one way.”

“And so you can guess there was also a fair amount of wealth there because there were traders and there were things going on. So if you were a tax collector working for the Romans, it was a good place to be because there were wealthy people from whom to um ask for taxes. And you know tax collectors in that day was very different than you know we get a little grumpy on the 15th of April when we have to do that check maybe I do you all may be better people and already have paid it in advance not me and I grumble about it but tax collectors in that day it was a whole different thing you remember that um Israel was occupied by the Romans and when Romans came in and conquered a land they conquered the people and then say you have to pay our pay us taxes.”

“And he starts giving away his money. something in just encountering of him liberated him. He like did a spiritual audit and he did not come out of this well. And so he decides, I'm going to give all the money back to people. Anything I stole from them and four times that and then I'm going to give half my money to the poor. I mean, this is a crazy man in the the law requires voluntary restitution. It would have been what you stole and 20%. That would have be considered generous or maybe as much as you stole. And he offers four times as much and then he gives half to the poor.”

“And you notice Jesus didn't even say much to him. One pastor put it this way. I would suggest that no person has an authentic encounter with a living Christ unless a generous heart is the result. Please don't tell me how much you love Jesus. Instead, show me your 1040 tax return that shows the details of your charitable contributions. Tell me how you spend your free time. Fill me in on your plans for retirement. If it's all about you and yours, it's a little selfserving.”

“And when that happens, the result of the encounter is Zachariah gives 50% ties and he seems to think that's an appropriate response. Lord have mercy. There is something in just encountering Christ that makes him want to give that money. And did you notice Jesus invites him and welcomes him and says, "You are one of the son of Abraham. You're back in the tribe." And there's no proof he even gave that money. I'd like to think he did, but Jesus's inclusion of him was not dependent on that.”

“It's what it's called grace of God accepting us and loving us even before we make a difference. Loves us and we're not really worth it and loves us and hopes that we will change that we will be motivated motivated by that forgiveness to go and do likewise to other people.”

“And it takes courage to get in the tree. And it takes courage to get out and to reorder our whole lives and see things in new ways. But the promise here is Jesus came to seek and to save the lost and the found. Jesus comes for the grumblers and the outsiders and those in the pews. Jesus comes for you and for me and says there room there's room for everyone.”

“And I love that Jesus comes to where Zakius lives. He goes to his world and says, "I just want to be with you." And I am reminded of a story that was told to me by a country pastor decades ago. And he said he lived in a very small town. And the pastor was expected to visit every member multiple times a year.”

“And we are invited to long to glimpse Jesus. There's something about Zakius that he says, "I'm going to put myself in the place where I will learn something about you and maybe I'll be changed." You're kind of in the right place. You're here in church. Are you daring or wanting or letting God say, "Yeah, you're loved and maybe we we will change too because the promise that we have is Jesus will come and meet us where we are."”

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