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61 - The Desire of Ages - Ellen Gould · Sacred Texts Archive

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