Jesus, the Friend of Sinners

by David Gibson

Text: Luke 19:1-10

Jesus makes a friend

Astounding! The Creator of the universe walking around in a human body on dusty roads here on Planet Earth and into the home of a man nobody liked. Jesus paid a price to make this friend. This is the third time in the Gospel of Luke that Jesus is criticized for associating with tax collectors (Luke 6:27-32; 15:1-2). But the price of being misunderstood does not compare with the far greater price Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem to pay for the salvation of Zacchaeus—and of you and me.

“All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isaiah 53:6 NASB).

Why did Jesus befriend Zacchaeus? “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Zacchaeus makes a friend

• Both Jesus and Zacchaeus were criticized by the same people. They maligned Jesus for associating with this chief tax collector, and Zacchaeus for his unworthiness.
• Both Jesus and Zacchaeus were seekers: Jesus was seeking the lost, and Zacchaeus sought to see Jesus as He passed by. They could both say, “You’re just the person I was looking for!”
• Jesus, the Sinless One, goes home with Zacchaeus the sinner.
• Jesus, the Good Shepherd, finds Zacchaeus, the lost sheep.

Note Zacchaeus’ eagerness as he runs ahead and climbs the tree to see Jesus, his enthusiasm in welcoming Jesus into his home, and his readiness to make needed changes in his life. “Today,” Jesus announced, “salvation has come to this house . . .” (Luke 19:9).

Zacchaeus’ search was richly rewarded. And Jesus could say, as did the shepherd in one of His parables, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” (Luke 15:6).