Jesus, the Friend of Sinners

Key Passage: Luke 19:1-10

Devotional:

Zacchaeus was an outsider. He was a tax collector, a man of wealth built on corruption, and an outcast among his own people. Tax collectors were notorious for betraying their own communities, working for the oppressive Roman government, and extorting their fellow Jews by overcharging taxes and pocketing the excess. It’s no surprise that people wanted nothing to do with him. He wasn’t just disliked; he was despised. Yet, as Jesus passed through Jericho, He saw Zacchaeus—a wee little man ;) —perched in a sycamore tree, desperate for a glimpse of the Savior. Rather than ignoring or avoiding him, Jesus called him by name: “’Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today’” (Luke 19:5).

Jesus’ love for sinners is scandalous. He doesn’t merely tolerate them; He pursues them. The crowd grumbled in protest, appalled that Jesus would willingly enter the home of a tax collector, let alone befriend him. But Jesus was never concerned with religious appearances. His mission was not exclusion but redemption.

Zacchaeus’ response to Christ’s invitation was radical. He repented, vowing to restore fourfold what he had stolen. The grace of Jesus never leaves us as it finds us. His pursuit transforms us, calling us to forsake our old ways and walk in newness of life. This means that a true follower of Christ not only abandons the sin they carried before but also is given Christ’s love and heart for broken sinners around them.

Jesus’ final words in this passage encapsulate this purpose: “’For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost’” (Luke 19:10). It’s easy to distance ourselves from the crowds who despised Jesus for this mission. It’s even easier to distance ourselves from Zacchaeus—to convince ourselves that we are more deserving of Christ’s friendship than he was. But when measured against God’s holiness, we see the truth. We, too, were once distant from God, clinging to sin, unable to reach Him on our own. And yet, while we were still sinners, Christ called us by name. He made the first move to bring us into friendship with God. The question is: How will we respond?

Song Reflection: “With one death, my debt is paid/And death will fade away/The Friend of Sinners is holy”

Application Question: Who in your life do you view as beyond the reach of grace? How can you reflect Christ’s heart for sinners this week?

Further Reading: Luke 19:1-10

Written by Jordan West