I meditated on Luke 19:1–10, where Jesus meets Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector. The word “extreme” came to mind. First, in Zacchaeus’s action of climbing a sycamore tree just to see Jesus. Second, in Jesus’ response. Despite His busy schedule and the crowd’s excitement, He chose to stay at the house of Zacchaeus, a man people murmured about as a sinner. Third, Zacchaeus’s decision to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay four times what he had taken through unjust means.
Another key word that kept repeating was “see”. “He wanted to see who Jesus was” (v.3), “he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him” (v.4), “Jesus looked up and said to him” (v.5), “All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner’” (v.7), “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor…” (v.8).
Different gazes and perspectives appear in the story. What is my gaze toward the Lord like? Many people were looking at Jesus, but Zacchaeus was the one who looked most earnestly. And Jesus, in turn, looked intently back at him. But the crowd only saw Zacchaeus’s outward appearance and murmured, missing the deep longing in his heart.
Another important word is “today”. “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today” (v.5), “Today salvation has come to this house” (v.10). A single day is enough for transformation. This is why the gospel, the yearning and devotion to Jesus Christ, cannot be postponed until tomorrow—and our pursuit of Him must be extreme. Because He is worth it. Look at the transformation of Zacchaeus: someone who had spent his life focused on money—gathering it while being despised by his own people—was now freely giving it away. One evening of communion with Jesus brought such an extreme transformation.
My attitude in seeking Jesus must be extreme. The love Jesus showed for me—the love that willingly gave up His life on the cross—is the most extreme love of all. And those captivated by that love will naturally live lives that are extreme in return. It’s the most natural and obvious result.
“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.”
(2 Corinthians 5:14–15)
