SHORT STORY: THE SALVATION STORY OF ZACCHAEUS

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"God, have mercy on me". I said while beating my chest. Life had been quite a rollercoaster; working for and with the Romans hadn't been what I had expected. Also, I hadn't been anywhere close to the temple for such a long time. So, going to Jerusalem to see a relative gave me the opportunity to enter the temple to pray. As I said my five words of prayer, I noticed a Pharisee who was five metres away from me. I envied him dearly; my thoughts was that God would certainly answer his prayers way before mine. The Pharisees were wise and knowledgeable when it comes to the word of God - who could dare stand beside them to pray when they prayed - these were the 'righteous' men of Israel. Besides, tax collectors and the Pharisees weren't in any way best of friends - Derision, disgust and isolation in our community was what we always got. The contempt was strong but weren't we just doing our job?

Following a heavy sigh, I said "God, I don't deserve to look into the heavens right now. I've done a lot of unforgiving things to be this wealthy and to be where I am today but I know I need your mercy; God, have mercy on me".

Days later, I returned to Jericho and went about my everyday business. While I was overseeing my duty, I saw a great crowd of people gathered. Then I saw a woman on my left say to her friends who were sitted under the nearby sycamore-fig tree "He's here! Jesus of Nazareth is here!" She shouted.

I had been wondering what this Jesus of Nazareth looked like, that day happened to be my lucky day.

Placing a finger on my chin, "The crowd is large! God, don't you think it would have been nicer if you had added a few inches to my height?" I said

But even if I had the height, none of those people would've wanted to stand close to me - because they deeply resented me. In fact, I'm certain they thought tax collectors were one of the things Jesus came to save them from. Whew!

Just as I was teasing myself, I realized I could make use of the tree the women had just left to get a nice view of Jesus. Sitting on the tree gave me a clear view of Him.

"Finally! Here I am" I said to myself.

Passing through as Jesus entered Jericho, he saw me on the sycamore-fig tree and said "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

I froze and it felt like everything stood still for a moment but to avoid Jesus changing his mind, I came down quickly from the tree and gladly welcomed him. I could see how displeased and indignant the people were - their eyes were blazing with anger. To them, I was one of the greatest sinners there if not the only sinner. Who could have thought that Jesus would've chosen to come into my house? Me, Zacchaeus the hated chief tax collector. As I landed on the ground and looked at Jesus, I immediately confessed my sins and said to him “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 

As I spoke these words, I was expecting Jesus to scold me for my wrongdoings but what he said filled my belly with joy.

Jesus said to me “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

I became flushed at this statement like a new bride. Hadn't I just pray for God's mercy some days ago in the temple? You mean God heard my prayer? There and then I decided in my heart that I'm ready to make amendments and become committed to this man; To Jesus who saw me, the most despised man in the environment. He was the first person to ever make me feel accepted and valuable. He showered his mercy upon me and found it worthy to come into my house. Therefore, I vowed in my heart to give him my all till my death.

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