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Zaccheus, Come Down

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 20, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 8.

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Zaccheus, Come Down

By H. A. St. John

ZACCHEUS lived in Jericho. He was a publican, and was rich. He had heard much about Jesus as a great teacher, preacher, and physician. Some of Jesus' teaching reported to him had brought conviction to his heart, and he had already begun, in a formal way, a work of reform.
He longed to see and hear Jesus. There comes an opportunity. Jesus is passing by Jericho. Zaccheus, being a small man, could not see over the heads of the multitude that thronged Jesus, so he ran ahead and climbed a tree by the roadside. Snugly nestled among the foliage, with a fine view of the road beneath, he awaits the multitude and the coming One.
Jesus arrives on the very spot, and stops. How fortunate for Zaccheus! Jesus looks up into the tree, and fixes His gaze upon Zaccheus. Zaccheus trembles on his perch. He thinks: "How did He know a man was in the tree? Did He from afar see me climb this tree? Will He speak to me? Hear, 'Zaccheus, come down.' He knows my name. Wonderful man! I must not disobey." Hastily he descends right into the presence of Jesus. Jesus says to him, "I must abide at your house to-day"—gave Himself an invitation to go home with Zaccheus, you see.
Zaccheus joyfully and quickly led the way to his home. Many murmured, saying Jesus had gone to be guest with a man that was a sinner. When Jesus had entered the house, Zaccheus said to Him, "Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19: 8-10.
O, happy day for Zaccheus! How glad he was that he had sought to see Jesus! How glad that Jesus noticed him, knew him, and called him, and brought salvation to his house and heart! Reader, have you ever heard Jesus calling to you to open the door of your heart and let Him come in? He stands waiting without, pleading that you open the door and let Him in. He brings salvation, so sweet, so divine. O let Him in while He pleads, or He may leave you, and never again come that way. Now is the accepted time. H. A. ST. JOHN.