Seeking Friends in Unusual Places
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10 ESV)
Most of my friendships began in the usual places—high school, college, church, my neighborhood—nothing out of the ordinary. Yet every now and then, I meet someone in a place I never expected. One of the most surprising of these was meeting Diane in Yellowstone, standing in front of Old Faithful—an added bonus to my trip. Still, as delightful and unique as this moment was, it doesn’t hold a candle to the truly unusual meeting Jesus had in Jericho with a man perched in the branches of a sycamore tree.
Why Jericho?
While Jesus’ meeting with Zacchaeus was unusual, His choice to travel through Jericho was not. Jesus passed through that city, not because it was the only way to reach Jerusalem, but because a man perched in a tree needed Him. You see, Zacchaeus, although a wealthy man, was sadly spiritually and relationally bankrupt. He was lonely and longing for even a glimpse of Jesus—the One he hoped could fill his empty soul. And Jesus, who seeks friends even in the most unusual places, looked up into the branches, and truly seeing Zacchaeus, He called him by name.
The Self‑Invitation
What Jesus does next in this story works for Him, but would most likely not work for any of us. He invites Himself to Zacchaeus’s home. Yet this was not presumptuous, it was gracious. You see, Zacchaeus was an outcast in society, disregarded by Jews and Gentiles alike. Because of this, no one would have taken the time to engage him in conversation, let alone invite themselves to his home. But Jesus, who seeks friends in unusual places, did both. And in response, Zacchaeus wasted no time. He hurried down from the tree as fast as he could, delighted at the prospect of hosting Jesus.
Two Different Responses
Unfortunately, there were two radically different responses to this genuinely lovely interaction.
The crowd watching this scene, rather than rejoice over the gracious exchange they had just witnessed, instead grumbled that Jesus had chosen to be the guest of a man they deemed a sinner. What they didn’t realize, however, was that their judgmental hearts testified to the fact that they were no better than the man they condemned.
Zacchaeus, on the other hand, disregarded the crowd’s disapproval. Their approval no longer mattered. Jesus would be a guest in his home. And to this, he responded righteously with humility, honesty, and a sincerely repentant heart.
A Beautiful Pronouncement
Imagine living your entire life only hearing the most disparaging things spoken about you. Imagine never feeling accepted, included, valued, or loved. This was Zacchaeus’s story. Yet everything changed the day he summoned his courage, shamelessly climbing a tree in hopes of seeing Jesus. And see him he did! Jesus looked at him with eyes of love and called him by name. This was more than Zacchaeus dared to hope for. But even this paled in comparison to Jesus’ beautiful pronouncement, publicly declaring that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’s home and that he was indeed a son of Abraham, an heir to God’s covenantal love and promises.
The story ends with Jesus explaining His gracious actions to Zacchaeus, to the crowd, and to believers and seekers in every generation: He came to seek and to save the lost. This is the heartbeat of the Father, the mission of Jesus, and the message of the Gospel: seeking people, all people, future friends, even in the most unusual places.
So perhaps today, spend a few moments in personal gratitude, thanking God that He sees you, knows you, and loves you. And if you find yourself in a season where you feel unseen, unheard, or even lost, take heart. The Father is seeking you. You are never far from Him. And you will be found by Him.
Pray
Lord Jesus, thank You for seeing me, knowing me, and loving me. You seek me out even in the places where I feel hidden or unworthy, and for this I’m so grateful. Empower me like Zacchaeus to come to You humbly, honestly, and eagerly. I take heart knowing I am never beyond Your reach and never outside Your care. You are a gracious God, and I praise You. Amen.
Reflect
In what specific ways does knowing that God personally sought you out influence the way you see yourself and encourage the way you live?
Friends, I’d love to hear your experience! Feel free to share your responses in the comment section below, or with me and others HERE!