Have you ever given someone a gift they truly appreciated? You see their eyes light up with excitement, they wonder if it is truly theirs, and their heart is full of gratitude.
Or maybe, you’ve seen the opposite to be true. You find the “perfect” gift for your loved one, but then realize you were far more excited about the gift than the person to whom you gave the present.
We would all rather the person receiving the gift genuinely appreciate and love it. I imagine this was how Jesus felt when He met Zaccheus and offered Him multiple gifts. We must be like Zaccheus and accept the gifts Jesus generously gives.
The Gift of Acknowledgment In Luke 19, we see that Zaccheus climbed the tree to get a better view of Jesus. As Jesus came to the tree, He greeted him by name, acknowledging him despite his reputation. On his own, Zaccheus would have just been another member of the crowd, but with Jesus’ gift of acknowledgment, everything began to change for him. Being recognized by the Great Teacher by name would have truly been a gift! Dale Carnegie is credited saying, “Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”
Most likely today, Jesus won’t walk by your workplace calling out your name, but remember what Jesus said in Luke 12:7, “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Accept the gift that Jesus is giving you of knowing you personally.
The Gift of Presence In Luke 19:5, Zaccheus comes down the tree and stands face to face with Jesus. Jesus doesn’t treat Zaccheus like a sinner but rather invites Himself over for a meal. When Jesus gives Zaccheus the gift of presence, Zaccheus graciously accepts with excitement and joy. This companionship causes the people to grumble, but Jesus still gives the gift of presence to the outcast.
Today we can be a friend of Jesus and accept His gift of presence by simply keeping spending time with Him a priority. Add appointments to your calendar to spend time with God just like you would with a friend. Set reminders to refocus throughout the day and attend a church where you can really be ushered into the presence of God.
The Gift of Grace Right after Zaccheus repents from cheating people on their taxes, Jesus gives him the gift of grace. Grace is an unearned gift that costs the giver and shows God’s love. There is nothing that Zaccheus could have done on his own to earn this gift. Even if he would have given back 10 times or 100 times the amount he had stolen, he would have still been found guilty of being a thief. Jesus forgave Zaccheus and gave him the same gift of grace that He offers to us today.
Isaiah 64:6 describes us saying, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.” On our own, we can never pay back the debt that we owe, but when we accept the gift of grace that Jesus offers us, everything changes.
All of Zaccheus efforts weren’t able to accomplish his own salvation, it was only through the gifts that Jesus freely offered him. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” Ultimately, Jesus had to come to Zaccheus’ house for his life to change. Today we must come before the Savior and through His gifts, our life will never be the same.