The best glimpses are not so easy to get. People plan and travel to different parts of the world to experience picturesque scenes for fulfillment and satisfaction. Cheap thrills are usually accessible, but some priceless moments require our extraordinary effort. It’s not always money, though it can give a temporary relief. Soul satisfaction is beyond this.
Soul satisfaction is a deep, inner fulfillment found not in external achievements but in aligning with your true self, purpose, and values, and only through spiritual connection, meaningful relationships, passion, and inner peace. It leads to lasting contentment. This is all possible when you get to find the right glimpse of someone who is our source.
I want to introduce a man named Zacchaeus in the Bible. As Jesus was going to villages, towns and cities of Galilee teaching about the need of repentance by experiencing forgiveness of sins and introducing the eternal kingdom of God, He was also healing all kind of sickness by touching them. People we healed instantly. Bible records a large crowd was following Him to listen and most importantly, to be healed from their sickness. Who would not want to have glimpse of this man Jesus who could instantly open the eyes of the blind, heal the deaf and the mute, raise people from the dead.
When Jesus entered a place called Jericho, Zacchaeus was excited to have a glimpse of this man. People today throng and go crazy to meet celebrities. Well, there are incidents we are aware where many have lost their lives in stampede to get a glimpse of their favorite celebrity. Here the case was different. The book of Luke states, 'He (Zacchaeus) was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man. ' Luke 19:3.
As we read the passage it tells us that it was not easy for this man to have a glimpse of this person due to two significant reasons:
1. Due to a large crowd (external situation)
2. Zacchaeus was a short man. (Personal condition)
But this didn’t prevent Zacchaeus from seeing Jesus. The Bible records that Zacchaeus was trying to see Jesus, the savior of the world. He tried by running ahead and climbing up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since He was about to pass that way.
Zacchaeus was a "chief tax collector." People like him (tax collectors) were not held in high regard at that time. That is, he was a Jew who collected taxes on behalf of the Roman oppressors. So, he was a traitor to the political cause. In the rabbinical literature, tax collectors are akin to robbers. This means Zacchaeus was wealthy. How did a Roman tax collector get wealthy? By extortion and embezzlement. By taking advantage of the elderly, by exploiting the working poor, and by taking care of his associates. There's an unspoken assumption of corruption. Zacchaeus is a man who deserves our contempt.
Now this man of questionable moral standing made all efforts to see Jesus. Behold, something historical happens. Jesus noticed His bold efforts. When Jesus reached that spot, He looked up, saw Zacchaeus, and told him to come down. He then invites himself to stay with Zacchaeus: "I must stay at your house today." Zacchaeus immediately climbs down and "welcomed Jesus gladly." What a privilege!
This encounter transformed the life of Zacchaeus forever. Meeting Jesus aroused the guilt of all his wrongdoings, and he makes a public confession that he will give half of his possession to the poor and was willing to pay back four times as much if he had extorted from any. There was immediate transformation. Jesus immediately acclaimed, “today salvation has come to this house”.
Encountering Jesus is not a religious experience but life transforming experience where one feels guilty about his personal sins and willing to set things right. It has nothing to do with fulfilling religious or ritual obligations. Today, people are still accepting Jesus and their lives are transformed forever. Whatever is your situation and condition I encourage you to try and behold the living resurrected Savior. This can be done by getting to know Him, believing the claims He made and willing to follow Him. You can probably take an effort to know about Him this Christmas season and find meaning and fulfillment to life.
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