What do you think about the man that the Bible called Zacchaeus? Yes! I mean the short man who climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus. He’s probably most famous because not only he was short, but also for his desperate act to catch a glimpse of the greatest man who ever lived.

Here, I find it shocking that the man at the center of this funny tree-climbing story was not a pauper. He was a billionaire of his time. His wealth brought him fame. He probably had a lovely family too. The fact that he had a home ready to receive Jesus suggests this. Wife was beautiful and supportive. His kids were doing just great, finishing on top of their classes every term. What else can a man ask for? It is therefore astonishing that his status stands paradoxical to the scriptural account of his action – that which we have to learn from in our own day. Meeting the man Zacchaeus made me realize there’s something just more important.

The Zacchaeus’ story definitely tells us more than the tale of a rich short man who caught Jesus’ attention by climbing a tree. In the Scripture, we find the tale of a man, who had all the wealth he could gather; that kind of job with which he could defraud people easily and get away unpunished. Despite all he had, something was missing in his life and he knew it. There was something silver and shekels could not buy.

If money answers all things (as they say), a man like Zacchaeus should not need Jesus. If he needed him at all, he should have sent him some dollars with a “be my guest” invitation. Men hardly turn down such.

Money is not just good, money is very good, but with a man of Zacchaeus’ caliber struggling like that, money cannot be everything. Maybe because we read that Zacchaeus was struggling to see Jesus to the extent of climbing a tree, we tend to see him as a man in need. Yes, he was in need, but what He needed was definitely not money.

Zacchaeus lacked peace. He did not have it in any form. He lacked peace both with God and with men. Zacchaeus tried his best to buy peace for himself and his people. That peace never came until He met Jesus.

 When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home…” Luke 19:5 MSG

Jesus came, salvation came and peace came with him.

There’s something money cannot buy: Salvation-Peace with God. Zacchaeus was ready to let go of all his wealth in order to find true peace.

Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “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.” Luke 19:8 NIV

Do you need peace? Do you have the biggest business in the country, yet a pauper and a slave when you are alone? Do you have the most comfortable bed anyone can afford, yet in it, sleep has made you a game? Everyone think you are living your life at its peak – how you wish they know that deep within, you are almost finished? There’s a thirst in your heart and you really don’t know what to do? A vacuum in your heart, that you don’t know how to fill? I ask again, do you need peace? Like Zacchaeus, you need Jesus. With him is peace, such that money cannot purchase . . .

Peace I leave with you, my peace i give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither Let it be afraid. John 14:27 KJV

Let Jesus in, let salvation in, let His peace in.