Just A Glimpse - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

This powerful exploration of Luke 19:1-10 invites us into one of Scripture's most transformative encounters—the story of Zacchaeus, the despised tax collector who climbed a tree just to catch a glimpse of Jesus. What makes this passage so compelling is how it strips away our pretenses and asks a penetrating question: How desperate are we to encounter Christ? Zacchaeus was wealthy, powerful, and hated by his community for collaborating with Roman oppressors and exploiting his own people. Yet something stirred in his heart when he heard Jesus was passing through. Despite his status, despite the crowd blocking his view, despite the humiliation of a grown man scrambling up a tree like a child, Zacchaeus was willing to look foolish for just one glimpse of the Savior. The beauty of this story lies in its reversal: Zacchaeus went seeking Jesus, but it was Jesus who sought him. Grace doesn't wait for us to clean up our lives or earn our worthiness—it meets us in our mess, calls us by name, and invites itself into our homes. When Jesus declared that salvation had come to Zacchaeus's house, He wasn't just forgiving a tax collector; He was restoring a son of Abraham to his rightful place in the family of God. This narrative challenges us to examine our own willingness to do something radical, something undignified, something that others might mock, just to get closer to Christ. Are we content to observe Jesus from a safe distance in the crowd, or are we willing to climb our own trees—whatever that means in our unique circumstances? The transformation that follows genuine encounter with Jesus is undeniable: Zacchaeus immediately committed to giving half his possessions to the poor and repaying those he cheated fourfold, going beyond what the law required. When grace shows up, transformation happens. This story reminds us that no one is too far gone, too broken, or too unworthy for Jesus to reach. If the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost, then our past mistakes, our reputations, our shame—none of it can separate us from the love of Christ when we reach out in desperate faith.