There is no seeing CHRIST in Glory, unless we run before the multitude, and are willing to be in the number of those despised few, who take the kingdom of GOD by violence. The broad way, in which so many go, can never be that strait and narrow way which leads to life. Our LORD’s flock was, and always will be, comparatively a little one: and unless we dare to run before the multitude in a holy singularity, and can rejoice in being accounted fools for CHRIST’s sake, we shall never see JESUS with comfort, when he appears in glory. From mentioning the sycamore-tree, and considering the difficulty with which _Zaccheus_ must climb it, we may farther learn, that those who would see CHRIST, must undergo other difficulties and hardships, besides contempt. _Zaccheus_, without doubt, went through both. Did not many, think you, laugh at him as he ran along, and in the language of _Michal_, _Saul_’s daughter, cry out, “How glorious did the rich _Zaccheus_ look to-day, when, forgetting the greatness of his station, he ran before a pitiful, giddy mob, and climbed up a sycamore-tree, to see an enthusiastic preacher!” But _Zaccheus_ cares not for all that; his curiosity was strong: if he could but see who JESUS was, he did not value what scoffers said of him. Thus, and much more will it be with all those who have an effectual desire to see JESUS in heaven: they will go on from strength to strength, break through every difficulty lying in their way, and care not what men or devils say of or do unto them. May the LORD make us all thus minded, for his dear Son’s sake!
At length, after taking much pains, and going (as we may well suppose) through much contempt, _Zaccheus_ has climbed the tree; and there he sits, as he thinks, hid in the leaves of it, and watching when he should see JESUS pass by: “For he was to pass by that way.”
But sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth! Praise, magnify, and adore sovereign, electing, free, preventing love; JESUS the everlasting GOD, the Prince of peace, who saw _Nathanael_ under the fig-tree, and _Zaccheus_ from eternity, now sees him in the sycamore-tree, and calls him in time.
Verse 5. “And when JESUS came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, _Zaccheus_, make haste and come down; for this day I must abide at thy house.” Amazing love! Well might _Luke_ usher in the account with “behold!” It is worthy of our highest admiration. When _Zaccheus_ thought of no such thing, nay, thought that CHRIST JESUS did not know him; behold, CHRIST does what we never hear he did before or after, I mean, invite himself to the house of _Zaccheus_, saying, “_Zaccheus_, make haste and come down; for this day I must abide at thy house.” Not pray let me abide, but I must abide this day at thy house. He also calls him by name, as though he was well acquainted with him: and indeed well he might; for his name was written in the book of life, he was one of those whom the Father had given him from all eternity: therefore he must abide at his house that day. “For whom he did predestinate, them he also called.”
Here then, as through a glass, we may see the doctrine of free grace evidently exemplified before us. Here was no fitness in _Zaccheus_. He was a Publican, chief among the Publicans; not only so, but rich, and came to see CHRIST only out of curiosity: but sovereign grace triumphs over all. And if we do GOD justice, and are effectually wrought upon, we must acknowledge there was no more fitness in us than in _Zaccheus_; and, had not CHRIST prevented us by his call, we had remained dead in trespasses and sins, and alienated from the divine life, even as others. “JESUS looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, ♦_Zaccheus_, make haste and come down; for this day I must abide at thy house.”
♦ “Zacchues” replaced with “Zaccheus”
With what different emotions of heart may we suppose _Zaccheus_ received this invitation? Think you not that he was surprised to hear JESUS CHRIST call him by name, and not only so, but invite himself to his house? Surely, thinks _Zaccheus_, I dream: it cannot be; how should he know me? I never saw him before: besides, I shall undergo much contempt, if I receive him under my roof. Thus, I say, we may suppose _Zaccheus_ thought within himself. But what saith the scripture? “I will make a willing people in the day of my power.” With this outward call, there went an efficacious power from GOD, which sweetly over-ruled his natural will: and therefore, verse 6. “He made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully;” not only into his house, but also into his heart.