Walking With Zacchaeus

     For today's bible study let's all go back around 2000 years ago and walk with the man seated at the table in the picture above named Zacchaeus the tax collector. Notice the three people in the picture above not having enough money to pay their taxes as Zacchaeus threatens them to pay the full tax. The three people pictured above that Zacchaeus is collecting taxes from is a blind man named Bartimaeus, a woman that has had an issue of blood for twelve years, and a young man whose mother lived in Nain.

     A couple days later, since Zacchaeus as the chief tax collector was so greedy, he decided to go personally to the people's homes to collect the taxes. Zacchaeus first went to the home of blind Bartimaeus. Since Bartimaeus was blind and could not take care of his house and yard, the grass in the front of his house was high and everything was cluttered around his house. When Bartimaeus met Zacchaeus, blind Bartimaeus said Zacchaeus please have mercy on me because I am a blind man, and I need someone to help me calculate my taxes. Zacchaeus said OK, I'll give you 30 days to get the money for the full tax, and I'll be back in thirty days to collect the full tax.

     Next Zacchaeus went to the home of the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years. The woman with the issue of blood said Zacchaeus please have mercy on me because I've been paying all these doctor bills for twelve years to heal an issue of blood, and I need time to save more money to pay my taxes. Zacchaeus said OK, but I'll be back in 30 days to collect the full tax, and you better pay me all the money in 30 days.

     Then Zacchaeus went to the young man's house whose mother lived in Nain. When Zacchaeus knocked on the door of the young man's house, an old lady opened the door and said she couldn't pay the tax because she was paying funeral expenses for her young son that had just died. Zacchaeus said I don't care if the young man died; I want my money, and I'll be back in 30 days to collect the full tax.

     Finally, Zacchaeus went to another lady's house because she also owed back taxes. When Zacchaeus got to this lady's home, he saw a wild crazy man running and shouting in the tombs on a hill above the house. The lady told Zacchaeus that the wild crazy man in the tombs was her husband who had lost his mind because of a legion demon and had become a wild man that no man could tame. The lady told Zacchaeus I can't pay my taxes because I have no money because my crazy husband lost his job and now runs naked in the tombs. People have tried to chain him up but he breaks the chains and continues to run and scream in the tombs. Zacchaeus said lady I don't care; I'm coming back in 30 days to get the money, and he ran from the house to get away from the crazy nut in the tombs.

     After thirty days, Zacchaeus first goes to the house of blind Bartimaeus to collect taxes. Zacchaeus notices that the grass in the front of Bartimaeus' house is no longer high and beautiful flowers surround a neat, clean, tidy, and well organized house. Bartimaeus runs out to meet Zacchaeus saying I can see now, and I've been blessed with money to fix my house, and hallelujah here's the full payment for my taxes. A man named Jesus came by my house yesterday and restored my sight. As Zacchaeus took the money, he said I have a lot of money, but I wish I had the peace of Jesus that Bartimaeus has.

     Bartimaeus told Zacchaeus what happened in the picture above when he met Jesus at Mark 10:47 that says And when he (Bartimaeus) heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace; but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called, And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee.

     Mark 10:50 goes on to say And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto Him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

     Next, Zacchaeus went to the house of the woman with the issue of blood to collect taxes. This woman told Zacchaeus yesterday I was able to touch the hem of Jesus' garment and immediately I was healed from any issue of blood, and I've been blessed with money to pay off twelve years of doctor bills and your taxes. Zacchaeus I'm so happy that I don't have to pay all those high doctor bills any more and here's the full payment for your taxes. As Zacchaeus took the money, he said I have a lot of money, but I wish I had the peace of Jesus that this woman has.

     The woman with the issue of blood told Zacchaeus what happened in the picture above when she met Jesus at Matthew 9:20 that says And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him, and touched the hem of His garment; For she said within herself, If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned Him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

     Next, Zacchaeus went to the house of the widow from Nain who had lost her son to collect taxes. But, when Zacchaeus knocked at her door, to his surprise, the young man answered the door rejoicing that Jesus had raised him from the dead. When the widow of Nain saw Zacchaeus she danced all around her house and said Zacchaeus I didn't have to pay funeral expenses and here's your tax money. Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus, my son is alive. As Zacchaeus took the money, he said I have a lot of money, but I wish I had the peace of Jesus that this widow of Nain has. This money is not giving me the happiness that Jesus gives people.

     The widow of Nain pictured above kneeling and worshipping our Lord Jesus, told Zacchaeus what happened when she met Jesus at Luke 7:11 that says And it came to pass the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and much people. Now when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And He came and touched the bier (funeral couch for a dead body); and they that bare him stood still. And He said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And He delivered him to his mother.

     Finally, Zacchaeus went to collect taxes at the house of the woman whose husband was the crazy nut running in tombs. But when Zacchaeus knocked at her door, to his surprise, a man dressed in a suit and tie, clean, and shaven answered the door. Zacchaeus said I don't remember that a man lived at this residence. The man told Zacchaeus I used to be the crazy nut that ran around in the tombs, but Jesus met me and cast out the legion demon that had afflicted me for years. Now, I'm a happy husband again, clothed and in my right mind, publishing books about how great Jesus is to the entire city of Decapolis. Oh, by the way Zacchaeus, here's the full payment for your taxes because my wife no longer has to make payments to the Decapolis police to restrain me. As Zaccheaus took the money, he said I have a lot of money, but I wish I had the peace of Jesus that this former crazy nut now has.

     The crazy nut told Zacchaeus what happened in the picture above after Jesus cast out the legion demon from him into swine that were choked in the sea.  The former nut began to say thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus now I'm clothed and in my right mind. The former nut told Zacchaeus what Jesus requested from him at Mark 5:18 that says And when He (Jesus) was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed Him that he might be with Him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him; and all men did marvel.

     Wow, the book for Jesus that this former crazy nut from the tombs wrote was a best seller in the city of Decapolis and won multitudes of souls to our Lord Jesus. Brother Bob told Jesus that one day soon on this earth or in heaven, I would like to have the honor of reading this blessed anointed book about Jesus written by a former lunatic who lived in Decapolis. Friend reading this anywhere, if Jesus can save the crazy, insane man pictured above who lived in tombs, Jesus can save any sinner right now and give them peace. Jesus said at Luke 5:32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Right now confess Jesus as God and believe in your heart that Jesus died for you and rose again and get saved as Jesus washes away all your filthy sins by His blood.

     OK, to end up today's bible study, let's see what happened to Zacchaeus as he walked home with all the tax money he collected. On his way home, Zacchaeus met a man who told him that Jesus was going to pass by his house. Zacchaeus said I got to meet this Jesus, but I'll have to climb a sycomore tree to see Him because I'm little of stature. Pictured above when Zacchaeus saw Jesus, Jesus told him at Luke 19:5  Zacchaeus make haste and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. Wow, this is the only place I know where a sinner was looking down at Jesus while the the Lord Jesus was looking up at a sinner. Hallelujah, the bible tells us at Luke 19:6 that Zacchaeus made haste, and came down, and received Him (Jesus) joyfully.

     And hallelujah take time to read how Zacchaeus as a new man with Jesus was changed from a greedy tax collector into a kind man that blessed poor people. Luke 19:8 says And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. Hallelujah, 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (defined as creation); old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.

     As always, it is a blessing to write these bible studies about our Lord Jesus. I pray in Jesus name they bless everyone with peace and strength. Feel free to email Brother Bob anytime at rz9tlm@gmail.com or write to Brother Bob Malkin, 2233 Pinetree Lane, Apt. N., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. (614) 604-7133. Till we all meet again soon to lift up our Lord Jesus, everyone have a blessed day in Jesus name.