Many caravans on their way to the feast passed through Jericho. Their arrival was always a festive season, but now a deeper interest stirred the people. It was known that the Galilean rabbi who had so lately brought Lazarus to life, was in the throng; and though whispers were rife as to the plottings of the priests, the multitudes were eager to do Him homage.... Zaccheus had heard of Jesus. The report of One who had borne Himself with kindness and courtesy toward the proscribed classes, had spread far and wide. In this chief of the publicans was awakened the longing for a better life.... The news sounded through Jericho that Jesus was entering the town. Zaccheus determined to see Him.
The streets were crowded, and Zaccheus, who was small of stature, could see nothing over the heads of the people. None would give way for him; so, running a little in advance of the multitude, to where a wide-branching fig-tree hung over the way, the rich tax-collector climbed to a seat among the boughs, where he could survey the procession as it passed below. The crowd comes near, it is going by, and Zaccheus scans with eager eyes to discern the one figure he longs to see....
Suddenly, just beneath the fig-tree, a group halts, the company before and behind come to a standstill, and One looks upward whose glance seems to read the soul. Almost doubting his senses, the man in the tree hears the words, “Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.”
The multitude give way, and Zaccheus, walking as in a dream, leads the way toward his own home.... Christ went to his home to give him lessons of truth, and to instruct his household in the things of the kingdom. They had been shut out from the synagogue by the contempt of the rabbis and worshipers; but now, the most favored household in all Jericho, they gathered in their own home about the divine Teacher, and heard for themselves the words of life.—The Desire of Ages, 552-556. RRe 296
There, when the veil that darkens our vision shall be removed, and our eyes shall behold that world of beauty of which we now catch glimpses through the microscope; when we look on the glories of the heavens, now scanned afar through the telescope; when, the blight of sin removed, the whole earth shall appear in “the beauty of the Lord our God,” what a field will be open to our study! There the student of science may read the records of creation and discern no reminders of the law of evil. He may listen to the music of nature's voices and detect no note of wailing or undertone of sorrow. In all created things he may trace one handwriting—in the vast universe behold “God's name writ large,” and not in earth or sea or sky one sign of ill remaining. Hvn 148
When Jesus came to the
place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make
haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house. And he made
haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully. Luke 19:5-6. KJV