Happy Zach Pays Back

Zach was a white collar crook.

He used his influential position as chief tax collector to take extra money from hard working citizens who were struggling to pay their own bills.

Zach had grown very rich – yet he was despised and hated by most people.

When he heard Jesus was coming through town, he was curious.

Unfortunately, Zach was both late and short.

A crowd had already gathered and he couldn’t see over their heads.

Zach didn’t give up. He climbed a tree.

Eventually, Jesus walked over, looked at Zach, and told him to come down. As Zach scrambled down the tree, Jesus invited himself over to his house for dinner.

The religious crowd grumbled: “he has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner.”

Meanwhile, something happened in Zach… he was overwhelmed with the grace Jesus had shown him.

Zach was usually cursed, ostracized and despised, but Jesus didn’t judge him or condemn him.

Zach was so moved by the grace given to him, he began to change (that’s what grace does – it changes things).

All on his own – without having to be told – he pledged to give 1/2 of his wealth to the poor and to repay anyone he cheated 4x the original amount.

Zach the crook somehow transforms into Zach the philanthropist. Happy Zach pays back!

Think of the impact Zach had on his city: this notorious crook suddenly becomes a loving, kind, generous, trustworthy difference-maker in Jericho!

Zach had a terrible reputation, but grace changed him.

Grace makes all the difference in people’s lives…

and when people change, the city changes.