Allen Webster

Topic(s): Bible Study, Salvation

Zacchaeus may have been a wee little man, but don’t sell him short. He is more than a minor New Testament character (Luke 19:1–10). One characteristic that causes him to stand above the crowd is his curiosity. It was no passing interest that caused the little man who collected big taxes to run ahead of the multitude and call attention to his short stature by climbing a tree. This curiosity brought salvation to his house (Luke 19:9).

What about you? Do you have an active mind? Do you find yourself asking why more often than most? Does your curiosity spill over into the religious realm? Have you read much of the Bible? Have you wondered about its claims to be inspired of God, its story of creation, its record of miracles, its portrayal of Jesus’ virgin birth and bodily resurrection, its claims about heaven and hell? If so, keep reading . . .

I

Evidently Zacchaeus had heard some amazing things about Jesus: Somebody came through Jericho a while back who said He fed five thousand people up by Lake Galilee . . . another reported seeing Him cast out devils and heal lepers . . . rumor was He raised a dead man up on the mountain . . . walked on the Sea of Galilee, too, some say . . . Just today He had healed two blind men on the other side of town.¹

And then there were the other things: Jesus didn’t toe the party line with those hateful scribes and Pharisees . . . He associated with publicans, ate with publicans, made a publican the hero of a sermon, selected a publican as one of His apostles, was even known as the “friend of publicans and sinners” . . . He preached about doing away with the tradition of the elders and urged people to follow only the will of God² . . . It was enough to make a man a little curious.

II

Jesus was used to being the object of curiosity. As an infant, He aroused the curiosity of the magi (Matthew 2:1–2); angels peered from heavenly windows to see their Master’s new form (Luke 2:15; 1 Peter 1:12); and Simeon couldn’t wait to hold Him (Luke 2:25–28). As a boy, He excited the interest of doctors in the temple (Luke 2:46–47). As a man, two of John’s disciples inquired about where He lived (John 1:38–39). Nicodemus, a busy ruler of the Jews, was curious enough to pay Him an after-hours visit (John 3:1–2). Simon the Pharisee wondered whether Jesus could be a prophet or not, and invited Him to a banquet (Luke 7:36). Certain Greeks asked Philip to arrange for them to meet Jesus. (Their request is ours too: “Sir, we would see Jesus” [John 12:20–21; cf. 1 John 4:1–3].) Interest never waned; even near His death, Herod wanted to see Him of whom he had heard such marvelous things (Luke 23:8).

Most of us first come to Jesus on this level. Even after two thousand years, He is still the most talked about—most controversial—human ever to reside on Planet #3. Sure, we’ve heard some things . . . not sure if we believe them yet, but we are curious. Things like “born of a virgin.” Are you for real? (Yes.) “Put His hands on sick people and they got better.” Yea, right. (Exactly right.) Walked on the water? C’mon. (The only thing that got wet was the bottom of His feet.) Called His friend, and Lazarus came out from the grave to see Him? Sounds like a Halloween story . . . (No story. Lazarus is one man who died twice.) Jesus was murdered by His enemies on Friday, but got the last laugh on Sunday morning. Unbelievable. (That makes it a miracle.)³

And then, like Zacchaeus, there are the other things for us too: Jesus forgave people of anything—like a woman caught in adultery and a murderer named Saul of Tarsus. He even prayed for His executioners! He catered to common folks and tapped ordinary people to be His most relied upon lieutenants. He made it sound like anybody could please Him if he or she wanted to enough, and everybody could make it to heaven . . .⁴ It’s still enough to make a person inquisitive.

III

It is good to be curious about spiritual things. A child’s favorite word is “why?” Adults should not give up that word too easily. Einstein said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Charles Steinmetz said, “No man really becomes a fool until he stops asking questions.” Samuel Johnson said, “Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.” James Thurber said, “It is better to ask some of the questions than to know all the answers.”

Paul taught, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21; cf. Romans 12:2). Jesus told the Jews to “Search the scriptures” (John 5:39), and urged His followers to be fruit inspectors (Matthew 7:15–20). He insisted that God gave us eyes, ears, and brains for a reason (Mark 7:18; cf. Matthew 13:16; Luke 8:18). Curiosity is not a thing to be crushed. Doubt is the prelude of knowledge.⁵

IV

Curiosity leads to investigation—and truth is never hurt by investigation. The psalmist invites, “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Thomas was not criticized for saying, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Instead, at their next meeting Jesus invited him to “behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side.” He does not want any “faithless” but all “believing” (John 20:27).

The Ethiopian was curious enough to invite a stranger to explain Isaiah 53 to him, and he left the encounter rejoicing (Acts 8:30–40). God counted the Berean Gentiles “noble” for their investigation of Paul’s sermons (Acts 17:11).

When we are curious enough, we will ask for answers (cf. Matthew 17:10; Acts 8:31; 1 Corinthians 14:35). We’ll take our Bibles so we can know for sure (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:3; John 6:69). Each needs his own faith—not a “this is what-my parents said,” or a “most of my friends think this,” or a “my preacher teaches this” faith. All Christians need to be able to say, “I believe this because the Bible says . . . ”

Investigation leads to knowledge, which leads to faith (Romans 10:17). If we give Jesus’ claims a closer look, we never come away disappointed. He is not less than we’ve heard, He is more—much more! He astonishes people.⁶ Those who actually saw Him “were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well” (Mark 7:37). His claims are not empty; He is the fullness of God (Colossians 1:19). He is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. Impressed? Who wouldn’t be?

Faith leads to obedience, which leads to salvation. Faith led Zacchaeus to obey Jesus (Jesus gave him two commands—make haste, come down—and he readily did both), and Jesus told him, “Salvation is come to this house” (Luke 19:9). Zacchaeus gives the impression that whatever Jesus asked him to do, he would do. Jesus asks us to believe in Him (John 3:16; 8:24); to repent of our sins (Luke 13:3); to confess our faith in Him to others (Matthew 10:32–33); and to be immersed in water to have our sins forgiven (Mark 16:16). He asks us to deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts” and live “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:12).

Keep feeding your spiritual curiosity. You might find something better than “nine lives.”

Endnotes

¹ Luke 9:10–17; 8:26–29; 17:11–19; John 11:38–44; 6:15–21; Luke 18:35–43.

² Matthew 23:1–35; 9:10; Luke 18:10–14; Matthew 10:3; Luke 7:34; Matthew 15:6–9.

³ Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18–25; 15:30; 14:25; John 11.

⁴ John 8:1–11; Acts 9:1–17; Luke 23:34; Matthew 10:1–4; Acts 4:13; Matthew 11:28–30.

⁵ Henry Drummond, “Listening to the Giants.” Christianity Today, Vol. 29, no. 17.

⁶ Scripture lists 41 times that people were “amazed,” “astonished” or “marveled” at Him (Matthew 7:28; 8:27; 9:8, 33; 12:23; 13:54; 19:25; 21:20; 22:22, 33; 27:14; Mark 1:22, 27; 2:12; 5:42; 6:2, 51; 7:37; 9:15; 10:24, 26, 32; 11:18; 12:17; 15:5, 44; 16:8; Luke 2:33, 47, 48; 4:32, 36; 5:9, 26; 8:56; 9:43; 11:38; 20:26; 24:22; John 4:27; 7:15).