The greatest miracle in a person’s life is change of heart. When Jesus touches a person’s life, his priorities and pursuits completely change. Zacchaeus was a tax collector and his occupation had given him ample opportunities to extract more money than what was due for the tax. Hence his coffer was overflowing with money earned by illegal means. Symbolically our hearts also sometimes overflow with pleasures earned by unrighteous means. In the modern days also such extraction exists in the form of bribes and gifts. Though they may not be forcibly extracted, very often they are received through subtle suggestions. No papers move from files unless they are winged by precious currency notes. Money is expected for prayers. Even visits at funeral houses have to be rewarded, with money. Such doleful situations and tales of woeful extraction of money prevail in Christian communities who read about Zacchaeus very often.

Anyway, the short man Zacchaeus must have desired to see Jesus. His lonely heart despised by all on account of his greedy earning must have yearned for somebody who could love him also. That’s why he climbed up the tree to get a view of Jesus.

Inner thirst made him forget everything; a person of his stature position wise, to climb a tree is an inconceivable act. His short stature made it necessary for him to do that. Jesus saw the yearning. Just as He stopped to respond to the blind Bartimaeus, He stopped beneath the tree in response to the desire of Zacchaeus. That was the moment when the miracle started to unwind. A keen desire precedes any miracle. When Jesus responds to our deep hidden desires miracles are born. In the first case, the blind man wanted to see and the first person he saw was Jesus and in the case of Zacchaeus he also wanted to see Jesus. When he saw Jesus his perception changed.

Jesus said that he would like to visit Zacchaeus. Jesus who knocks at the door is ready to enter anyone who listens and responds. When Jesus entered the house of Zacchaeus, he was transformed. He promised to pay fourfold all that he took from others. One young rich man who met Jesus returned sad because he was not wiling to part with his wealth. The call of Jesus comes to all. Those, who respond in a positive way experience a miracle.

The miracle starts at one point and goes on working throughout a person’s life. Salvation is just a process of allowing ourselves to be reconstructed. It is a life long process. The miracle keeps unwinding until we meet Him in the end, face to face..

Dr. (Mrs.) Edriana Jeyasingh