Was Zacchaeus there by chance? Luke 19. 1-10.

Was it by random chance that Zacchaeus met Jesus as He entered and passed through Jericho. Luke 19.1? The narrative goes on to say behold (we should take extra note when this word is prefixed!), there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. Now, when the Bible says he was rich, it doesn't just mean he had a nice detached house in Judaean suburbia! no, he would have had wealth, beyond the "dreams of avarice" as the saying goes! He was chief among the publicans! Now, he was little of stature, in other words, he was much shorter in height than the average man, for he climbed up into a sycomore tree to see Him, for He was to pass that way. Certainly, Zacchaeus must have heard of the fame of our Lord, to find out what He was all about, for the Scripture says he sought to see Jesus who He was. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must abide at thy house. Now when the crowd saw it, they all murmured, saying, That He was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. Then Zacchaeus made a pretty amazing statement, he said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man (RV), I restore him fourfold. On this most heartwarming of statements, the Saviour said unto him, This day is salvation come into this house, for as much as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. 

Philanthropy is no new thing! certainly modern philanthropy is, where exceedingly rich men and women give away vast amounts of money out of their even vaster fortunes, no-doubt securing taxation advantages, recognition, and favour with the government of the day, for the various awards on offer; O what a cynical man I am! There may be another reason! for the above inspired narrative says nothing about Zacchaeus's repentance and faith, per se, so, perhaps the thinking may be that if Jesus and the Bible is true, these folk may have it in mind to remind the Lord of their wonderful acts of human kindness, pleading one's own acts of righteousness on judgment Day! How they would do well to heed the Lord's words; Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thine doest thine alms do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you they have received (RV) their reward. Matt. 6. 1-2.

The Scripture says that whomever Zacchaeus wronged (and no doubt there were a great many!) that he would restore him fourfold, this being the Scriptural requirement as written in Ex. 22.1 and 2 Sam. 12.6, but he went further than this, for he gave away half of everything he owned to the poor. It may be that he ended up himself among the poorer folk of Judea! A much 'poorer' man but rich in faith, for it is written, Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him? Jam. 2.5. (my emphasis).

No, it was not by random 'chance' as some venture to think; that Zacchaeus underwent this miraculous change of heart! this is the hand of God, and nothing less! It was ordained in eternity past that God would place Zacchaeus in that place at that time to fulfill His purposes, yet it was Zacchaeus's own 'free-will' which led him to do the things he did! In the very same way that the dying Saviour saved the repentant thief on the cross in Luke 23. 39-43, for moments earlier, the repentant thief that was *crucified with Him, cast upon Him the same reproach (Matt. 27.44 RV) as  that of the chief priests, scribes, and the elders! What of the large upper room furnished (Lk. 22.12)? and the ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straight away he will send them. Matt. 21. 2-3? I would like to see some presumptuous Pentecostal Churchman to try a similar 'stunt' in our day, he might like to try walking up to a man as he is entering his car with its contents, and say The Lord hath need of them! 

Many other incidents might be multiplied countless times throughout the Bible, yet many cannot see ELECTION and PRE-DESTINATION taught throughout God's word.

*The language of the 1611 AV really does present this scene in a more vivid and graphical way;
The thieves also, which were crucified with Him, cast the same in His teeth. We can but imagine the insults, and blasphemous words he must have uttered! But, how remarkable the transformation! How, how, can this malefactor be railing on Him one minute, and in the next say to his partner in crime, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. Upon this repentance the Lord said Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23. 39-43. Knowing what I know about the hardness of the human heart, I believe such a transformation in so short a time is impossible from human reasoning! As if the thief could reason and rationalize the whole situation, and then think to himself, "It seemeth a good idea to me to acknowledge this man hung up like myself, as the Son of God, and repent forthwith!" Lets not forget, that the thief hadn't witnessed the earth shattering events that happened shortly afterwards to enable the centurion and those with him to say Truly this was the Son of God. Matt. 27.54! Truly, The wind bloweth where it listeth, Jn. 3.8!