English Standard Version
The Gospels give us lots of stories about a variety of people -- some very rich, some very poor, to demonstrate the desperate need that all people have for grace. Modern America would have some of us think that we're isolated from need... but the Bible knows better. It understands humanity better than we do, because it was inspired by the same God that created humans in God's own image.
Zaccheaus is one of the ones who is very rich, but he has recognized that his wealth has not filled the hole he has in his life. He needs God, and so he goes looking. He cannot see Jesus due to the crowd, but he is so driven that he climbs a nearby tree in the hopes of getting a glimpse of Jesus. In a society where it was considered shameful to run and show your legs (thus part of the scandal of the parable of the Prodigal Son when the father runs to his son), I can't imagine they'd look kindly on a man climbing a tree. But Zaccheaus doesn't care. He needs to see Jesus.
Zaccheaus doesn't realize that all along, Jesus has been looking for him. Tomorrow, we'll read about the surprising way that Jesus calls out to Zaccheaus. Who is seeking who? God is seeking you. God is on the move, reaching out to you before you can even form the thoughts and motions to seek him out. This is how God's love works -- God reaches out to us, and we respond to God.
Thanks be to God for such wondrous love as this.