Zacchaeus was corrupt (Luke 19:1-7).  Everybody knew that his wealth came from dishonest accounting.  He was a government tax collector who claimed far more than his salary and expenses.  As the chief of the other local tax collectors, he probably took a percentage of their fraudulent incomes as well.  No one in the crowd wanted him around when Jesus came to Jericho.  But, to everybody's surprise, Jesus did want him!  At the Lord's command the little man led the Master to his house, and those who watched saw a real conversion as the cheat repented.
 
Repentance is essential if we are to get right with God, and Zacchaeus knew it.  He may have wanted to get rid of his sin-burden for some time, but there was no credible religious way to do it.  However, when he knew Jesus was coming, he seized his moment to see the person who could forgive sins (Luke 5:20-25).  That was Christ’s purpose in coming to earth (1 Timothy 1:15) – to accept responsibility for the people’s sins and be punished instead of them (1 Peter 2:24).   

Of course, Jesus knew exactly what was in Zacchaeus' heart. He knows the deepest thoughts of everybody (Luke 11:17).  With Jesus seated as the guest of honour, the corrupt civil servant stood up – not to make a grand speech in honour of Jesus but to admit his own dishonourable past.  He confessed his sins because he wanted to repent so that he could be forgiven.  And it was not only penitent words.  Because he knew his greedy thefts were wrong, he immediately pledged half of his wealth to the poor, and 400% interest of his own money on every dishonest tax taken.  Face to face with Jesus, repentance was in his heart, confession was on his lips and restitution was his clear intention.  He had turned right around in his heart, mind and actions: that is real conversion.
 
Perhaps we have forgotten that Jesus' task was not to make life nice for people, but to reconcile sinful people with the Holy God (Colossians 1:20-22).  There can be no real reconciliation without wholehearted repentance by sinners.  Cheap repentance is common these days; a quick 'sorry' - without any determination to restore the relationship in converted action - is meaningless.  Dutiful religion by itself is no substitute for repentance, nor is any number of emotional experiences or pious words.  But when repentance leads to a turn-about of our actions, it is evidence that salvation has truly come.  The Christian who is determined to mature is also determined to repent - so let us examine ourselves, and with God's help, repent, confess, restore and change our lives so that Jesus will be seen by others as the One who brings salvation.