What they do is proclaim their individual author's interpretation of the Christian message through the device of using Jesus of Nazareth as a spokesperson for the evangelists' position." ...

The gospel tradition divides into two streams ... early Christians wanted to use these stories for moral edification. For a general message about salvation. Jesus lived. He died.

Pope Francis reflects on the story of Zacchaeus as part of his Jubilee 2025 catechesis, urging Catholics to embrace God’s mercy and never lose hope in the possibility of change.