Jesus intended to pass through the city of Jericho. He had an agenda. He was on His way to Jerusalem. He was going to just pass through this city and would have if not for Zacchaeus, the head tax collector. His name meant clean and pure, but he was one of the chief corrupted men in Jericho – talk about irony!
You can read the actual story here.
By all accounts, he was religiously insignificant. He held a powerful position – tax collector - which he abused. Doubtlessly, he brought much pain and distress to countless others. He probably had very little moral fiber in him. He most likely was one of those who were shunned by those who knew their Scriptures. To those who considered themselves righteous and holy he was despised and hated. Yet he was a powerful man. His power, both economically and socially came about by preying on those who were less fortunate and defenseless. He would have used his political standing and his connections for his own benefit. Although he would have been wealthy and powerful, he probably had very few friends – Matthew would have understood this guy . . . Maybe Zaccheaus had even heard the stories of Matthew the former tax collector. Maybe that is why Zaccheaus want to see Jesus.
The sad thing for Zaccheaus is that he could not leverage his political or economic status to get into a pivotal position to meet this Man - Jesus. All he wanted was to catch a glimpse of the Man whom he had heard so much about. So despised was this social outcast that he had to rely on his own devices to get past the crowd. For Zaccheaus, just a glimpse of Jesus would do even if it was from a distance.
Why did Zaccheaus want to see this Man? Perhaps he had heard that Jesus was different than other Rabbis. While the others condemned, judged and ostracized, this One apparently spoke words of grace, mercy and love. This was the Man who said, "Neither do I condemn you...", Who healed the sick, brought sight to the blind, brought health to the sick, and transformed even the outcast adulteress. This Rabbi even had a tax collector that He called friend! Maybe this Healer of Souls might take away the hurt, pain, and loneliness that he felt. Maybe this Man could fill the void that he felt after all these years of cheating, conniving, watching over his shoulders, and of living without a friend in his world.
Zacchaeus did what he knew best. He relied on his own instincts. The crowd might be blocking his way and no one would be willing to help him to get to the front of the masses. He would go on ahead and climb up a tree. The tree he chose is one that is lush and thick with leaves that would hide his body so that no one else could see him. After all, this Man was a religious man and perhaps he did not want to be disappointed again. Religious men had condemned and rejected him in the past. They had made him uncomfortable in their presence. They had made it clear that his lifestyle was despised. They had required him to change before he would be accepted. They had treated him with contempt and with condescension. They had judged him, his associates and his lifestyle. Perhaps, this Man, this Jesus, would be no different. Better to be safe than sorry.
So he hid himself in a tall tree. Jesus, who was going to pass through this city, decided to put his plans on hold for one person. Zaccheaus will be one of the last individual people that Jesus will encounter on his way to the cross. He stops under the tree and says, "Zaccheaus, come down quickly! I must go to your house today. I must stay awhile at your house."
No wonder Zaccheaus’ life is transformed. Isn’t it amazing that there is no record that Jesus said anything else to this man? Jesus didn’t say, "Unless you change your lifestyle…" Or "Unless you repent…"
All Jesus did was reveal Himself by being with him, by staying at his house, by eating and drinking with him, and by being his friend. That was enough. Jesus became a guest at the table with a man who was considered a sinner by even the ordinary folks. So much so that they muttered among themselves. "He has gone to be the guest of a ’sinner’".
Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." At the table with Jesus, Zaccheaus makes a declaration of a transformed life.
Zaccheaus was known as a “taker” in the community and now has become a giver, a giver to the poor and to the powerless. A tax collector is known as a man who is willing make false charges against the innocent in order to collect the taxes. Zaccheaus make a promises of restoration with the promise that he will give to those he has cheated four time more than he has taken.
Life transformation happens when we are in right relationship with God.
This transformational living is the evidence of the faith that we confess.
Transformed living begins when we stop long enough to realize that Jesus wants to come into our lives right now. "Come down immediately." He doesn’t need to wait for us to clean up our act. "I must stay at your house today."
Notice that Jesus responds to the change that has taken place in the life of Zaccheaus. Jesus declared to everyone present, and to us today: "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
People, we are not called to change (or clean up) before coming to this table. For those who have been to the table with Jesus, we should be transformed people. Our lives should be evidence of our encounter with Jesus.
Zaccheaus offers evidence of his encounter. He is saying more than “I’m sorry.” He is offering evidence of his inner change.
Jesus is still seeking the lost, the lonely, and the outcast.
Jesus is still looking for those hiding in the sycamore trees or the internet.
There is not a need for us to climb a tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus today.
There’s no need to clean the house, for Jesus accepts us just as we are, with all our sins, faults and imperfections.
The good news is that as it was long ago it is today. We search for meaning and purpose in life and Jesus passes our way, we catch a glimpse, and what else can we do but gladly welcome Him to the table?
Jesus is inviting us to a life of change – a life of transformational living.
A life lived is the evidence of one called to follow Jesus.
Does your life show evidence of the faith you claim?
No comments:
Post a Comment