Sunday Praise & Worship 10:00
Christian Education - 10:00 - Casual Dress - Loving Childcare
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The Jews hated tax collectors for three reasons. First, they worked for Rome, the occupying empire, which made them traitors. Second, their work required them to come in frequent contact with Gentiles, who were considered unclean, thereby making them unclean and unable to enter the Temple. Thirdly, many considered tax collectors to be dishonest. They had contracts with Rome and would pay up front, then collect whatever taxes they wanted. This system allowed much abuse and fraud. Zacchaeus was a wealthy tax collector, despised by the Jews in Jericho. He also apparently was very short. It makes me wonder if he was trying to compensate for his short stature by becoming a powerful and rich tax collector. In this story, we see how the crowds treated him, blocking his view of Jesus. But Zacchaeus possessed a sense of urgency and determination and would not be blocked. Maybe he had heard about Jesus’ actions a few days earlier. Earlier in Luke, we read Jesus’ story about the Pharisee and tax collector praying. The Pharisee thanked God that he was not a sinner like the tax collector, while the tax collector pleaded for God’s mercy because he was a sinner. Jesus said the sinner returned home made right with God, because the proud will be humbled and the humble will be honored. This story may have given Zacchaeus hope that Jesus might accept him, too. Then, as Jesus and his disciples approached Jericho, where Zacchaeus lived, Jesus healed a man who was blind. The crowds around the blind man tried to hush him, but he also desperately wanted to see Jesus. Jesus heard him calling and turned to heal him. Nothing, not even a crowd of people, can stop Jesus from reaching out to people and offering healing and forgiveness. I am sure word of that healing spread quickly. When Zacchaeus heard Jesus was coming, he humbled himself by doing two things that a dignified man would not do. He ran to see Jesus and he climbed a sycamore tree when the crowds blocked the view. In that tree, he thought he was seeking Jesus, but he discovered that Jesus was seeking him. Jesus called him by name and told him to hurry down. He was going to eat with Zacchaeus. In Jesus’ day, inviting yourself to someone’s home bestowed great honor upon them. Once again, the crowds grumbled because Jesus was going to be a guest in the home of a notorious sinner. Zacchaeus, however, responded with great joy. He felt so honored by Jesus’ presence that his heart and life were transformed. Zacchaeus declared that he would repay anyone he had cheated four times as much, and give half of his goods to the poor. Exodus 22:1 instructed anyone who had stolen sheep to pay back four sheep for each one stolen. Leviticus 6:5 instructed people who had been dishonest with a neighbor’s money to repay the principal plus one-fifth more. Here, Zacchaeus chose the stricter law to apply to himself, demonstrating very powerfully his repentance. Jesus declared that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ home that day. He called Zacchaeus a son of Abraham, and reminded people that he had come to seek and save the lost. Jesus comes today to seek and save the lost. (See Ezekiel 34:16.) He calls us by name, wants to come and stay in the home of our hearts, and offers us forgiveness and salvation. This gift is pure grace, neither deserved nor expected. Like Zacchaeus, we can respond to such grace by being transformed into the people Jesus wants us to be. How will you respond to such a gracious invitation? Questions for Reflection: 1-Name some ways you have looked for Jesus. What difference does it make in your search to know that Jesus is seeking you?
2-Have you ever been so overcome with love and faith that you threw dignity to the wind and did something you normally wouldn’t do? Does your faith ever embarrass you?
3-What has changed in your life since Jesus came to live with you? How do you live out that repentance? What is God calling you to change in your life right now? |
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Key verse: Luke 19:5 “When Jesus
came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. ‘Zacchaeus!’ he said.
‘Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today.’”