Read
Zacchaeus
1Jesus was going through Jericho, 2where a man named Zacchaeus lived. He was in charge of collecting taxes and was very rich. 3-4Jesus was heading his way, and Zacchaeus wanted to see what he was like. But Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree.
5When Jesus got there, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down! I want to stay with you today.” 6Zacchaeus hurried down and gladly welcomed Jesus.
7Everyone who saw this started grumbling, “This man Zacchaeus is a sinner! And Jesus is going home to eat with him.”
8Later that day Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “I will give half of my property to the poor. And I will now pay back four times as much to everyone I have ever cheated.”
9Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today you and your family have been saved, because you are a true son of Abraham. 10 The Son of Man came to look for and to save people who are lost.”
Reflect
Boy, do we ever need Jesus to help us with our assumptions.
Zacchaeus knew he was a loser. It likely started when he noticed he was always picked last because he was short. So, suffering with “short man syndrome”, he decided to get the upper hand by sticking it to them. And as a chief tax collector, he did. Let them look down on him if they wanted to. He didn’t care and he didn’t need them.
Have you noticed how easy it is to despise “up and outers”? Of course, Zacchaeus’ wealth came through corruption. So, add warranted resentment to working class jealousy and Zacchaeus is really “out”. He was a pompous jerk through-and-through.
That’s why Jesus surprises everyone when he notices Zacchaeus, calls him by name and invites himself to his house. Nobody went there. For one thing, they wouldn’t be welcome. For seconders, who’d want to have anything to do with him anyway!
It’s fascinating how rejection works. We assume and dismiss before the other has a chance to reject us! Like always, Jesus was immune to all that stuff. He saw Zacchaeus for what he was. Lost and looking for a way in.
I suspect that there were two surprises that day. First, that Jesus would have even a kind word for a corrupt rich man. Second, that that pompous jerk wasn’t what he appeared to be after all!
All that power and money? Just a wall. Given a chance for love and acceptance, he collapsed it in a second. Half to the poor, then as much as was needed to compensate victims ten percent more generously than the OT law required. Jesus helped the real Zacchaeus to step forward.
Boy, do we ever need Jesus to help us with our assumptions.
Respond
Lord Jesus,
You see me just as I am – the “little me” that hides behind my false self. Thank you for calling with inviting, healing grace. Today, I choose to climb down out of my tree and to welcome you into my private world. In your gracious name, Amen.
Keith Elford
Keith Elford serves as the bishop of The Free Methodist Church in Canada. His mandate is to oversee a diverse group of godly, competent leaders who, using a variety of approaches, work together to see healthy churches developed within Canada and beyond. Prior to being elected as bishop in 1997, Keith was a pastor for 24 years, serving congregations in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan. He regularly writes for The Mosaic, a Free Methodist publication.