A Visit from the Lord
Devotion in Motion
Luke 19:1-10
Today, people who work for the IRS don’t mention that they work for the IRS at parties. But tax collectors in the Roman empire were particularly despised. The extravagances of Rome were funded by the taxes collected among the colonies. Rome would hire a local, provide him with military force, assign him a quota, and then let him pocket whatever he collected above he owed them. And Zacchaeus was their man in Jericho. He was getting rich off the backs of his own countrymen. Only one thing could cause a man to absorb the ire of a whole community – greed. More than respect, or popularity, or patriotism, or even peace, Zacchaeus desired to be rich. Among the Jews in Jericho Zacchaeus’ approval rating was just a little higher than Hitler’s.
“Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.” Notice he was the “chief” or “arch” tax collector. Zacchaeus was the big wheel in a corrupt system. He was a regional figure. He had underlings working for him. This made him most hated. “And he sought to see who Jesus was…” Zacchaeus had heard a lot about Jesus.
One of his colleagues, a Galilean tax collector, was now a follower. Levi’s life had been so transformed he got a new name, Matthew. Perhaps the men knew each other. Imagine, Matthew and Zaccheus grabbing a falafel together for lunch, and Matthew telling his story. Zacchaeus had heard enough about Jesus to risk seeing for himself. It was dangerous for such a hated man to venture out into a crowd unprotected.
Yet there was such a strong longing in his heart for forgiveness, and freedom, and acceptance, and purpose that he combed the parade route looking for a perch from which he could see Jesus. “But (he) could not (find a place) because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.” Zacchaeus was vertically challenged. He probably looked like Danny Devito. He was a short guy and crowds of taller guys lined the streets…
so he shimmied up a sycamore. Zacchaeus goes out in search of a new life. “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him…” He may’ve chuckled. It was a comical sight – a dignified city official literally up a tree. And Jesus initiated the conversation, “(He) said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.” It may’ve been quite some time since Zacchaeus had smiled.
Andrew Carnegie once said, “Millionaires who laugh are rare. My experience is that wealth is apt to take the smiles away.” I’ve heard it said, “Money will buy a fine dog, but only love will make him wag his tail.” Zaccheus had all the money he could handle, but he was bankrupt for love. Until Jesus came to his house, joy and Zack were total strangers. It had been a long time since anyone had said a kind word to this man.
It reminds me of three guys in a life raft stranded in the middle of the ocean. Suddenly a bottle floats by, and one of the guys grabs it, rubs it, and out pops a genie. The genie tells them each of the men can make one request. The first man says, “I wish I were back in Atlanta with my family.” Suddenly, he disappears… The second man, “I miss my girlfriend in California. Send me back to her loving arms.” Presto, he’s gone…
Finally, the last fellow says, “Oh, I’m so lonely without my two buddies. I wish they both were back here with me.” They weren’t happy campers. Zacchaeus was also a lonely man, but when Jesus came into his life so did joy. “He received Him joyfully.” In the ancient world to enter a man’s home – to break bread together – was the ultimate act of acceptance. Zacchaeus was so overwhelmed by Jesus’ show of grace he’ll want to follow Him the rest of his life. It’s amazing what just a little bit of love will do to revive a depleted heart. A man’s whole life changes on one invitation.
Once a children’s hospital employed a tutor to help sick kids keep up with school. One day she got a call from an English teacher who asked her to pay a visit to a student in the burn unit. He needed help with his grammar. When the tutor saw the child she was not prepared for the severity of his condition. The young boy had severe burns over most of his body. She stumbled over her words, “Uh, I’m the hospital teacher and I heard you need help with nouns and verbs.” She was embarrassed with her awkwardness.
She mentions grammar to a child who’s fighting for his life. The next day when the burn unit nurse approached her, she started to apologize. The nurse said, “You don’t understand. We’ve been worried about that boy. But ever since your visit his attitude has changed. He’s fighting back, responding to the treatment… It’s as if he’s decided to live.” Later the boy explained “It dawned on me, they wouldn’t send a teacher to work on nouns and verbs with a dying boy?” Her visit had given hope.
This was Zacchaeus’ logic… Jesus wouldn’t visit a hopeless cause. Evidently he wasn’t out of God’s reach after all. No one is beyond the grasp of God’s grace. Jesus has designs even on rotten, greedy traitors. “But when they (the Jews in Jericho) saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Like the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son. They didn’t understand grace. In the middle of the Monica Lewinsky scandal President Bill Clinton sought spiritual advice from Tony Campolo.
Other Christians criticized Campolo for reaching out to the president. In fact, one pastor wrote a letter stating, “Don’t you understand that this man does not deserve grace!” Yet by its very definition grace is something no one deserves. It’s love that’s in the house. It’s not prompted by us, but by God – it’s unearned. But once received it has an explosive impact,
“Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I will restore fourfold.” Here’s outward evidence of Zacchaeus’ inward transformation. He pledges half his income to charity, and restores those he cheated four-fold. Repentance is willing to repair the damage and make restitution. After this kind of transformation the Jews might’ve voted him MVP. He certainly found God’s forgiveness.
“And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Rather than condemn the Zacchaeuses of this world, Jesus seeks and saves
Victor Tafoya
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