Sermon: The Calling of Zacchaeus

Date Preached: Sunday November 4th 2007

Bible Reference: Luke Chapter 19, Verses 1-10

Sunday schools love Zacchaeus – acting out the story and singing choruses about this little man climbing up into the sycamore tree “for the Saviour he wanted to see” – and then Jesus saying to him “I’m coming to your house for tea”. It’s such a lovely, vivid story and the kids can identify with him probably because they often find themselves at the back, trying to peer over the big people, unable to see what’s going on.

And Luke makes Zacchaeus one of his minor heroes. His is the only gospel in which we find him and his sudden moment of glory – this hardened old tax collector - who fits into 3 of Luke’s regular themes (we’ve had them these past weeks):

• the problem of riches and what to do about it;

• Jesus’ identification with the worst kinds of people;

• and the faith which recognizes Jesus as Lord and discovers a transformed new life as a result.

It’s a story that also balances the rather sad tale of the rich young ruler in the chapter before who walks away sorrowfully from Jesus. But it’s this kind of healing, this kind of new life, Luke is saying, that Jesus came to bring – and the ‘how’ – the way this all gets accomplished starts from here really with the road to Jerusalem and the Cross. If only people in Jerusalem could see the point and make a similar response!

As we saw last week with the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, no-one in Jericho in their right mind would have liked Zacchaeus. They’d have been absolutely horrified to think that, of all the people in this bustling town, it would be the name of Zacchaeus that millions of Christians would have known two thousand years later – he was exactly the kind of odious person everybody despised. Not only a tax collector – but a chief tax collector, making money on the side as they all did, but also a Tony Soprano character extorting money from those who were under him.

Tom Wright, the Bishop of Durham says: “Wherever money changes hands, whether across a grubby table in a tin shack in a dusty small town or across a sparkling computer screen in a shiny office on the 99^th floor of a Wall Street skyscraper, the hands all to often get dirty. Whenever money starts to talk, it shouts louder than the claims of honesty, respect and human dignity.

You can imagine the reaction of his neighbours as Zacchaeus’s house became ever more lavishly decorated; as more servants ran around doing his bidding; as his family’s clothes became ever more expensive and designer-looking; and as his lifestyle became increasingly opulent. They’d have known this was their money that was financing all the things he’d acquired – he had no right to it – and there was nothing whatsoever they could do about it.

That was until Jesus came through the town. Because having a personal encounter with Jesus changes your life.

Inquisitiveness had got the better of this little rich man. He wanted to get a vantage point to see what all the fuss was about – to understand what was going on for himself. He’d heard lots from other people about their experiences. Interesting – we think we’ve got this Christian thing taped – but perhaps we’re in need of a Sycamore Tree, or something like – to begin to get a different vantage point and see what’s really going on: to allow Jesus (if you like) to make personal eye contact. I wonder what that might be for you? For me – given a well-established tendency to charge around plate-spinning, it’s to stop –to spend time listening, rather than talking – opening the Scriptures and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak, like we do in small group bible study. Perhaps you can think of what might help you get a new and fresh take on familiar stories – on the challenge of the Gospel.

Because when their eyes did meet, Jesus probably discerned the unspoken question emerging from behind Zacchaeus’ hard, crafty look. ‘Saw right through the layers of graft and greed – of callous contempt for those he’d been ripping off – those fellow citizens he’d systematically exploited.

Because money clearly didn’t satisfy Zacchaeus. And power wasn’t enough. Chances are, Zacchaeus was asking life’s most basic question: “Why am I here?” And some instinct told him that if he could just see who Jesus really was for himself, he might get the answer to his question.

Jesus had met enough tax collectors already to know exactly what life was like for them, and how, even though they couldn’t resist the chance to make a quick buck, that there was a sickness at the heart for which he had the remedy. I guess it’s like that well-trotted out statistic about the incredible suicide rate amongst millionaires. People seemingly with everything on the surface, but empty and aching inside.

And once again Jesus finds himself relaxing in the company of all the wrong kind of person – singles him out – and once again they all began to grumble about it. But this time, instead of telling them all a parable – and Luke would want us to think of the prodigal son and the other stories he’s already given us – the tax collector himself speaks to Jesus in public – and gives evidence of his extravagant change of heart.

And his repentance – as in Judaism in general – isn’t just about saying some words – it’s also about restoration – making amends. And just as God’s grace is lavish, so Zacchaeus puts things right lavishly. He doesn’t offer to sell his property – and Jesus doesn’t demand it – but by the time he’d given half of it away and restored people four times what he owed them, he’d have found himself in seriously reduced circumstances,

But he doesn’t care – he’s found something way more valuable. That statement “Today I must stay at your house” becomes, “Today salvation has come to this house.”

Where Jesus is invited in – salvation and restoration; new hope and new life is to be found. This is for any who accept him as Master - and reorder their lives accordingly. And let’s get the theological point here: once again, Jesus links a former outcast back into the true family of Abraham.

And by the way, Zacchaeus isn’t going to follow on the road to Jerusalem, escaping the angry and puzzled looks of his neighbours. He’s going to live out his new life and re-establish himself as part of the renewed Israel right where he is. It’s not easy to start living differently when there’s so much mistrust around – his apprenticeship wasn’t going to be an easy one

The final comment about the Son of Man coming to seek out and to save the lost points ahead once more – up that steep and dusty road to Jerusalem. We’re almost there. The prophets have spoken of the fate that awaits the ‘son of man’ - Jesus’ preferred term for himself – his cryptic self-designation that hints at his coming suffering and the vindication and God-given authority that follows it.

But his mission is not just to suffer and die – but rather, through that horrific and brutal fate, to search out and rescue the lost sheep. So we see him continuing to spend time with sinners (incurring the respectable people’s anger) – and then dying amongst robbers and brigands; a Son being sacrificed with no-one this time to tell the executioners to stop.  Can you hear echoes of other, older stories? Remember the story of Abraham and Isaac? (Genesis 22) “Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said ‘Abraham, Abraham’ And he said ‘here I am’. The angel said  ‘Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only so from me.”

And then John 3: 16? (We know this verse don’t we – but listen to it on the heels of what I just read): “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”

The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. “Hallelujah” – as the old chapel hymn goes – “what a Saviour” Amen

Let’s pray:

Lord Jesus we want to know you for ourselves. Please come to our house today – come into my life today and make yourself at home. And if there’s anything I need to be doing to show that your grace has made a difference to my life, then help me to be brave enough to do it – because that relationship with you is so much more important and substantial than anything else. Thank you Lord. Amen.