Little man in a tree

Luke 19:9-10 Jesus said to him, “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 the lost.”

Zacchaeus was a traitor.  In the occupied nation of Israel, he chose to work for the enemy, the occupying force, exacting taxes from his countrymen.  The people hated tax collectors like him, and from his testimony, he was hardly upright even in siding with the Romans.  He ripped people off.

When Jesus came to his neighborhood, Zacchaeus climbed a tree to get a view of the prophet as he passed.  He did not call out to Jesus, but Jesus called out to him, singling him out for a home visit (yes, Dr. Jesus makes house calls).  We don’t have the conversation recorded between them but if one questions the art and need for compassionate, confidential confrontation and counsel (hey look, 4 C’s) in ministry just know Jesus did it regularly.

As a result, Zacchaeus emerged from it promising to repay anything he had stolen times four (that would be good interest on one’s money) and to give half of his possessions to the poor.  He became thumbs up to the rich young ruler’s thumbs down (see Luke 18:18ff) regarding surrendering his goods to follow Jesus. 

Those looking on scoffed at the idea of Jesus visiting the short man, calling him a “sinner” due to his occupation and practice.  They were right.  Yet, Jesus’ statement that salvation had come to his house (a pun really because Jesus’ name means “Salvation”) and that he too was a son of Abraham advances a proposition that no one, NO ONE is excluded or shunned from saving grace.  His statement that He came to save the lost goes perfectly with his initiating street-to-tree contact with Zacchaeus from the outset.  It was intentional and absolutely consistent with His purpose.

Who do I exclude, calling names and placing him or her outside grace?  I’m dead wrong when I do that, because Jesus calls such a person out of their perch and into love.  What group does culture or political tribe say is untouchable by grace?  Dead wrong again, that group is the target and early recipients of grace.

How can we (and I) change from an individual who came into Christ as a beggar for mercy turn into a judge and/or soldier keeping people out of our bunker and inner circle?  We have no basis for exclusive pride, but only thanksgiving, because:

Romans 5:8 … God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

There are neither gradients nor varieties of sin in that verse because without Christ, we are Zacchaeus up in a tree.

Saving a miser from misery

Luke 19:9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

The people of Israel hated tax collectors, who worked for the occupying Romans. Not only were they compromised in their loyalty, but they used their power to extort more money than was truly owed. Everyone knew they were thieves, also.

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, so we can imagine, though not told, of a pyramid scheme of graft he utilized to acquire great wealth. He was also of short stature, such that when Jesus came by, he had to climb a tree in order to see. It must have been startling to hear Jesus tell him to get down because he had to spend the day at his house. Startling and scandalous, because to visit someone like that was thought to be an endorsement of their life and practices, perhaps to curry favor or gain wealth for oneself.

But Jesus had other plans. We do not know the conversation, but Zacchaeus emerged from their time together joyfully repentant. He would restore four times what he had gained illegally and give a full half of his wealth to the poor. In a short time he went from miser to benefactor.

Jesus’ proclamation that “salvation has come to this house” could have been seen as a pun, since Jesus’ own name – Yeshua – means salvation. But more vital is his inclusion of Zacchaeus as a son of Abraham. His restoration was something Jesus needed to accomplish that day.

So, do I look on crooks in high places with a condemning heart? It is certainly in vogue these days to do so. Are they hopelessly doomed to be bound in their own greed and pride? Or do I see the will of God that salvation would come to their house? Oh, let me drink that spirit in! Let me be strengthened with such grace that I could see my very oppressors saved, smiling and generously loving where before they were only using me and others like me. Is this enabling? Is it making myself vulnerable to new and even worse hurt? Not if my steps are ordained by the Lord.

Let me have a prophetic glimpse of what it means to include the wayward despot among the people of God. Let me make sure that person knows s/he is welcome in the family, that there is no condemnation awaiting his/her coming clean and coming to faith. And let me spend time as Jesus did, compelled to speak life to the cold and dead.

Roger Daltry sang the word “No one knows what it’s like to be the sad man, to be the bad man, behind blue eyes. No one knows what it’s like to be hated, to be fated to telling only lies.” Indeed. And no one knows what it’s like when salvation comes to his house.