Yet the story of Zacchaeus has so many truths for us to learn. I hope you don’t mind, but I am going to take a little poetic license to understand Zac. What we know for certain is he was a “wee little man,” that means he was really short if you missed the subtle hint from the song. And he was not only a tax collector, but the Chief tax collector.
As the chief we know he was powerful and most likely hated by the Jews because of his position and sympathies toward Rome.
Not to be offensive to anyone who happens to be vertically challenged, but we might suppose that Zac had the “Napoleon complex” or “little man’s syndrome.” I picture a man who felt the need to overcompensate for his physical stature by pursuing the most powerful position he could get. Like the kid on the playground that was always picked last for the team grows up to be the owner of a ball club so he could boss the superior athletes around. That may not be a true depiction of Zac, but that’s how I envision this guy.
In my mental picture of this story, Buddy the Elf would describe Zac as “an angry South Pole elf.” I see a man mad at the world who thought he got the raw end of the deal. He gained power, and then extorted more money from the people just because he could. He built himself an empire. Yet he was alone.
Loneliness has a way of eating at our souls. The first thing God said that was not good was for man to be alone, and He said this before the Fall, before sin entered the world. He said that because we are wired for relationships, for community. And Zac’s anger and bitterness led him to power and aloneness.
Until one day he hears news that a great Rabi, teacher, is coming to town. This Jesus has performed many miracles that he has heard about. He heard about demons being cast out, the blind receiving their site, the sick healed and the dead raised back to life! Could it be that He may be able to work a miracle in Zac’s life. Maybe make him taller, or give him friends? Thinking Jesus is something like a Genie in a Bottle.
So you think that is a ridiculous assertion? Really? How many of you have glasses and sometimes wake up first thing in the morning and say, “dear God I know you could heal my eyes if you really wanted to!” Or the moment you feel sick you pray for the miracle cure immediately. Or...you name it, you know your heart better then I do. We love ourselves so much that we want what is best for us. You might whisper it in a prayer or speak it in a wish, but to be certain, if you could improve anything about yourself miraculously you’d have a list!
At the news of Jesus’ arrival, Zac does what every business man of his stature would NOT do...he ran! In that culture, the more important you were the more people would wait on you. Running is what the servants would do, not the masters. And Zac ran.
Than Zac couldn’t see because of his size. So what’s he do? Does he command everyone to move or else he would raise their taxes? Nope! He looks around, sees the nearest tree and runs and climbs it! Now that would be a site to see! A Bill Gates type climbing a tree to see an itinerate preacher man!
It’s here that the story amazes me. What happens next should warm your heart, should capture your mind and excite your inner most being! In this vast crowd of people clamoring down the way, Jesus SEES Zac up in the tree! I can imagine what Zac was thinking as their eyes met. How many times had Zac tried to see things in the past when the important guys saw him and made fun of him. Shoved him in a locker, put him in a trash can or just simply called him out in front of the crowd to humiliate him. All Zac wanted to do is see and hear the preacher man and now it’s going to happen all over again.
Yet that is not what happened! Instead Jesus pays Zac the highest of compliments. First He sees Zac, then He calls him down and says “I must go to your house!” “Hey Zac my friend! I want to hangout with you tonight!” Zac goes from expecting ridicule to receiving highest honors! It was such a distinct difference from the norm that Zac’s entire life was changed! He gave Zac community, friendship and a new sense of belonging. Zac was no longer alone!
We don’t know what Jesus said to Zac, we don’t know what sermon He might have preached to him. What we do know is how Zac changed from being with Jesus. Zac stands up and proclaims his new faith in a tangible way! Because of being with Jesus Zac wants to pay back everyone he defrauded! He wants to give to anyone he mistreated! He wants to reflect the generosity of his Savior!
Jesus didn’t declare Zac saved because Zac did these things. Zac believed in Jesus and his heart was changed. The saving faith was evidenced by the thief turned giver!
Jesus tells us in John 15 that when we hangout with Him we will become like Him. We won’t change on our own power but we will change from His presence. Jesus came to love you and change you. He sees you and calls out to you! He also came for that mean girl at school. He came for that self obsessed guy on your team. He came for the one you would think is very unlikely! Jesus changed Zac and He can change them. Spend time with Jesus today and look for ways to share Him with someone!
No comments:
Post a Comment