Text: Luke 19:1-10
The story of Zacchaeus is a very familiar one. We mostly think of it as a story and a song for children, but it is so much more!
A story of Salvation, one scholar classified it as a miracle story because Zacchaeus was a very wealthy man and according to Jesus the wealthy, are difficult to save.
The Story
The Romans contracted out the collection of certain tolls and tariffs. Those who won the contract had to pay the contract in advance. They would often employ others to collect the tax and inflate the tax for their commission. Zacchaeus was one of these contractors.
Because they were Jews collects taxes for a foreign power, they were despised throughout all the land. In the eyes of devout Jews they were the epitome of a person outside of God’s blessing — tax collectors and sinners.
Meeting Jesus
Something about Jesus’ message and ministry intrigued Zacchaeus. When he heard Jesus was coming his way, he wanted to see him. Since he was a short man he could not see Jesus, so he decided to run on ahead and climb a tree. This probably made the people burst out with laughter. An adult man would never run, and never ever climb a tree. I can imagine the people shaking their heads and rolling their eyes at this blanket blank tax collector.
Jesus surprised them all by calling out to Zacchaeus by name and telling him “I must stay at your house today.”
Zacchaeus was overjoyed but all the other people grumbled because Jesus was going to the home of a tax collector. At one point during the dinner Zacchaeus made some bold statements.
- I give half my goods to the poor – you were considered righteous if you gave 20%
- If I have defrauded anyone I will restore it fourfold – the maximum penalty only required to pay double.
Jesus said, “Today salvation has come to this house.” How did he know? Jesus knew because of Zacchaeus’ reactions:
- He began to value others – the poor
- He confessed, repented and made restitution – as the law said he should
Why do we need a Savior?
Because, as the Bible puts it, we are lost. To be lost is to be spiritually separated from God. We are out of relationship with God. When that primary relationship is wrong it affects every other relationship in our life: spouse, kids, work, self, strangers, creation.
The Bible puts it like this:
[Is 53:6 ESV ] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[Mt 9:36 ESV ] When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve rejected the relationship God offered them, because they didn’t trust God. God had given them everything thing they could ever want and yet they wanted to be their own boss. They got their wish along with all the consequences of their rebellion: estrangement from God, shame, guilt, blaming others, suffering and hardship.
We have continued that pattern. We want a nice life, happiness and fulfillment, but we reject the source of that fulfillment- God himself.
When we are lost, out of relationship with God, we cannot please God. We cannot keep the two most important commandments.
[Mk 12:30-31 ESV ] And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
We can’t love God because we are rebellious, disobedient, self-centered, prideful, ignorant of what God actually wants, materialistic, we have no eternal perspective.
We can’t love our neighbor because we devalue people or label them so they become less than people and we can treat them any way we want. We judge people, exploit and oppress – we use them as things to meet our needs -, ignore them and their situations, push them to the fringes of society and only value people for their abilities or what can do for us.
We are messed up! We are lost! We need a savior! And we cannot fix ourselves!
How does Jesus save us?
Through the cross of Jesus Christ Jesus paid the penalty for our rebellion and disobedience. God created us, gave us life, sustains us and provides for us in every way. When we reject God’s direction for our lives we stand accountable. God is just and righteous so, wrongs must be punished or atoned for.
Jesus paid the penalty for our rebellion. He removed the barrier between us and God and opened the way for us to be reconciled to God.
Jesus rescues us from the consequences of our rebellion. We are rescued from guilt, shame and hell itself.
Jesus saves us by helping us see others as he does (Yes salvation includes this). He helps us see their value, appreciate and care for tem and even love them.
Jesus saves us by giving us a new way to walk and a new power to living for God. through God’s grace and power we can walk as a follower of Jesus Christ, love God with all of our heart mind soul and strength, love our neighbor as ourselves and make the right choices.
Zacchaeus and us
Zacchaeus was an outcast; someone who others believed was outside the grace of God.
On that fateful day, Jesus went to his house and his life and destiny was completely changed. Jesus showed him that although others considered him an outcast, Jesus would make a way for him to be reconciled to his God. His heart was so changed that he repented and made restitution, in that very moment.
But, what about you? For all of those who have not committed their lives to Jesus Christ, you are an outcast. Not because of someone’s opinion of you, but because of your own rebellion and disobedience. Because you refuse to honor God and love your neighbor, you are lost, separated from God – even though you may sit in church week after week.
But there is good news. Jesus wants to go home with you today. Through his cross Jesus paid the penalty for all of your rebellion and opened the way for you to reconciled back to God. That reconciliation changes everything. It changes: the way you see God, the way you see others, the way you see yourself.
Jesus is Savior and he wants to save you today.