Diocese of Norwich
Lent Appeal 2015
Bible Studies:
“Encounters with Jesus
in the Holy Land”
Study 5
Zacchaeus
Luke 19 :1-10
by the Archdeacon of Norfolk, the Ven. Steven Betts
Participants’ Notes
Jericho is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world (over 11,000 years). It is also one of the lowest inhabited places, hundreds of feet below sea level. It is in a green and fertile area, indeed the word Jericho means ‘City of Palms.’ The city is about 30 miles from Jerusalem and is been overseen by the Palestinian Authority although there has been argument (as in other places) concerning the ownership of land between Israeli and Palestinian communities. Jericho is a town which Jesus knew well. It was in Jericho that Jesus healed Bartimaeus and dined with Zacchaeus. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was also the setting for Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan.
In the opening verse of the passage we are told that Jesus entered the city (which was ancient in His day) and, before long, he was seen by Zacchaeus who must have been one of the most unpopular men of the city. Those who work for HMRC nowadays are often teased, but 2000 years ago, the tax collectors of first century Palestine were despised. They were considered to be a symbol of the occupying Romans and were often deeply dishonest. It is not surprising that Zacchaeus was very rich indeed, especially as Luke reports for us that he was a chief tax collector.
Zacchaeus was a short man (Luke the physician often records physical attributes) and cannot see what all the fuss is about, and so climbs a sycamore tree, growing in this verdant place. It is Jesus who speaks first to Zacchaeus rather than the other way round and so there is an ambiguity as to who is seeking whom. Is Zacchaeus trying to find this man Jesus whom he has heard so much about, or is this another episode in which Jesus is seeking out the marginalised and the despised in society?
Jesus invites himself to Zacchaeus’ home, who gladly responds to this new house guest. Imagine the scene, Zacchaeus above in the tree, Jesus on the ground – the two men look at each other, what might have passed through Zacchaeus’ mind? What would the crowd have thought? They too wanted to see Jesus, to listen to him, even to follow him, yet it's this small, unpopular man who gets the home visit. The general murmur of disapproval is not surprising and yet this is so reminiscent of other incidents or parables told by Jesus and which turn the expected order
Prayer
Jesus Christ, teacher and healer,
you heard the cry of the blind beggar
when others would have silenced him.
Teach us to be persistent in prayer
and give us courage to ask plainly
what we need from you.
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
upside-down, not least the Good Samaritan when again the most unpopular (the Samaritan) became the hero.
Zacchaeus responds to Jesus’ invitation spiritually (welcoming him) but practically too by acts of repentance. Zacchaeus tries to put things right in his own life by giving away that which no doubt he held most dear – money. Half of his money he gives away and then offers to compensate those he has defrauded, and all without the intervention of any financial regulators! This turning from the old to the new causes Jesus to announce salvation and inclusion as a son of Abraham so that, like Abraham, Zacchaeus will teach his household to keep to the way of the Lord.
This incident closes with a statement about the Son of Man who has come to seek and to save what is lost, which reflects earlier accounts in Luke’s Gospel of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost (Prodigal) son. The account of Zacchaeus’ conversion is also another financially related account provided to us by the Gospel writer. Immediately following this passage is the parable of the Ten Pounds, and elsewhere (amongst others) we have the Rich Ruler, the Rich Man and Lazarus, and the Rich Fool. Indeed in the New Testament the use of money is a profoundly biblical principle which will make some uneasy, just as it would have done to those who heard Jesus’ teaching.
The Walls of Jericho fell during the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 6) and conflicts have continued at times in the city’s history. 20 years ago it was a place which pilgrim groups avoided because of violent clashes. Given its location, Jericho is now a relatively calm place although nowhere near as wealthy as in the time of Jesus. For example, there is a relatively new social services centre for the disabled opened in 2012 and funded by the Italian Government with the aim of ‘Vision: disabled people in Jericho have the rights to obtain all services and equity with all citizens.’
You can find out more about present day Jericho by visiting: and navigating via the ‘site map’
or
Luke 19:1-10
19Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.’6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’
8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, ‘Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.’
9Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.
Questions:
If we put ourselves in first century Jericho, where would you have been – in the crowd, climbing a tree to get a better look, or disapproving like the religious authorities of the time?
Zacchaeus had no doubt worked hard to become a wealthy man. What is it that we hold most dear?
Is there anything which we as Christians need to repent of and offer restitution for?
Who are we happy to welcome into our homes – physically and spiritually?
Given the many references to money in St. Luke’s Gospel, do we have a healthy attitude to our financial resources as individuals and as a Church?
The traditional site of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness is near to Jericho. What are the temptations we face in our age?
A journey from Jerusalem to Jericho brings to mind the parable of the Good Samaritan. Who might we most naturally identify with?
Do our churches erect inappropriate walls which separate them from their communities?
For further reflection and thought:
Jericho has been fought over many times through the generations. How much do you know about that ancient city and its people?
Pray for the healing of divisions in the Holy Land, especially between people of different allegiances and backgrounds.
A controversial political question for us would be to contrast first century and 21st century Jericho. In both places there were or are allegations around occupation and whose land the city is built on. How much are we prepared to seriously address questions of justice in the Land which we call Holy?
Bartimaeus threw away his cloak/blanket and sprang up and came to Jesus. Are there things which we need to throw away, in order to be ready to follow Jesus? If we allow Jesus to open our eyes fully, what change might that require of us?
What prevents us from seeing Jesus? What are our own blind spots? How might we begin to achieve 20:20 vision in our Christian lives?
What does Bartimaeus’ story teach us/encourage us to do this Lent? How will we seize the opportunity this Lent?
Bartimaeus was specific in his request of Jesus. How can we be more ‘specific’ in our engagement with God?
The Lent Appeal 2015 seeks to raise fund for and awareness of the crucial work of supplying urgent medical help in Palestine. How can the work
going on there inform our own Christian discipleship?