A tale of two sinners - Luke19:1-10
This is the holiday season.
Who likes self-catering or camping - bed and Breakfast - half Board - All inclusive?
Jesus offers us hospitality and His offer is always All Inclusive.
He wants to take care of us which is completely summed up in the last verse of our Reading - he "came to seek and save the lost"
How we respond to His offer is what matters.
So, who was Zacchaeus?
We know he was not only a tax collector, but a chief tax-collector.
Now tax men have never had a good reputation.
There is a story told of a bartender. He was big and strong and had been a champion wrestler. He would put a squeezed lemon on the bar and offer £1,000 to anyone who could squeeze another drop out of the lemon. Many tried and all failed until one day a puny little man came into the bar and said that he could do it. Everyone laughed but let him have a go. He took the lemon and squeezed it and to everyone's surprise out came six more drops. "how did you manage that?" they said. He replied "Well you see I work for the Inland Revenue".
We joke about it but we shouldn't mind paying our lawful taxes. The trouble with the system in the time of Jesus was that the Romans were in charge of imposing taxes and put local people in place to collect them. They not only took the taxes but added what they liked on top to pocket for themselves. They were hated and despised by both the Romans and the Jews. When they came to John the Baptist he told them not to take more than they were ordered to.
He was a small but important, wealthy man yet we hear that actually ran ahead and climbed a tree - very undignified things to do for a Jewish man in his position. He was so keen to see Jesus for himself that he was willing to become childlike in his approach to Jesus. Jesus said anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”Zacchaeus was willing to swallow his pride and come in humility to receive from Jesus.
When I looked at the account of Zacchaeus I couldn't help comparing his response with that of another man who also came to see Jesus, We hear of him in the previous chapter - the man we have come to call The rich Young ruler.
His approach to Jesus was so different. He comes to Jesus face to face and asks "What must I do?" A reminder of when Jesus came to wash Peter's feet who said "No never" - an unwillingness to submit to do things Jesus' way. We sometimes sing "I surrender all", but do we truly mean it? We want to do things "My way".
One of the biggest barriers to us receiving the fullness of life in Christ which he offers is our pride and stubbornness.
The Message account of this story says that Zacchaeus wanted desperately to see Jesus. He knew there was something missing in his life and that Jesus was the answer. We all need to come to that point in our lives and in our Christian walk where we only want to do what He would have us do. To get nearer to his goal he climbed the tree. Sometimes we climb trees metaphorically to hide or run away, but Zacchaeus was there for a better view of Jesus. Sometimes we do need a better view or vision of Jesus' plans and purposes for us and need to put ourselves in a place where we can do just that. How desperate are we for Jesus?
And all the time Jesus was looking for him.- the seeker becomes the sought after.
Jesus calls him by name. How did he know? Jesus calls each one of us by name and it's how we respond that matters.
So Jesus calls to Zacchaeus to come down and invites Himself to his house. And his response is immediate. He came down at once and welcomed Him gladly. When Jesus calls each one of us by name it's best to come to Him quickly - He has so much to offer. How different is the response of the Rich Young Ruler. We hear that, because Jesus invitation included putting Him first in his life instead of doing it his way, he went away. It was with a heavy heart because he probably knew what he was missing.
When Zacchaeus comes he comes in repentance. He literally puts his money where his mouth is. He went beyond what the Law decreed in reparation. He knew he was a sinner who needed forgiveness and the new life which Jesus could offer. We have learned from our studies in James that faith without deeds is not real faith at all. He was rich in the worlds eyes but was willing to become poor for the sake of the Gospel.In revelation the word to the Church in Laodicea was 'You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich;'. As a Church we must know where our security is.
Jesus calls us by name to come and feast with Him. He stands at the door and knocks and if we open we change from being the host to being the guest because we have to be humble enough to recognise our need to be forgiven and receive from Him. He is like the chef who comes and cooks for us in our own homes.
It's up to us how we receive Him and each one of us has to make that decision for ourselves. Do we give him a Zacchaeus reception and welcome him gladly and enter into the joy of His salvation. Or do we give Him a young ruler reception and say "Not today thanks. I'd rather do things my way". And go away with a heavy heart.
Let's just see what's on the menu and what we would be rejecting.
Our riches in Jesus - The feast to which he invites us
Forgiveness of sins
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace . Ephesians 1:7
New life
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that youmay know thatyouhave eternal life. 1John 5:13
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
Abundant- I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (Msg)
Every spiritual blessing
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3
All our needs
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
It was remarked of the early Christians that "they had been with Jesus"
When we receive good news we want to share it. New life in Jesus is the best news we can have and yet we keep it to ourselves.
Jesus offer to us is always All Inclusive.
Do we really want that?
Do we prefer to do a bit of self-catering from time to time because we prefer to do it our way?
Do we just want Him round for Sunday lunch and have the rest of the week to ourselves?
I'm greedy for all He will give and he's good company too.
The choice is ours.
It was remarked of the early Christians that it was noted that "they had been with Jesus"
‘Who has ever given to God,that God should repay them?’[k]
36For from him and through him and for him are all things.To him be the glory for ever! Amen.