Rev. Kenneth M. Locke; Interim Pastor
Orchard Park Presbyterian Church; Carmel, IN
Do you ever feel pessimistic about the future? Like, there’s no hope? It’s never going to get better, only worse. Our world, our country, home life, personal life – all are on the downhill slide and nothing can change it.
If so, have courage. Our Scripture speaks to that.
Jesus is on the move. He’s heading for Jerusalem. He’s heading for Jerusalem where he will enter like a king and within a few days be crucified. Jesus is heading for Jerusalem, but first he wants to speak to a man named Zacchaeus.
Zacchaeus is a chief tax collector. We’ve talked about this before. It’s hard to overemphasize how despised, how hated a chief tax collector would have been. Tax collectors worked for the Romans which made them enemies of their own people. They made their money by overcharging. Zacchaeus is a traitor and a thief. He’s also very rich.
Riches are not a blessing in Luke’s gospel. They’re more like a curse. Jesus pronounces woes on the rich. The rich farmer, who wants to tear down his barns and build back bigger, is called a fool. When the rich man and poor Lazarus die, Lazarus goes to heaven but the rich man burns in hell. Jesus says it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to be saved. In Luke’s gospel, riches are not a sign of God’s favor. The rich are often the target of Jesus’ disdain.
Zacchaeus is a chief tax collector and he is rich. No one likes Zacchaeus. He is despised by everyone in Jericho. But Jesus wants to talk to him.
Zacchaeus is also short. He can’t see over the crowd. He can’t make his way to the front. But he really, really wants to see Jesus. And so, Zacchaeus runs up ahead of Jesus and climbs a tree with low-hanging branches.
Can you hear the crowd snickering? Can you hear their muffled laughter and whispered comments? “There goes squatty body! Little Z-Man! Someone help him up into that tree.”
Zacchaeus knows what the people are saying. He knows he looks ridiculous. But he doesn’t care. He wants to see Jesus. More than anything, he wants to see Jesus. And Jesus wants to see him.
Jesus stops. “Zacchaeus, get down here. I’m having lunch at your house.” Zacchaeus comes down and immediately changes. He becomes a new man. His old habits are gone and his new behavior sets a towering example. “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.” (v. 8)
Wow, what a change. Even Jesus remarks on it. “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” (v. 9)
Our lesson today is good news. Good News! A camel can’t go through the eye of a needle but God can lead anyone, even a rich person, to salvation. Jesus’ ministry is not limited to the few. It’s also for Zacchaeus, and all of us. Zacchaeus thought he was seeking Jesus, but in reality Jesus was seeking him. All along, Jesus was looking for Zacchaeus, just as he is looking for us.
Our lesson today is good news. It reminds us God is active. In the world, in our country, in our home lives and personal lives, God is active. The power of God is out there. And no one is beyond God’s reach. Not even Zacchaeus. Not even us.
Beloved, when pessimism starts to be your constant companion, stop. Look around. And have courage. Courage! God is on the move. God is doing great things.
This is how much God loves us. Thanks be to God. Amen.
