Zacchaeus

Today's lectionary passage is another very familiar story.  We are told about Zacchaeus, a tax collector who is wealthy and hated by his community as he represents the Roman Empire.  For some reason he wants to see Jesus as Jesus is leaving Jericho on his way to Jerusalem.  But Zacchaeus doesn't want to be seen by his neighbors.  He runs ahead, climbs a tree and hides.  Kenneth Baily in "Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes" writes about this parable.  In his book, Kenneth Baily compares the story of Jesus healing the blind man as he enters Jericho to this story of Zacchaeus meeting Jesus as he leaves Jericho.  During that comparison, he tells us that Middle Eastern men do not run and do not climb trees.  He compares Jesus' interaction with Zacchaeus, an oppressor working for the Roman Empire to his healing the blind man, an oppressed person, which occurred as Jesus is entering Jericho.  So why did Zacchaeus, a rich middle eastern man, run ahead and hide in a tree.  Maybe, because even as an agent of Rome and an oppressor of others in his town, he wanted to experience Jesus for himself.  When Jesus walks underneath the tree, he calls up to Zacchaeus and tells him to come down and prepare for Jesus' visit.  Zacchaeus doesn't go up to Jesus and invite him in.  Jesus invites himself in.  But we learn Zacchaeus is thrilled, he climbs right down and proceeds to tell Jesus he will give half of his wealth to the poor and repay anyone he cheated 4 times the amount.  The locals grumble because Jesus is staying at the home of a "sinner".  Jesus must have heard these grumblings but he tells Zacchaeus and all of the town people that Zacchaeus is saved and declares him a son of Abraham.   

 

Just before this story of Zacchaeus obtaining salvation, in Luke 18:18-31, we read about the rich young man who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.  You remember this story.  It reads: 

"A certain ruler asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?' Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good?  No one is good but God alone.  You know the commandments: You will not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.'  He replied, 'I have kept all these since my youth.'  When Jesus heard this, he said to him, 'There is still one thing lacking.  Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come follow me.'  But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich.  Jesus looked at him and said, 'How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.'

 

"Those who heard it said, 'Then who can be saved?'  He replied, 'What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.'" 

     

So we see the rich young man has followed all of the laws his whole life. But Jesus tells him that he must do more.  Jesus tells him to sell all he has, give it to the poor and then follow him.  The rich man, distressed by this, walks away sorrowfully.  Jesus then tells the famous parable:  it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

      

Why is the outcome for Zacchaeus so different than the outcome for the "rich young man"?  There are a lot of similarities to me.  Both are rich and both are seeking answers.  I am really guessing here but given their juxtaposition maybe we are meant to think about these different outcomes.

   

SO let's compare them and think about the differences. 

    

Both the passage about Zacchaeus and the story of the rich young man seem to be about wealth and its detriment to salvation.  The rich young man finds his riches are a barrier to following Jesus.  While Zacchaeus uses some his riches to help the poor after his encounter with Jesus.   

 

The rich young man seems to think that following all the laws is enough. Why should he do more?  Zacchaeus obviously does not follow all of the commandments.  But when Jesus crashes his home, Zacchaeus is thrilled and volunteers to support the needy and repay those he has wronged before being asked.     

 

Each character has a choice.  The rich young man is offered an invitation to change but falters due to his possessions.  Zacchaeus, even as a sinner, doesn't need to be told he should give to the poor.  He offers to give half of his wealth to the poor and make restitution to those he cheated before being directed to do it by Jesus.  He embraces Jesus.  Jesus never tells him what he must do to obtain salvation.  He acts and Jesus then tells him that he is saved.

  

We see very different outcomes for both of these men.  The rich young man leaves Jesus despondent and without eternal life because he is unwilling to give to the needy and change his life.  Zacchaeus after the joy of being called by Jesus received salvation and Jesus declared him a son of Abraham.

  

I think these two stories remind us that finding Jesus and understanding his message about God is not only open to a select few, who follow some arbitrary set of laws and rituals; It is that God's love is available to all people no matter their race, religion, or economic status who seek God and act.

Thank you for listening.