Transformed 3

Luke 19:7-9

It is difficult to overcome our pasts. Even when we change, when we are transformed into better people, there are those who remember all the mistakes and errors of our ways. In Matthew 6:4 Jesus says, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.”

Zacchaeus was not a prophet, but he was among people who knew him and were perhaps hesitant to accept the change that came over him. What do the people say about Jesus? How does Zacchaeus respond? What is Jesus’ declaration? Why was Jesus there?

Zacchaeus has gone to get a look at the famous teacher, Jesus, and discovered that Jesus wanted to spend some time with him. But this coming together draws some criticism from those who know Zacchaeus. He is labeled a sinner. We know he is a tax collector and these people have a reputation of being corrupt.

But Zacchaeus responds with indignation. He immediately declares that he will give generously to the poor – half his possessions! Then he claims that if he has cheated anyone he will pay back four times the amount.

Zacchaeus is traditionally portrayed as a bad man, a corrupt cheat. But I am struck by his response to what people are saying about him. He acts generously and then says “if I have cheated anybody.” The key word is “if.”

Maybe Zacchaeus is not really a corrupt official. Maybe everyone has the wrong impression of him. Jesus’ words in verse 9, however, seem to support the idea that he was indeed a sinner.

Regardless of who and what Zacchaeus really was, we have two lessons from this passage. The first and primary is that an encounter with Jesus will transform a person. When we come to the table of God and spend time in the presence of the Christ, we are transformed – changed from sinner to saved, from only human to truly holy. No matter what Zacchaeus was before his time with Jesus, he is a compassionate, giving man afterward.

The second lesson is that we have no right to judge the hearts of others. Those who knew Zacchaeus considered him a sinner, and probably continued to do so even after his generous behavior. If he was a sinner before Jesus, he wasn’t after. Would the onlookers accept his transformation?

DAILY CHALLENGE: Can you forgive and forget the past of those you consider “sinners?”

Transformed 2

Luke 19:1-6

Many people are quite enamored by celebrities. They fawn all over them and want to be there when they walk by. They try to snap a quick picture of them or get an autograph. Apparently it was no different in the First Century.

Jesus has garnered a following and some amount of fame and popularity. He is so well known that even wealthy people want to get a look at him.

How is Zacchaeus described? What did he want? How did he achieve this? What did Jesus do? How did Zacchaeus react?

I find the characters of this story interesting. We have Jesus, a teacher and prophet. He is the Son of God, but he is also a local celebrity. The crowds around him have grown as his popularity and fame increases.

Then we have Zacchaeus. He has a bit of fame himself. He is a tax collector, but not just any tax collector, some clerk of the government. He is the chief tax collector. He is wealthy.

This tax collector, a man well known in the area, wants to get a glimpse of a passing celebrity. His desire to see Jesus is so great that he is willing to climb a tree to see the man as he walks past.

But something surprising happens. The famous teacher stops at the tree and looks up. This celebrity, Jesus, wants to have dinner with this tax collector. Zacchaeus has gone to see Jesus, and Jesus – it seems – has come to find Zacchaeus.
And how does Zacchaeus react? He is delighted.

This simple story is one I learned as a child. And I have always felt that the story that was taught implied that Zacchaeus was a bad man. We know he collected taxes and we learn later that others considered him a sinner.

But he climbed a tree to see Jesus. He wanted to get a look at him. He didn’t climb the tree to jeer at Christ, or to spit on him, or to throw things. No, this man was looking for Jesus. And he quickly discovered Jesus was looking for him.

Do we look for Jesus? Are we seeking out the Christ? Do we want an encounter with the Lord, or would we rather hide in the crowd and remain anonymous?

Zacchaeus sought and found the Lord, and then discovered that Jesus was ready to encounter him. If we look for Jesus – if we try to understand the teachings of Christ found in the Bible, if we try to live the way we believe Jesus wants – we may find that Jesus is seeking an encounter with us too. Will we welcome that encounter gladly, as Zacchaeus did?

DAILY CHALLENGE: What trees do you need to climb to find Jesus?