Zacchaeus – a New Calling Luke 19: 1-10 Page 968

Jericho and Zacchaeus Jericho was destroyed by the Israelites under Joshua (Joshua 6:20) Rebuilt by Herod the Great as a site for his winter palace. City of palms (Deuteronomy 34:3) 15 miles north east of Jerusalem, on trade routes north and south, and east and west Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector for the occupying Roman rulers; unpopular with local Jews

Zacchaeus meets Jesus Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore-fig tree because he was short Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (v5)

Jesus eats with Zacchaeus The crowd grumbled, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner” (v7) “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2)

Zacchaeus’ Change of Heart “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.” (v8) Old Testament law required repayment for a wrong plus one fifth (Numbers 5:7) Zacchaeus’ response was in contrast to the rich ruler that Jesus had encountered only a short while before (Luke 18:18-25)

What are the barriers for us to come to Jesus? A crowd? Too many people between us and Jesus? A perceived limitation? Consider ourselves as outcasts? Something we are ashamed of? What is the tree you need to climb to see Jesus?

Jesus’ Response “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (v9- 10) Jesus welcomes Zacchaeus’ household into salvation also “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

Wider Impact Not only did Zacchaeus’ conversion benefit him and his household, it benefitted wider society The poor benefitted immediately Those he had cheated benefitted from the generous repayment Future tax collecting collected only what was due to Caesar

Our Response from Encountering Jesus What to we say, like Zacchaeus, “today, from this day forward, I will live in the following manner” “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12- 13) “As a prisoner for the Lord, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1)

Ephesians 4 from The Message (extracts) “In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do, I want you to get out there and walk – better yet, run! – on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. Don’t take such a gift for granted.”

Our Calling How we each respond to Jesus will vary. We have different personalities, histories and gifts, and are at different stages of life. Could we articulate, like Zacchaeus, how Jesus is calling us to live? In uncertainty, help is available. God answers our prayers, and we can encourage and support each other.

Our Opportunity Jesus seeks and saves the lost, and calls us to a new way of life. Our new calling addresses all areas of our life: work, family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, and both local and global citizenship. Our encounter with Jesus changes us, just as it changed Zacchaeus.