Out on a Limb
A Sermon on Luke 19:1-10
As the story goes, a man had fallen between the rails in a subway station. The people were all crowding around trying to get him out before a train ran him over. “Give me your hand, give me your hand!” they shouted. But for all their effort, the man would not reach up.
Joe managed to push his way to the front of the crowd. “Friend, what is your profession?” he asked.
“Income tax inspector,” he replied.
“In that case,” Joe said, “Take my hand!” The man immediately grasped Joe’s hand and was pulled to safety. The bystanders were all amazed. Joe turned to them and explained, “Never ask a tax man to give you anything.”
Today we will meet a first century tax man who wasn’t in the habit of giving anything. ‘Taking’ was his specialty – and it had made him quite wealthy.
As we turn to the nineteenth chapter of Luke’s gospel, we find there the story of Zacchaeus. If you have your Bibles with you, and you haven’t already, please turn there with me.
Zacchaeus the Outcast:
Go out on a limb
Beginning at verse one, we read:
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. (Luke 19:1-4, NIV)
Chief Tax Collector
Who is Zacchaeus? We are told he was a chief tax collector. This is the only place we see this term – chief tax collector. It is assumed that he oversaw the other tax collectors in Jericho, so he got an extra cut before sending the money on to Rome. Jericho was a busy trade route between Jerusalem and the East and a well-known toll place in Palestine. It was, as some have said, “a good spot for a tax man.”
Not a popular guy
Despite the great wealth the position afforded Him, a tax man was not someone people wanted to hang out with. He wasn’t a particularly popular guy. Who really wants to hang out with the IRS? They might find something else to tax. And in Rome it was even more true – because the business was much more personal. Your tax rate depended to a large degree on the greed of the tax collector, because his income was based on how much extra he collected.
Beatles: Taxman
It was kind of like that Beatles’ song:
Let me tell you how it will be;
There’s one for you, nineteen for me.
‘Cause I’m the taxman.
If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street
If you try to sit, I’ll tax your seat
If you get too cold, I’ll tax the heat
If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet
‘Cause I’m the taxman
It may seem like that is true today, but how much more so in the first century. The IRS manages to take a lot of our money, but at least our accountants try to work on our behalf and find us all the right deductions.
Tax collectors and sinners
In Rome, you couldn’t have much pity on the tax man, because the position was one you bought. He was already rich, and he threw his relationships away for more money. People thought so little of tax collectors that three times Luke uses the phrase “tax collectors and sinners,” associating them as though they were one and the same. It was understood that if you collected taxes, you were a cheat and a sinner.
But something was happening in the heart of this tax collector named Zacchaeus. He heard about Jesus and wanted just to see him. His curiosity had gotten the best of him. He wondered if there might be more to life, and if maybe, just maybe, this Jesus held the key.
Zach was too short to see over the crowds – and those who noticed his plight weren’t about to give this sinner a spot in front. Though it was a very undignified thing for a grown man to do, Zacchaeus couldn’t let this opportunity pass, so he climbed a tree for better view.
Another man who wanted to see Jesus
Just before Jesus got to Jericho, at the end of chapter 18, he was passing by another place, and a different man wanted to see Jesus. But this man was blind and had been reduced to begging to stay alive. He called out to Jesus, who had mercy on him, and gave him his sight.
While the blind man was very poor, and Zacchaeus was very rich, in some ways, they were very much alike. They both wanted to see Jesus, though in different ways. They were both outcasts in their society. As you read through Luke’s gospel, you see that he has great compassion for the outcast. The blind man was a beggar who was ostracized for his physical condition. He would never be a great man in the eyes of the populace. And neither would Zacchaeus. He was a tax collector for Rome, a traitor in the eyes of the Jews, and a thief to boot.
But both men had heard about Jesus, and couldn’t let the opportunity pass them by without at least trying to get a glimpse of Him.
Are you willing to go out on a limb for Jesus?
Maybe you’ve heard of Jesus, and you’re curious about who He really is. Maybe you’d like to get a better glimpse of Him. Are you willing to go out on a limb to do it?
Zacchaeus did, literally; he forsook his dignity climbing a tree just for a chance to see Jesus. The blind man did, figuratively; he called out loudly for mercy when everyone around him was telling him to be quiet. They were embarrassed by him, but he didn’t care. (Take some time later and go back and read that story at the end of Chapter 18.)
If we’ve never done it before, it can be intimidating to let someone know that we want to know more about Jesus. But if the Holy Spirit is stirring up our heart, and we aren’t willing to admit our curiosity, if not our need, then we may miss an opportunity to see Jesus. There may be other opportunities, and there may not. But if you are curious, today is a good day to go out on a limb.
Zacchaeus the Favored:
Jesus won’t leave you hanging
Now, when Zacchaeus went out on a limb, he was not disappointed. In fact, he was very much surprised at the payoff. I don’t think it was what he expected. We read in verse 5:
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a ’sinner.’" (Luke 19:5-7, NIV)
Zacchaeus had gone from being an outcast in the eyes of the world to being favored in the eyes of the Christ. Zach was well on his way to making his theme song “I Surrender All.” He had already surrendered his dignity, and he was about to surrender a whole lot more.
It is interesting that when Jesus speaks to Zacchaeus, he doesn’t say, “I would like to stay at your house today.” He doesn’t make any part of his statement a question. Instead, it is imperative: “I must stay at your house today.”
You see, I believe that Jesus came that day specifically for Zacchaeus. It was part of His divine mission. Jesus knew Zach’s heart, and he knew that what might have looked like a surprising conversion to some was the end of a battle for Zacchaeus - that had been going on for some time.
I think Jesus loved the outcasts not because they were more pitiable than the rest, but because their circumstances had driven them to yearn for something more. No matter how much they had, they were ready to let go.
While it is true that Jesus begins our relationship by calling to us, He often waits until we have climbed out on the limb in answer to that call - before He sends in the fire truck to get us down.
Praise from God
In John’s gospel (12:42-43) we read that the Pharisees would not confess their faith because they didn’t want to be put out of the synagogue. We are told they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
I think all of us look for a certain amount of praise from men. Sometimes that can keep us from doing what God wants us to do. It can keep us from going out on a limb. It actually kept the Pharisees from confessing their faith. Just think if they, as religious leaders, had confessed - what a difference that would have made.
We certainly don’t like to hear negative comments from the people around us.
This Pastor is a Disaster
One pastor told how he began his appointment at one church at the same time that the church was appealing for aid from victims of a hurricane.
On his first Sunday, the center page of the bulletin was accidentally left out, so as the congregation read from the bottom of page 2 to the top of page 5, it said:
"Welcome to the Rev. Andrew Jensen and his family... the worst disaster to hit the area in this century. The full extent of the tragedy is not yet known."
You can still find praise from God
We can’t always depend on men for praise – and we shouldn’t either. We may not always find praise in God’s eyes either, but at least that is a worthy goal.
Zacchaeus had given up praise from men a long time ago, and he might have even given up on praise from God - but as he climbed out on that branch for a better view, he found out that there was still a chance to be right with God. Jesus took him out of that tree and set his feet on solid ground as He honored him with a visit.
And it was with great joy that Zacchaeus prepared a feast for his guest, though I imagine he probably had his servants do it. After all, if you were that rich, would you give up the chance to sit at Jesus’ feet? Who could blame him for that?
Something had long been stirring in Zaccheaus’ heart. We don’t know exactly what Jesus said as they walked along, and they shared a meal. But I suspect He made some things clear for Zach, and helped him understand both who Jesus was, and who Zacchaeus was to Him.
Jesus Won’t Leave You Hanging
If you are still looking for praise from men, you will have a hard time getting up the tree and out on the limb. But when you don’t care about that anymore, and you start your climb, Jesus won’t leave you hanging.
The people around you may or may not be there to support you. In Zacchaeus’ case, they murmured against Jesus. Now not only was Zacchaeus an outcast in their eyes, but Jesus was too. And I don’t think it bothered either of them a single bit. It had long ago ceased to be about the opinions of men. Something much greater had come along.
Whatever it is in your life that is vying for the attention of men, ask yourself if it’s worth it. Jesus is ready to meet you out there on the limb. After all, He’s the one who’s calling you there in the first place.
Maybe He’s calling you to give up your sin and accept His offer of salvation. Maybe He’s calling you to take a step of faith and trust Him in something that seems impossible. Maybe He’s calling you to get outside of your comfort zone and let His glory be revealed in you.
Whatever limb He has called you to climb, Jesus is ready to catch you and put your feet on the Solid Rock.
Zacchaeus the Saved:
But You Have to Let Go
And when Jesus does that for us, we become changed people. We do things we would have never done before.
Rich ruler (18:22)
It is interesting that this story about Zacchaeus comes about half a chapter after the story of the rich ruler. He asked Jesus how to inherit eternal life. They talked about keeping the commandments, and he claimed he’d already done that – which is more than most people are bold enough to claim. Jesus didn’t dispute him on this point, but simply said,
“"You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Luke 18:22)
The man didn’t want to do what he was told and went away sad. Then Jesus said,
Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Luke 18:25, NIV)
The wealthiest man in Jericho
And then we meet Zacchaeus, the wealthiest man in Jericho. And here is proof that what is impossible with men is indeed possible with God. (Luke 18:27) While it may be difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, Zacchaeus is proof that it is possible.
The difference between these two men is that the rich ruler loved his wealth, but Zacchaeus had found a treasure hidden in a field worth more than all his wealth. Maybe he started collecting taxes because he was in love with money, but his earthly wealth didn’t matter anymore. Not this day. And he declared, reading from verse 8:
"Look, Lord! 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." 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:8-10, NIV)
Attitude of our heart
The rich ruler was told to give it all away and it seems he couldn’t do it. He wasn’t ready for his life to change. Zacchaeus gladly gave half away in response to the joy of his salvation. It isn’t the amount that matters so much to God as it is that attitude of our hearts. And our attitude is revealed in our actions.
As the old saying goes, “The proof of the pudding is the eating.” In other words, it’s the results that count.
Lord Kenneth Clark
Lord Kenneth Clark was internationally known for his TV series Civilization. While he lived and died without faith in Christ, he admitted an overwhelming religious experience in his autobiography.
While visiting a beautiful church, he wrote, “My whole being was irradiated by a kind of heavenly joy far more intense than anything I had known before.” But what he called the “gloom of grace” created a problem for him. If he allowed it to influence him, he knew that he would have to change. He was sure his family would think he had lost his mind. And he was fearful that such intense joy would prove to be an illusion.
His conclusion was, in his own words, “I was too deeply embedded in the world to change course.”
As a tax man, Zacchaeus was embedded in the world. There was probably a time in his life when he loved his money. But when he met Jesus, Zacchaeus knew that it wasn’t an illusion. Yes, he also knew that God’s grace would require him to change, but he didn’t care if people thought he’d lost his mind. Whatever he did from that moment on was for the sake of Christ. He was ready to let go.
The apostle James writes:
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (James 2:18b, NIV)
You Have to Let Go
Yes, God’s grace does require a new way of life. If we keep hanging on to the branch, because we want to be able to climb back to safety, we’ll never know what true safety is in the arms of Christ. Zacchaeus knew that and didn’t hesitate to show how sold out he was for the Kingdom of God. He let go of that branch because he had tasted what Jesus was offering.
According to the Law in Leviticus (6:2-7), if a man cheats another, he is to return the amount he stole plus a fifth and bring a ram to the priest for a guilt offering. Zacchaeus went far above and beyond the call of the Law, offering a fourfold restitution, and half of his possessions to the poor. By his actions, there is no doubt that his heart was repentant about his sin.
He used to count his money and act like Scrooge, taking and keeping all he could get. He probably knew all the laws and loopholes. But in his joy, he doesn’t stop with the required amount. It isn’t just about a guilt offering. It’s a freewill offering – a spontaneous and voluntary sacrifice. So many of the offerings in the Old Testament were about restitution for sin – but the freewill offering was about joy in the Lord. And that is what Zacchaeus is doing here.
He doesn’t give because it’s expected. He gives out of joy.
Grace requires a new way of life
Jesus loves you just as much as He loved Zacchaeus. And He wants to come to your house today too. If you’re waiting for Him in that tree, be prepared not only to be blown away by His grace – if you can ever really be prepared for that – but also to let go of the things that take you away from Him and His service.
God’s grace is free, but when we accept it in faith, we simply cannot keep our old life. When we try to serve our old master too, we quickly find that it doesn’t work. The joy and peace we have been promised evade us because we haven’t really accepted the grace. You have to trade one for the other to get all the benefits.
How many Christians do you know who carry around heavy hearts, saddened faces, and burdens on their shoulders? I don’t mean just from time to time – but as a habit. That rich ruler didn’t know how to let go of his worldly burdens – or didn’t want to – and he walked away sad. Zacchaeus carelessly and joyfully threw it away for the greatest treasure of all. For all that God has done for us, should it not be with joy that we rise up and call Him Lord?
Conclusion:
If you doubt what God wants to do for you, remember that God sent His Son to this earth for one reason – to seek and save the lost.
Why would He do such a thing?
I have a $20-dollar bill here. If I were to ask if anyone wanted it, would any of you accept? Just raise your hand.
(Crumple up the bill, stomp on it, get it dirty.)
Now this $20-dollar bill is crumpled and dirty. It’s been walked on. Does anyone out there still want it? Of course you do – its value hasn’t changed.
Why did Jesus stop under that tree in Jericho and tell Zacchaeus that He was having dinner with him? Because Zacchaeus looked like this money on the outside – all crumpled up and dirty, but Jesus knew that he hadn’t lost his original value. And when Jesus came to seek and save the lost – He did it for the same reason.
Whatever life has thrown at you, no matter how many times you’ve been walked on, no matter how dirty you are – Jesus knows you haven’t lost your original value. He came to find you.
And every day He is calling you to take another step on that path of faith. I’m sorry to say that some of us will probably shake our heads sadly and walk away. But others will respond with joy like Zacchaeus, and start the ride of our life.
So you might as well go out on a limb – maybe that’s asking Jesus to save you – maybe it’s letting him take you to the next level. Either way, He won’t leave you hanging. But He will want you to stretch yourself and be willing to change and let go of whatever prevents you from holding on to Him. And Jesus calls you to do it because He knows you are worth it!
© 11/4/07, Sue Blader
Sources:
1) Bible Works 5, Revision 2, (Bigfork, Montana: Hermeneutika Computer Bible Research Software, 2001).
2) Bruce Ball, Are You Unworthy?, July 2005, http://www.sermoncentral.com/print_friendly.asp?ContributorID=&SermonID=81637 (accessed 9-18-07) - $50 bill illustration
3) Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, Volume 3: Luke, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1974).
4) Our Daily Bread, February 15, 1994 – Lord Kenneth Clark
5) Robert H. Stein, The New American Commentary, Volume 24: Luke, (Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press, 1992).
6) http://www.getamused.com/jokes/029817.html - Tax man at the subway station
7) http://www.wwj.org.nz/laugh.php#00047 – this pastor is a disaster
