Looking Up Without Looking In
Let’s look at two Biblical stories; one is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 19 verses 1-10 and it is about about a man that went up to see Jesus, and the other is also found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 5 verses 16-26, and it is about a man who came down to see Jesus. In both cases, their eyes were completely on the Lord, they were not looking inward other than desiring a drastic change in their lives. Let’s read Luke chapter 19:1-10:
What can we learn from Zacchaeus? We know very little about him. This is the only mention of him in Scripture. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem for the last time. He was passing through Jericho, an historic Biblical city 7 miles away. When we were in the Holy land, we were unable to go to Jericho as today it is Palestinian controlled. We could see the city in the distance as we passed by. It is located at the bottom of the mountain leading up to Jerusalem, somewhat near the River Jordan, and it is a steep climb. Jesus was passing through with no agenda, no miracles planned, and no stops for teaching. I’m sure His mind was on the upcoming week and all He would endure. But then Scripture tells us Zacchaeus “sought to see Jesus.” He ran ahead, went way out of his way, for it was important to him that he be in the very presence of Jesus. Because he was short in stature, he ran ahead and climbed a tree so he could see Jesus passing by. In my younger days I remember climbing a tree to watch the Rose Parade. I had a perfect, albeit a little uncomfortable, vantage point. I could see everything as the parade was approaching and after it passed by. Zacchaeus had the same seat, although he watched something much better than the Rose Parade. He found a Sycamore tree along the way. These can be tall trees, some over 100 feet, and the name ‘Sycamore’ can refer to other trees as well. It is a generic word for a sturdy tree with low spreading branches. And Zacchaeus found one of the low branches and waited for Jesus. So I guess you can say Zacchaeus went out on a limb for Jesus. Do we?
Knowing that Jesus was going to pass by, he waited patiently in the tree. And when Jesus came to the place, he said to Zacchaeus, “Come down from the tree quickly.” Jesus sought out and was merciful to Zacchaeus in spite of the fact that he was the chief publican. I mentioned last week as we were reading from the Gospel of Matthew who also was a publican, they were tax collectors for the Roman government. They were normally Jews who had sold themselves out to the Romans for their own profit. They were considered to be renegades, who sold their services to the foreign oppressor to make money at the expense of their own countryman. This work gave them opportunities to take advantage of the people. In collecting taxes often they had cheated the people, taking much more than was required. This extra money was used for their own gain. No one liked a tax collector but because of their dishonesty they were hated. However, Zacchaeus was not only a tax collector but the chief tax collector, so he was likely hated even more. Tax collectors were mentioned in one breath with sinners. The phrase, publicans and sinners, occurs eight times in the gospels.
Back to the story – this the only time we find in the Gospels that Jesus invites himself over to someone’s house, for He said, “Today I must stay at your house.” What a thrill and what a stress builder all at once! First, Zacchaeus will have the opportunity to spend time alone with the Son of God, but second, Jesus is going to see his house. What if Jesus were to come into our houses, what would He find? Guess what, He already knows. Zacchaeus didn’t even have time to dust or make the bed.
Scripture then says Zacchaeus came down and was immediately filled with joy to be in the very presence of Jesus. And then the people started to complain, both the religious rulers and the common people, because Zacchaeus was a tax collector, a sinner. Why would Jesus choose him? Think about the ministry of Jesus and His teachings. He loved being around genuine people who were sinners, he despised being with the elite, hypocritical religious rulers of the day.
Zacchaeus confesses that he has done wrong with a repentant heart; that he is making restitution by giving half of what he has to the poor and repaying those he has stolen from four times the amount stolen. Jewish law required repayment of one or two fold, but Zacchaeus gave back fourfold. This is an important act. He was not saved because of his works, but because of his faith. His restitution was a result of his conversion. No longer did his material wealth matter, he had gained incomprehensible spiritual riches that were far more valuable.
And Jesus says to the people that Zacchaeus has been saved and has received salvation. And that the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.
The second story involves a man who was paralyzed. This account is in Luke 5:16-26, and it is also recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. We don’t know the man’s name, but we do know about his faith in Jesus. Let’s read:
At the start of this story, we are once again reminded that Jesus took time to go off by himself, alone and pray. This is such an important lesson for us.
Afterwards, on a certain day, the Pharisees and teachers of the law were armed for bear, and they had come from every town from Jerusalem to Galilee. Every town within 120 miles! This gathering took place on the northern part of the Sea of Galilee in Capernaum, most likely in the home of the disciple Peter. And even with this hypocritical crowd, Jesus was present and prepared to do some healing. Whenever a healing took place, whenever a miracle was performed, it was an act to teach in front of many people. So four friends of a paralyzed man brought him to Jesus, but saw the crowds and knew they could never even come close to where He was. So they devised a plan to climb up on top of the roof directly over where Jesus was teaching and lower the man down to be next to Jesus. Is that faith? And that’s what they did; they cut a hole in Peter’s roof big enough to lower the man down. And when Jesus saw their faith in action He said, “Man your sins are forgiven.”
In a recent email, one of our church members mentioned that it was interesting to note that Jesus forgave him before He healed him. When forgiveness happens, healing can always take place. Then the scribes and Pharisees just blasted Jesus. “Who are you to forgive sins?” “No one but God Himself can do that!” And He answered, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts” meaning I know your hearts and I know you are hypocrites because of your harden hearts. The Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins because I am the Son of God, and I have the power to heal. And he said to the man, “Arise, pick up your bed and go home now fully healed.” Immediately he did and as he departed he was thanking and glorifying God. The multitudes were astonished and the scribes and Pharisees said, “We have seen some strange things today.” Yes, they saw a sick man with great faith doing everything he could to be next to Jesus, they saw Jesus forgive his sins and then they watched complete healing take place.
Two amazing stories of two unknown men of great faith. But they didn’t come to faith on their own.
I wonder who had come before the paralytic man. How many people had told him of Christ’s healings? Who all planted the seeds that caused him to seek Jesus at all cost? How long had he been thinking about this? What finally caused him to be lowered down from a roof top? How did he come to believe in Jesus Christ?
And who had come before Zacchaeus? How many people had spoken of Jesus, what they had heard and what He had taught? What caused Zacchaeus to seek Jesus? How many seeds had been planted in his life? How many influential people had been in his life which culminated in running ahead and sitting in a tree just to be close to Jesus?
What about your life? How many people have gone before you and shared the Gospel. How many people quietly planted seeds in your life so at some point you would give your life over to Jesus? How many people prayed? How many people encouraged? How many people gave of their time to share?
And how many seeds have you planted by your words, by your lifestyle, in spending time to reach out using your God given gifts? Most of the time we never see the harvest, that’s up to God and the Holy Spirit. But our responsibility is to spread God’s word by planting seeds.
The example of a 4’ chain:
Who can tell me which link is the most important on this chain? You may say the one that is holding it up. But I can hang it from the bottom, from the middle or from any link at all. You may say the link on the end, because it is the last one. But if you look at these links, they are all the same, all connected to one another, no one more important than the other. And they’re all strong, no weak links amongst them.
And that is the same with someone coming to a relationship with Christ. Many seeds are planted, many links are established, but at some point in time one link brings a person to Christ. And I believe there are links that will follow as well. Links of people encouraging, teaching, links of loving and caring to strengthen the Body of Christ.
My first link started with a woman named Ruth. She was like a second Mother to me. She was the first person to bring me to church and to Sunday school. From there I became active in a Church Junior High School choir and youth group. Then it was a Youth Pastor named David Pittman and his wife who helped me and taught me about Christ through his caring heart and his lifestyle. Next as I continued on in High School an Assistant Pastor, a Godly woman named Gene Curtis told me she saw something special in me. She said that she was convinced I would be doing God’s work throughout my lifetime and she was looking forward to watching it all unfold. And then in college I worked closely with a program director at a local YMCA named Richard Treat. He modeled Christ, he lived Christ yet he was still a human being. Because of Richard, I started reading the Bible on a regular basis. Because of Richard I started learning more about Jesus and who he was. Because of Richard, I began to think that maybe Jesus could make a difference in my life. I became active in an organization called “Young Life” and it was there my best friend Jim and I accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. And do you know what? I can’t remember the person’s name that lead us to Christ. I became active in Campus Crusade for Christ, became active in church youth and music ministries and there were many more people who had a great deal of influence on me. On my college campus I attended multiple seminars lead by Josh McDowell who reinforced my relationship and brought me closer to Jesus. And then, after college, my life became busy with raising kids and climbing the corporate ladder. I drifted away from church and even from my faith. It was years later when I met someone else who influenced me, a six year old boy named Ty. He was my son Andy’s best friend and he invited us to church where his Dad, Bob, was the Pastor. Bob was the one who planted the first seed of considering seminary and full time ministry. And from there, the rest you know. More and more people influenced my life including all of you. And of course, my relationship with Christ has certainly been strengthened through the love of Cheryl and our family.
So of all the influential people I just mentioned, which one is the most important link? As you can see, they are all important in God’s plan for us. One could not take place without the other. That’s our job through the almighty power of the Holy Spirit, that’s our commission from God.
