In preparing for this time together today I was doing a little internet trolling to keep current with what’s happening in the world around us. When I ran across a series of articles, blogs and even a couple of Youtube videos about the 2014 Grammy’s award show. Now, I am not an awards show person probably because it seems like old news. However, when the words demonic, pornographic and immoral are used to describe a show on network television, it got my attention. After a little research, it seems the biggest riff came because Natalie Grant, a Christian music artist, made a decision to leave the audience after witnessing a couple of the performances. While she refused to answer the reporters questions as she left. The firestorm continued until the next day when she released a statement that said, “My husband and I left. I have opinions about the show but those are better left inside my head. I have never been so proud to do what I do and sing for Jesus. The world is a very dark place.” The press wasn’t satisfied. They wanted more. I think because there are so few cases today of people living out their values, especially a value that contradicts the culture in which we live.
When the culture and it mores gets challenged, it often responds with criticism, challenges and rebuke versus questioning, understanding and change.
It reminds me of a piece of scripture we loved as a child but rarely understood the implication. Jesus told this story to demonstrate that a man was not saved by his ethnic background but by trusting in God’s grace and then acting accordingly. With that being said, it also has an ancillary message we must pay attention to.
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.
v. 1 The story begins with Jesus coming through Jericho. Jericho was known as a community of rebels who rebelled against Roman occupation. Jesus’ reputation would have preceded him. There would have been some along the roadside who thought Jesus was a conquering God or prophet or king. Others may have heard of the healing and the amazing instructions. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem after all and if he was a true king they would eventually be his subjects. For contextual purposes, think of a very popular person coming through your community who you believed was destined to change the world.
2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
V. 2 We, now meet Zaccheaus. He’s a Jewish man who has come to power in the community by consorting with the enemy occupiers – the Romans. He was taxing his own people to keep the occupiers happy. He had a quota and he needed to collect the money and anything he made above and beyond was his. Obviously, he was good at it. He became wealthy and what happens when you do well in any society, people begin to look for your flaws.
3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
V. 3-4 I think they mention his height for three reasons: First, to diminish his stature in the community, to make note of his spiritual maturity and third to explain why he was up in the tree. The larger question is why? Why would Zach want to see Jesus? I propose it was probably originally out of selfish motives. If Jesus were the next King, Zach would want to be on the winning side. He would want to keep his position and power. The thought of a man hanging from a tree would have been quite a sight.
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.
V.5-6 Seem to demonstrate Zach’s plan worked. Jesus knew Zaccheaus. And so when he saw this man with a reputation and his determination hanging in a tree Jesus rewarded the effort.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
V. 7 Here’s culture’s statement again in the murmuring of this verse. It’s immediate criticism and rebuke before questioning and understanding.
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “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 the lost.”
V.8-9. This is where it gets really interesting. Zach meets Jesus and it changes him dramatically. He probably remembers from his childhood learning about his faith and hearing the stories of the great king David. It is from those teachings I believe he responds to the criticisms with the offer of half his wealth and doubling what he took. You see, Jewish tradition was that if you didn’t give the appropriate money to God when it was due, you were to pay 20% more when you eventually made it right. Also, in 2 Sam 12 King David is being reprimanded by Nathan the prophet for his actions with Bathsheba. He is told the parable of man who steals from the poor. At which point, David in his anger bursts out in 2 Sam 12:6 that he should pay 4 times what he has stolen. Zach is willing to make right with God what he failed to do hence cutting his wealth in half, a 50% repayment penalty. He doubled the interest on himself. And then he would also rebate to those he had cheated the same amount as David. In effect, he doubled the penalty twice upon himself.
Meeting Jesus changed the Zach. He realized the errors of his way. Chose to make it write and then committed everything. His public statement made him a local hero. His isolation from God and from the people of the community would be over. He would begin a new life in Jericho as a witness to the power of God and to a new way of life. He moves from a taker to a generous “all in” giver.
Could you be so generous? Could you sacrifice your reputation and power? Have you already? How about your lifestyle?
There’s an excellent story of a 14 year old girl who challenges her family to become all in givers. It actually made the news. Please give your attentions to the screens to either side of me.
<Half Story video for 2:30> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whb9v3srQ8E
And who says the next generation can’t change the world. I love so much about this video but the line that just slays me is, “if someone with a nice car would have less, the poor man standing on the corner would be able to eat.”
All of our stories this morning speak to what we personally value and what we might need to go all in on as Christians.
Maybe you are Natalie Grant and you realize you have to choose between your reputation and Jesus
Or
Maybe you are Zach and you are being asked to choose power and money over Jesus
Or
Maybe you are like the Salwen family and you are being asked to put your lifestyle on the line.
There are no simple answers and every situation is different. However, if you are having trouble this morning in answering the question, we only to need to go to Jesus’ words from verse 10, “Does your decision help seek and save the lost?”
https://communitycenter.life/rev-robert-butler-info
