TITLE: TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT
SCRIPTURE: ST. LUKE 19:1-10
On one particular day as Jesus was passing through Jericho, He met a man named Zacchaeus. This encounter is one of the most interesting narratives of the Gospels because of the tremendous application to the great majority of people.
• Scottish Pastor and scholar of biblical biographies, GEORGE MATHESON, described the paradox of this narrative as UNIQUELY COMMON
• Zacchaeus is spectacular because he is not like other characters who encountered Christ
• He was not called as the disciples were
• Nor was Zacchaeus suffering from some kind of affliction
• What makes Zacchaeus so special is that he was an average man
• Although he was very short or of little stature – he was just an average person
This is a fairly brief account found in our text, but it is packed with a whole lot of detail. We actually know more about Zacchaeus from these 10 short verses than we know about most of Jesus’ disciples from all four gospels.
• Most of us probably can not name all 12 disciples
• You probably can’t tell me a whole lot about Nathaniel or the other James or even the other Judas
• In fact, you might not even know that amongst Jesus’ disciples there were two named James and two named Judas
• But if you grew up in church you can probably tell me much about Zacchaeus
For starters, you probably know he was - short.
• We also know what he did for a living? - He was a Tax Collector
• But not just any old tax collector
• Zacchaeus was the Chief Tax Collector
• Zacchaeus was rather Wealthy
• He was not well liked by the people
• In fact, in VS. 7, they, the crowd come right out and call him a “Sinner”
Zacchaeus was short in stature. People recognized him by his size. Maybe you know some people who are identified by some physical characteristic. You make judgments about people because they are –
• Tall
• Pretty
• Have Black or blonde hair
• Bald
• Hard on the Eyes
• Fat
• Thin
• Rich
• Poor
The sad reality in our Western Culture is we often assign value to a person based on physical appearance. But Jesus does not call on Zacchaeus based upon any physical characteristic. He called Zacchaeus by name! There is a song that comes on the radio that I simply love. The artist is Tasha Cobbs Leonard entitled “You Know My Name.”
He knows my name
He knows my name
He knows my name
Yes He knows my name
And oh how He walks with me
Yes oh how He talks with me
And oh how He tells me
That I am His own
Jesus illustrated how we should relate to people and how God relates to us. God knows our name. The Bible says in NUMBERS 6:25 that God desires his face to shine upon you. A shining face is a beautiful description of someone who is happy to see you. I was home in NJ last month for my 40th High School Reunion. Our daughter, Nicole did not tell the children I was in NJ. When I drove up to their home and the grandchildren saw me, the look on their faces as they ran to hug me was priceless. This is what God is saying to us, that His face shines when He sees us!
In our text we find, Jesus “ENTERED JERICHO AND WAS PASSING THROUGH.” Jericho was a very wealthy and important town.
• William Barclay notes that -- It had a great palm forest and world-famous balsam groves which perfumed the air for miles around
• Its gardens of roses were known far and wide
• Men called it ‘The City of Palms.’
• Josephus called it ‘a Divine Region,’ ‘the fattest in Palestine’
• The Romans carried its dates and balsam to world-wide trade and fame
• Still another commentator says that “Herod the Great and his son Archelaus had made it even more beautiful
• A grand winter palace had been built there
• Some of the streets were lined with sycamore trees
• The climate was delightful
Jericho was one of the high density trading centers, there were routes going North - East - West - and South, it was a busy, busy place. It would be even more busy now, as the streets are full of pilgrims headed toward Jerusalem for Passover and for our Lord to become the Passover Lamb and their give his life for us.
But with the multitude of people coming to and leaving Jericho, the businesses thrived. In addition, for the Roman government, it was a lush center for taxation.
• Not only did you smell the beautiful rose gardens in Jericho
• The Romans smelled revenue as well
• They would exploit this area by placing heavy taxes on the Jews
• After all, they had to use all means necessary to finance their great world empire
• This was one of the several reasons the Jews despised Rome
It is on this backdrop that we are introduced to Zacchaeus. The name “Zacchaeus” means “CLEAN” or “INNOCENT.” That is quite interesting and will get back to that in a few minutes. So, there is this great crowd that begins to gather and fill the streets in this beautiful City of Jericho. Zacchaeus is among the crowd as usual. I can only imagine the squeeze of the multitude is making this short man claustrophobic. He notices there is an unusual anticipation and excitement. “Wait a minute? Is all this noise for that miracle worker rabbi from Nazareth that I have been hearing about?” he thinks as an elderly man bumps into him. “Hmm, I hear some say He might be the Messiah!” Some of the crowd have heard of Jesus and wonder if He indeed is the Messiah they have been waiting for.
• Zacchaeus also remembers hearing about how he hangs out with tax collectors!
• Perhaps he even heard of how Jesus befriended maybe a friend of his named Matthew, another tax collector, in Capernaum and now he is one of Jesus disciples
Zacchaeus wants to get close to see Jesus, but not too close. He also has another problem. He is really short. For him to be really short according to the standards of his time, he must have been less than five feet tall. He is so short he cannot see above the crowd. Yet something is driving him to take a look at this man and he can’t seem to shake the thought of a Messiah who befriends tax collectors!
I am sure he wasn’t treated well by the people anyway.
• The crowd probably enjoyed boxing the little man out
• Sorry about the elbow, Zacchaeus, you’re hard to see
• You may have seen parents pull up their children on their shoulders in a large crowd
• But Zacchaeus is not going to find anyone willing to ride on their shoulders
• At least not today
Zacchaeus does not appear to have any observable need, but he is curious about Jesus none the less. The Bible says God has set eternity in our hearts – ECCLESIASTES 3:11 “HE HATH MADE EVERY THING BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIME: ALSO HE HATH SET THE WORLD IN THEIR HEART….” God has placed in the soul of every human being a desire to connect to the Creator. Some Fight It -- Ignore It -- Deny It, but the Scripture is clear. Human beings are spiritual beings and no amount of worldly success or possessions can satisfy the deepest longing of the soul to know God.
• That’s why an Atheist will spend their lifetime trying to disprove God exists
• Why are they so passionate about disproving a God they say they don’t believe in?
• Because God is eternally in our hearts
Let me footnote here and remind us that we must make as a church and as individual followers of Christ is to keep that need at the forefront of all we do. Lost people don't need --
• Our Music
• Our Wisdom
• Our nice Facilities
• Our Annual Choir Days
• Our Family and Friends Day
• Our Workshops or Retreats
• Or our great Sermons
• They need Jesus!
• Music, facilities, and preaching are wonderful tools if they help people connect with Christ
• People need the Lord
• Zacchaeus needed Jesus
• And so does a lost and dying world
The fact that Zacchaeus would be willing to climb a tree and behave in such a shameful and undignified way indicates there was more than just an intellectual curiosity about Jesus.
• Intellectual Curiosity is curiosity that leads to an acquisition of general knowledge
• It can include curiosity about such things as what objects are composed of
• The underlying mechanisms of systems
• Mathematical relationships, languages, social norms, and history
The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience.
• If a person wants scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity is his guide
• But if he wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, we can only get it by obedience
Zacchaeus “was seeking to see who Jesus was.” His faith is demonstrated in that he wanted to see Jesus badly enough that he did not care what other people thought or what obstacles were in the way.
• We would get so much more out of morning worship if we stop concerning ourselves with what others will think
• We would not be so bound with issues of life if we stop concerning ourselves what others will think if we just let go and let God have his way
• If we would ever get to the point when we come in on Sunday’s and say Lord, I am only looking for you not looking at those around me
When he could not get to Jesus because of the crowd he “ran on ahead and climbed up into a “SYCAMORE TREE TO SEE HIM, “FOR HE WAS ABOUT TO PASS THAT WAY.”
• Zacchaeus needed Jesus and nothing was going to prevent him
Perched there in such a spot, Zacchaeus had a “bird’s eye” view. At the top, he is amazed at what he sees. no pomp and no ceremony, but just an ordinary man walking toward his direction. nothing like a king. and yet, everything like a king!
• People are now squeezing together in their windowsills
• You can also see large groups lining the rooftops of the houses
• On the street you have a collective mass of people FROM PRIESTS -- TO HOUSEWIVES - SHOPKEEPERS - TEACHERS - TRADERS -- BAKERS
• Elbow to elbow
• Except one small tax collector, perched up in a tree
All he wants is a look at Jesus passing by. He wants to put a face to the name. I mean, he is not asking for much. It was just a glance. A sycamore tree was probably about 40 feet high and was “something like an oak with a short trunk and wide high branches, making it challenging to climb.” Can you picture him shimmying up this tree in his robe? I wonder if he was acquainted with tree climbing, because growing up, perhaps he was accustomed to running up the tree to see things before?
Suddenly Jesus parts the sea of spectators to go toward a Sycamore Tree.
• Is He going to take a breather here and sit down?
• Is he tired and in need of a rest?
• What is he doing?
• All eyes are on Him as we walks toward the tree where Zacchaeus is now starting to get really nervous
• Past the crowd - the tree - the branches and leaves
• Jesus looks up
Note with me before any interaction took place between Jesus and Zacchaeus, Jesus said to him “ZACCHAEUS MAKE HAST, AND COME DOWN: FOR TODAY I MUST ABIDE AT THEY HOUSE.”
• We must ensure we never place ourselves above the Lord
• Lord must always be our Head, above us
• ROMANS 12:3 “FOR I SAY, THROUGH THE GRACE GIVE UNTO ME, TO EVERY MAN THAT IS AMONG YOU, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK; BUT TO THINK SOBERLY ACCORDING AS GOD HATH DEALT TO EVERY MAN THE MEASURE OF FAITH”
Zacchaeus thought he was looking for Jesus, but Jesus was actually looking for him!
• It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us
• I JOHN 4:10 “HEREIN IS LOVE, NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD, BUT THAT HE LOVED US, AND SENT HIS SON TO BE THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS”
Jesus just calls his name and asks him to hurry down. Beloved, The One who spun the stars into space and gave them each a name also knows your name! Even before your parents knew it, He knew it! Jesus went on to say after he came down from the Tree -- “THIS DAY IS SALVATION COME TO THIS HOUSE…”
Look at Zacchaeus’ response. He responds like how you would welcome a friend you have longed to see for a long, long time.
• He is so fast!
• With leaves and twigs flying, he leaped down, obeying Jesus just as He had commanded
• He welcomes Jesus joyfully
• The coming of Jesus to share his home is a sign of fellowship and ultimately of forgiveness
• Blessed are those who respond quickly to the call of Jesus!
As I move toward closing – remember that point I made earlier about what Zacchaeus name means? It means clean or innocent. Listen to the declaration that he eventually makes to Jesus -- “BEHOLD, LORD, THE HALF OF MY GOODS I GIVE TO THE POOR; AND IF I HAVE DEFRAUDED ANY ONE OF ANYTHING, I RESTORE IT FOURFOLD.”
He said ‘IF’ - this has always intrigued me in this text. I believe we have given Zacchaeus a bad rap for much too long. Remember what I said earlier we judge people based upon how they look – where they live – clothes they wear. This Chief Tax Collector said to Jesus, “IF I HAVE TAKEN FROM ANY MAN ANY THING FROM ANY MAN BY FALSE ACCUSATION, I RESTORE HIM FOURFOLD.”
But if Zacchaeus is innocent, as his name implies, then that totally changes the whole message of the narrative. If Zacchaeus is the one who has been wrongly judged and excluded from the very beginning then it is not Zacchaeus the wretched tax collector who needs to repent any more than it is Zacchaeus the wretched tax collector who needs to get saved.
It is, instead, all the “good” people who made assumptions about Zacchaeus and thought it was ok to shun him, who need to repent.
--It is the “good religious” people who judged him on the basis of what he was rather than who he was, who need to get saved
--Jesus gave Zacchaeus a voice that day in Jericho
--Whether he used it to confess any crimes or justify himself, I do not know
--What I do know is that the salvation Jesus offered that day was not just for the tax collector
--To Make A Long Story Short - It was to bring Salvation to Your Home as well
