A very widely used quotation throughout the ages is that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat them”. (George Santayana) History has proved it and continues to prove it today. Last week we celebrated Reformation Day. Many Churches do not remember what led to the Protestant reformation and are repeating the same mistakes that led to the reformation. We have forgotten that one way the Church raised funds to build Saint Peter’s Basilica was through the sale of indulgences. This practice demanded payment from the living for dead relatives to enable them enter heaven. Some fundraisers even dared to claim that the sound of coins dropping into metal containers were the sound of bells ringing in heaven to welcome them home. Surprisingly, this practice is still being repeated today. This practice became one of the reasons that led Martin Luther to rediscover the truth of Scripture that salvation is by grace alone. On thirty first October, 1517, the Reformation began with the nailing of Ninety-Five Theses on the University Chapel door by Martin Luther. The truth that salvation is by grace alone is clearly illustrated in today’s gospel reading from the nineteenth chapter of Luke. Zacchaeus was given a name, meaning pure and righteous, to meet the expectations of his family and define his adult life. Instead, he grew up to become a Roman tax collector who was anything but pure and righteous. For a Jewish man to become a tax collector for the Romans was to commit high treason. As chief tax collector he fixed the rates to include his own personal benefits at the expense of the taxpayers. They were therefore hated and treated worse than murderers, adulterers, thieves and robbers. They were disowned by their families and barred from worship in the Synagogue. Zacchaeus was seen and hated as a notorious thief and traitor. He was rejected and in spite of his wealth condemned to a miserable life with no real friends. Jesus, however, loved him because His nature is love. No matter what we might have done with our lives, no matter how people may view us, God still loves us and will go to any length to seek and save us.
God is love and created man in His own image and likeness, and crowned him with glory and honour, and gave him authority and dominion over His creation. Every person is so valuable that even when sin robbed us of God’s image and likeness, robed us of our robe of righteousness and clothed us with filthy rags, God continues to love us. In the words of John “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him”. (John 3:16-17) Our salvation does not depend on anything that we can do “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God”. (Eph. 2:8) The sacrifice of Christ has saved us from the penalty of sin, is saving us from the power of sin and will save us from the presence of sin. Christ does not save us and leave us to continue leading a life full of problems, lack and misery. He saves us from the power of sin as we renew our minds and align our thinking with what the word of God says so “that we may have life and have it more abundantly”. (John 10:10)
We must have a clear vision of Christ to realise how God sees us and who we really are. Like Zacchaeus every person needs to climb ‘the tree’ to get a clear vision of Christ. “The tree” has always been symbolic of the cross of Christ and offers us a better vision and understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot see and understand Christ when people and other obstructions block our view of the cross. Like in the case of Zacchaeus, many people, the crowd, and worldly desires block our vision of Christ. Instead of seeing Christ and hearing His words, they see idols and hear about different religions, occult practices, philosophies and doctrines that deny the Lordship of Christ. They are told that there are many ways to God just as there are many ways to Rome. The truth, however, is that there are many ways to Christ but only one way to God. They are told that wealth and power is a sign of God’s approval, and that good works and the keeping of the Law leads to salvation. The Cross of Christ is carefully kept out of view to prevent us accepting the truth that we are saved by grace through faith. It is only when we clearly see Christ that we can trust Him and be saved by grace through faith. We all need a clear vision of Christ to see Him as Savour and Lord already waiting to reach out and meet our need. Zacchaeus was desperate to see the Lord. How desperate are you?
Christ wants ever person to be saved and become a citizen of His kingdom. He has saved us from the penalty for sin and secured our forgiveness. But His forgiveness is only to “whoever believes in Him”, believes in His death, burial and resurrection. Zacchaeus needed a revelation of who Christ is to be saved. We also need the same revelation. Jesus knew everything about Zacchaeus just as He knows everything about us. He knew he needed forgiveness and eternal life and seeing him in his sinful state, He ministered to him and brought salvation to his household. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, and He will do the same for you today. When Jesus reached the spot where Zacchaeus was, He looked up, called him by name, and told him to come down and that He had to stay at his house that day. Zacchaeus had a need that only Christ could meet. Today, Christ is offering to meet our need for salvation and He is the only One that can meet that need. Like Zacchaeus we need to see the emptiness of our life and admit our desperate need for Christ. The time of God’s favour, the day of his salvation, has come and He must stay at your house today. Jesus is inviting Himself to your house. We all need Jesus because like Zacchaeus we have all done things that have hurt others and as in his case Jesus is far more interested in saving us than in condemning us. God wants us to enjoy the provisions of His grace.
The provisions of His grace allows access to His presence and we can with “boldness enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus”. (Heb. 10:19) The provisions of the grace of God are available to all believers by faith. As partakers of the covenant of grace our focus should be on Christ and his joy and not on the cares and concerns of the world. We are in the world but not of the world. Zacchaeus was filled with joy when all around him the people were complaining and finding fault with what Jesus was doing. Today we cannot believe the response and behaviour of the crowd but are things any different now? Do we not often behave in a similar way ourselves? You cannot meet Christ and remain the same. Zaccheaus, the most selfish man in the city, suddenly became the most generous man and his whole attitude to life changed. He began to think about other people. Too many people forget that everything they have is from God and they want to hold onto everything they have. But, when Jesus touches them, they start thinking about what they can do to help others. We were made in God’s image, and when we receive Jesus, we start changing to reflect that image characterised by true love. Jesus, the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Why not react the same way Zacchaeus did? Why not welcome Him with great excitement and joy into your home and into your life?
Every person is valuable to God. Have you ever wondered why the tax collectors and sinners were comfortable in His presence and made no attempt to avoid Him? It was His genuine love and affection for them. Jesus did not have to compromise on sin to gain their approval. They knew He was concerned about them and cared what happened to them. Why would they not be willing and eager to hear what He had to say? Why would they not talk to someone who accepted and welcomed them as friends in spite of their sins and faults? As Christians we have to show that same love and affection if we are to reach the lost. They know whether we really care about them or not. You are so valuable to God that Jesus came to seek and save you. If you have never responded to His call before today is your day of salvation. Jesus is inviting Himself to your home and into your life and waiting for your response. Why not welcome Him into your home today and become His beloved child to the praise and glory of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
