On Line Bible Study - For the Week June 27-July 3, 2011
Lesson 499
Luke 19: 1 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 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.
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.”
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.”
With Zacchaeus we have the perfect storm of wealth combined with sin. He is a dreaded tax collector who has gotten rich. As a 'chief' tax collector, Darrell Bock explains Zacchaeus was "an administrator who bid for and organized the collection and took a cut from the labor of his underlings."
The story is full of surprises. First, consider the extent to which this wealthy man - short in stature - went ahead in order to catch a glimpse of Jesus. We don't see him pushing to get close to Jesus (as was the case with the woman who was hemorrhaging - see Mark 5:24ff). Jesus' reputation made him attractive enough for Zacchaeus to simply want to see him.
The second surprise is that Jesus acknowledges him. Seeing one who worked so hard to get a look, perhaps Jesus was moved to seek this man out. I can attest to the fact that, as a teacher, it is much easier to teach students who sincerely want to learn. Perhaps Jesus rightly interpreted in Zacchaeus' actions a deeper willingness.
The third surprise is in Jesus stepping so quickly into an intimate environment with Zacchaeus. As has been the case previously, this will draw the ire of the self-righteous folks in the crowd. Though the text speaks of Jesus as a "guest of a sinner", Jesus has invited himself into Zacchaeus' home.
Perhaps the greatest surprise of all is this: Zacchaeus responds to Jesus with no holds barred. Zacchaeus is an example of how rich people 'get into heaven', so to speak. Whatever the conversation was around that table, Zacchaeus rises ready to give 50% of his wealth away!
This is salvation! Salvation is wrapped up in how willing we are to follow Christ. The story stands in sharp contrast to the episode with the rich ruler in Luke 18:18. Zacchaeus is the example of how the rich person gets through the proverbial eye of the needle.
Jesus came not only to seek, but to save the lost - whatever our economic status may be.
The story is full of surprises. First, consider the extent to which this wealthy man - short in stature - went ahead in order to catch a glimpse of Jesus. We don't see him pushing to get close to Jesus (as was the case with the woman who was hemorrhaging - see Mark 5:24ff). Jesus' reputation made him attractive enough for Zacchaeus to simply want to see him.
The second surprise is that Jesus acknowledges him. Seeing one who worked so hard to get a look, perhaps Jesus was moved to seek this man out. I can attest to the fact that, as a teacher, it is much easier to teach students who sincerely want to learn. Perhaps Jesus rightly interpreted in Zacchaeus' actions a deeper willingness.
The third surprise is in Jesus stepping so quickly into an intimate environment with Zacchaeus. As has been the case previously, this will draw the ire of the self-righteous folks in the crowd. Though the text speaks of Jesus as a "guest of a sinner", Jesus has invited himself into Zacchaeus' home.
Perhaps the greatest surprise of all is this: Zacchaeus responds to Jesus with no holds barred. Zacchaeus is an example of how rich people 'get into heaven', so to speak. Whatever the conversation was around that table, Zacchaeus rises ready to give 50% of his wealth away!
This is salvation! Salvation is wrapped up in how willing we are to follow Christ. The story stands in sharp contrast to the episode with the rich ruler in Luke 18:18. Zacchaeus is the example of how the rich person gets through the proverbial eye of the needle.
Jesus came not only to seek, but to save the lost - whatever our economic status may be.
posted by Mark D at 9:38 AM
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