Jesus Loves the Mob - Luke 19:1-10

Lectionary Readings
Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4
Psalm 119:137-144
Isaiah 1:10-18
2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12
Luke 19:1-10

Any time I preach or lead a group, regardless of age, I start the same way. I’m going to say three short sentences. Please repeat each sentence, with enthusiasm.
God made me. God loves me. God has plans for me.

I love climbing trees. To this day I get a sense of childhood joy by seeing how far I can climb up a tree. As I’ve become older, less limber, and heavier, I can’t reach nearly the heights I could as a 12-year-old. Go figure.

At my childhood home in Augusta, GA we have a Sycamore tree in the backyard. It has survived wind storms and ice storms and today, it must be at least 50 feet tall. There are two aspects of that slender tree that struck me as a kid:
1) The spiked seed pods about the size of an eyeball really hurt if you walk on them in your bare feet – which was how I spent my summers.
2) The tree trunk grew straight up and the first limb was at least 10 feet off the ground – impossible for climbing.

All of which means… as a kid, every time I heard the story of Zacchaeus, the idea of someone climbing a tree to see Jesus sounded pretty cool, but a Sycamore tree made no sense. But none of my childhood mentors offered a good explanation.

Today, we have Google. I looked it up. Turns out, Augusta GA has American Sycamore trees whereas the Sycamores in Israel and Egypt have huge bases with sprawling, knotted limbs – perfect for a short guy to climb up.

Party trivia – The Sycamore is related to the Fig and Mulberry trees. Sycamores were used in ancient Egypt to make coffins as well as healing teas and balms. Sycamores were famous and valued long before Zacchaeus crawled up one.

Which brings us to today’s story – 10 short verses about 1 short man and 1 short encounter with Jesus.

Zacchaeus was nobody’s friend. He was the chief tax collector in a prosperous region with lots of trade – and thus lots of taxation opportunities. As chief, he would have had a staff of collection agents working for him. These men were not accountants; they were enforcers. You see, Zacchaeus purchased his position for say, $100,000. It then becomes his job to get more than that out of the locals. It was more of an extortion business than a tax business.

Historically, tall, strong men dominate society. It’s primitive, but it’s true. So how does a short guy succeed as the chief extortion officer? I bet he could be a nasty son of a gun! His determination is what helped him fight through the crowds, run ahead, and climb a tree – just for the chance to see Jesus.

Can you imagine his surprise when Jesus called his name?
Can you imagine everyone’s surprise when Jesus invited Himself over to Zacchaeus’s house for dinner? Back in the day – in a society that placed a huge value on personal honor – only people of equal social stature ate together. What shame for Jesus! What an honor for Zacchaeus!

I’d give my left arm for a transcript of their dinner conversation.
How did Jesus shape their conversation in a way that led Zacchaeus to repent in the truest sense of the word? Can you imagine how dramatic Zacchaeus’ spiritual transformation must have been to cause him to make two wildly generous offers?
1 – I’ll give half my wealth to the poor.
2 – Whatever I’ve cheated people out of, I’ll return 4x that amount.

Pay careful attention: Zacchaeus did not purchase his salvation with his gift.
His exceptional generosity was a joyful expression of his salvation.

Today’s story challenges us in several ways. And by challenge, I mean, gives us homework:

1) There can be times in our lives when it is hard to see God’s presence.
We must rise above our circumstances and fight through the crowds of social and emotional rejection to glimpse the presence that’s so close. What do each of us need to rise above and push through to see God?

2) As much as Jesus called out to Zacchaeus, God is calling out to each of us today.
As you look for God’s presence this week, listen for God to call out to you – not through the person of Jesus but through family, friends and even strangers. Heads up, they may have no idea God is speaking through them, so be patient with them.

3) Consider your response to God’s love, acceptance, and blessings.
We live in one of the most prosperous nations in the world where freedom and opportunities abound. We call that whole package “normal.” Consider the many ways you are rich – in relationships, in influence, in wisdom, and yes in finances. How can you share your different wealths in ways that bless other people and glorifies God? It’s not a question of if but of how. Because God has blessed all of us way beyond what we could ever earn. Amen? Amen!

Which brings us to communion. Jesus communed with Zacchaeus.
And it was during that time of sharing bread and drink that Zacchaeus experienced a profound sense of God’s presence, acceptance, and purpose for his life. Today, God invites all of us to share in a time of intimate communion with God and with each other. Through today’s bread and juice, we join with millions of others around the world celebrating the relationship God desires to have with all of humanity. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus took a loaf of bread…