Sermon Luke 19:1-10

Jeffrey T. Howard

Sermon Luke 19:1-10

Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church

November 4, 2004

This month we will be collecting food for the poor in our community. Please bring nonperishable boxes and cans to worship. This food will be sent to Faith United Presbyterian Church for distribution in their biweekly food ministry. Will you pray with me? Holy Spirit, be with us now as we enter into worship. Inspire us with you word. Forgive our sins. And lead us to righteousness. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Luke 19:1-10 ^NRS Luke 19:1 He entered Jericho and was passing through it. ² A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. ³ He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. ⁵ When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." ⁶ So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. ⁷ All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." ⁸ Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." ⁹ Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and the final days of his life on earth and the coming resurrection. While on his journey Jesus and his disciples entered the city of Jericho. There Jesus revealed to everyone his great power by healing a blind man. A large crowd formed just to see this powerful rabbi who had just arrived from Galilee. One man in the crowd who wanted to see Jesus was named Zacchaeus. And Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus very much.

Zacchaeus was a tax collector. As a tax collector he helped the Romans finance their occupation. Tax collecting was essentially extortion. He had the Roman legion just outside of town ready to violently punish any nonpayment. Corruption was the inevitable result of this system. Tax collectors like Zacchaeus would line their own pockets with as much as they wanted. So they grew rich at the expenses of everyone else and became universally hated. But Zacchaeus’ name in Hebrew meant “righteous one.” How ironic was this? Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector. So we have a person named “righteous” being the most corrupt person of all.

Zacchaeus was also powerful. With his money and the cooperation of the Roman Army he could do or have anything he wanted. Zacchaeus was arguably the most power man in all of Jericho. Yet despite all of his power Zacchaeus was unable to see Jesus because the crowd was so big and he was so small. Another irony: the most powerful man in town was too short to see over the crowd.

But Zacchaeus got to where he was by being innovative. So he ran ahead of the procession and hid in a large sycamore tree. Another irony: the richest man in town was hiding in a fruit tree which produced inferior figs that only the poor ate. So when it came to seeing Jesus, Zacchaeus’ power and wealth had no effect. Money and power are useless when it comes to finding Christ.

In America today many of us place our faith in power and wealth. With enough of each we can live comfortable lives. We want a powerful army that will protect us from foreign powers and terrorists. We want a powerful fire department that will protect us from the wild fires that periodically sweep through Southern California. And we want enough money in our bank accounts so that we can live comfortably throughout our retirements and have some left over for our kids. But when it comes to finding Jesus all of our power and wealth is useless. There is just no way for us to buy our way or force our way to Christ.

While Zacchaeus was hiding in the tree an amazing thing happened: he was found. Jesus called his name. That’s the way it works. We don’t find Jesus; Jesus finds us. Wherever we are, no matter what we have done Jesus seeks us out like a shepherd seeking out the lost sheep. Jesus was looking for Zacchaeus because Jesus is the Savior and a Savior always searches for the lost.

Jesus knew that Zacchaeus had an important role to play in God’s plan of salvation for humankind. Zacchaeus’ role in God’s plan was to be a sinner in need of savior. Zacchaeus was the biggest sinner of them all and the most hated person in town. Most people assumed that a rabbi like Jesus would have nothing to do with him. A person like Zacchaeus should be avoided at all costs. But God’s plan was for Jesus to spend the night in Zacchaeus’ house proving that Christ had come to save sinners. Notice that Jesus invited himself for dinner. Jesus took the initiative. That’s the way it works. There is nothing that we do to merit salvation. God loves us so much that God takes the initiative. God offers us forgiveness first. Then we respond with gratitude.

The reason sin entered into the world was because of the disobedience of our ancestors Adam and Eve. Remember when God had told them never to eat from a certain tree. So what did they do? They ate it anyway and hid in the bushes. So where was Zacchaeus? Zacchaeus was hiding in the tree when Jesus found him. And when Jesus commanded him to come down from the tree he did. Unlike his ancestors Adam and Eve, Zacchaeus obeyed God’s command. The sin of Adam and Eve was reversed. This change from disobedience to obedience is called repentance. Repentance is the proper response from a sinner when found by the Savior.

For a rich and powerful man like Zacchaeus repentance meant repairing the harm he had caused. So Zacchaeus offered to give half of his money to the poor. This was a most extravagant gift. Rabbis normally recommended a gift of 20% of processions in these situations, but giving away half of your wealth was extraordinary. And Zacchaeus agreed to repay four fold everyone he had cheated. He was only required to give back the amount stolen plus a fifth. Zacchaeus’ response to God’s forgiveness was so extravagant because he had already experienced God’s extravagant grace.

The people of Jericho knew Zacchaeus as rich man, a powerful man, a short man and a sinner. They hated him and all that he stood for. Yet this hated sinner was the one Jesus chose to eat with. When Jesus looked at Zacchaeus he did not see a chief tax collector, a short man or a sinner, rather he saw someone who was lost. Zacchaeus had wandered away God. So God sent Jesus to find him and bring him back because Zacchaeus had been created by God and God loved him as His creation. Jesus has been sent to find all those who are lost. He is looking for us today. And he is inviting us to gather around this table to feast on his body and blood. And there is no cost for this meal. Everyone is invited. It is a gift from God.

What should our response be to the extravagant gift that God has given us in Jesus Christ? Our first response should be gratitude. Let’s thank God every day for all of his blessings. And let’s remember these blessing as we make our pledges this month to support God’s ministry here at Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church. The church is growing and in the months and years ahead will serve more and more the families in our community. Your pledge will help finance this growth and ensure that your legacy in this church will continue for a long time to come. So over this next week think about all of the gifts that you have received from God, extravagant gifts, and discern what portion should be returned to God through the church as your tithe. Fill out your pledge card and bring it with you next week. Then we will bring our pledges to God as our offerings with thanksgiving for God’s extravagant love.

Lord Jesus, we thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed upon us. We thank you for releasing us from the power of sin and giving us new life in you. Guide us by the Holy Spirit into new life of generosity for the poor and dedication to God’s ministry in our community though our tithes. We pray all of this in your strong name, Amen.