Dear Luke,
What a great story indeed! The man cried out for vision and it was
granted to him as a miracle! Perhaps
this is what you and I both need to do in relation to some of these more
difficult teachings—cry out to Jesus for understanding, hoping that Jesus will
give us vision to see the world before us as Jesus sees it, so that we might
live as he intends for us to live.
Perhaps such a miracle will be granted to us to enlighten our exchange!
I can’t help but struggle with your thoughts
that Jesus means exactly what he says in relation to the teaching on the rich
man. Maybe Jesus does intend for all of
us to sell our possessions and give them to the poor. If it was true for this one man, then surely
it could be true for more than one, right?
But he doesn’t command all of the wealthy men he meets to do so, so how
are we to understand which are to sell everything and which can hold onto some
of it? I think I’m focusing too much on
doing the right thing to get into heaven, rather than receiving God’s gracious
gift, but it seems like a very important question to me—how do we know?
For instance, I have the pleasure
of relating a wondrous story to you about an encounter between Jesus and a tax
collector named Zacchaeus who was also rich.
Jesus doesn’t tell this rich man to give up everything. He certainly gives up quite a bit, but I
think what he still has is probably more than many. So we have a similar situation and different
teachings—confounding, I know. Again, I
think Jesus respects us and loves us individually, challenging each and every
one of us to make sure that our hearts and lives are focused on him alone. Whatever stands in the way, which may be
different for us all, needs to be removed at whatever cost or sacrifice.
The story of the blind beggar takes
place as Jesus is drawing near to Jericho.
As you related, Jesus’ healing of the beggar stirred up quite a
commotion. All who heard it were amazed,
and word quickly traveled through the town.
One of those who heard this ruckus was Zacchaeus, one of the head tax
collectors. Tax collectors were not well
respected in those days—they were usually corrupt and enriched themselves at
the cost of others, often through illegal means.
Zacchaeus was so intrigued by what
he heard about Jesus that he desperately wanted to see the man as he passed
through Jericho. He was not the tallest
of people, however, and his efforts to see Jesus would be frustrated by the
crowds that gathered around Jesus. Some
wild hair of an idea led him to climb a nearby Sycamore tree that would give
him a better vantage point when Jesus passed by.
Soon the crowd drew near and the
hubbub reached a frenzied level as everyone in Jericho pushed toward
Jesus. Zacchaeus was thrilled by his
prime seating area that would give him a great view, and it wasn’t long before
Jesus came into sight and was passing beneath his tree. To everyone’s amazement, Jesus stopped
beneath the tree and looked straight up at Zacchaeus, addressing him in his
perch while the entire crowd hushed to hear the exchange. Zacchaeus, not expecting to draw the
attention of this man, was probably more surprised than anyone to hear Jesus
tell him to get down from the tree because he must spend some time with
Zacchaeus in his house. Zacchaeus never
expected such news and rushed home to make preparations to host Jesus. It was a whirlwind of activity until Jesus
arrived. Others in Jericho predictably
grumbled about Jesus’ choice to stay with Zacchaeus. They didn’t care for the tax collector and
wondered why Jesus would choose to spend his time with a man known as a
sinner. They spent their time listing
far more worthy candidates to host Jesus, but Jesus had made his choice.
I don’t know what happened during
that dinner, but it must have been remarkable, for I do know the outcome. Whether it was through conversation or the
sheer impact of the presence of the divine there in his house, Zacchaeus was a
changed man. The presence of Jesus,
freely given, not earned, changed how he lived.
Zacchaeus pledged to give half of everything he owned to the poor as
well as promising to repay those whom he had defrauded four times over. I wish I could have heard the words of
Jesus—they would be especially helpful to help our discernment in light of the
earlier teaching of the rich ruler!
Regardless of what he said, though, there was a genuine reaction of
faith, guided by God, that led Zacchaeus to see his riches as an opportunity to
bless others rather than himself. He
wasn’t seeking wealthy anymore, but the benefit of others, and his wealth was
merely a means through which to do so.
Jesus announces a curious and
wondrous thing at the conclusion of Zacchaeus’ proclamation. He gives the glad announcement that salvation
has claimed Zacchaeus and that he is a son of Abraham, the father of the Jewish
faith. Abraham was so esteemed in the
eyes that many would probably have been insulted to have Zacchaeus associated
with him, but Jesus seems focused on lifting up the poor and the lost,
restoring them to the life that God intended for them to live. Zacchaeus had wandered far from the faithful
path, and Jesus was guiding him back to faithfulness. He tells all who listen that he came to find
and save those who were lost, those like Zacchaeus who had bought into the ways
of the world and forgotten the ways of God.
Many were happy to label him as a sinner and exclude him, but Jesus
shows him a new way to live and welcomes him into life.
It’s an amazing thing that Jesus
does, and Zacchaeus’ reaction is similarly incredible. Change occurs, all because Jesus chose to
reach out to Zacchaeus, a man who never expected such a dramatic transformation
in his own life, but God does miraculous things for us all, I believe. Sometimes we just need to put in the effort
to climb the tree and receive the blessings of God, letting them change the way
we see the world.
Sincerely,
Theophilus
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