We have here a changed and reversed situation. The tax collector voluntarily gave away his wealth. He taxed himself. The short man became tall in God’s eyes. The outcast was welcomed into the community, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also is a descendant of Abraham” (v.9). This story is a paradigm of the process of discipleship: seeking, meeting, undergoing conversion, and following.
I know how it is to be short in physical stature. It doesn’t matter so much as long as I am in the Philippines where many males are as tall as I am. I experienced the big difference when I studied in an American university twenty-five years ago. As students we had free use of all the facilities of the school gym. I wanted to play basketball. It was the Americans who introduced basketball to Filipinos during the colonial period and it became our favorite sport. When I went to the basketball court I found out that the players were all over six feet tall. I am only five-three in my basketball shoes. I finally settled for daily swimming at the heated and Olympic-sized pool.
Action starter: Do you find delight in following Jesus?
I understand how Zacchaeus must have felt. He was a short man surrounded by tall guys. He could not see Jesus. He heard a lot about this remarkable teacher and wanted to see Him. He felt drawn to Him. He must have been jumping now and then to see above the crowd until he hit on a brilliant idea of climbing a sycamore tree. He threw caution and dignity to the wind. What was important was to see Jesus. It must have been a funny sight. Here was a well-dressed rich man sitting among the tree branches. His occupation was such that he did not have many friends. People talked behind his back but they had some respect for him. It would not be to one’s benefit to earn the ire of the tax man.
In was under these improbable circumstances that the encounter between Jesus and Zachaeus happened. Jesus looked up and said, “Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today” (Lk. 19:5). Jesus invited Himself. Zacchaeus responded to this encounter in a most uncharacteristic way, “I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much” (Lk.19:8).
We have here a changed and reversed situation. The tax collector voluntarily gave away his wealth. He taxed himself. The short man became tall in God’s eyes. The outcast was welcomed into the community, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also is a descendant of Abraham” (v.9).
This story is a paradigm of the process of discipleship: seeking, meeting, undergoing conversion, and following. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. He knew there was something lacking in his life despite his wealth. He met Jesus under strange circumstances, surrounded by a crowd and he sitting up a tree. He saw the need to change his life and to do restitution for any injustice he has done. He became a disciple of Jesus. Unlike the rich young man who went away sad because he could not leave his possessions, Zacchaeus was full of joy. The Zacchaeus story is a delight to read. Here is a man who found the real treasure and delights in it.