Engaging with others – 14 July 2009

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. Luke 19:1-6 [NIV]

I’ve always liked the story of Zacchaeus. It has been a Sunday School favourite for many years. I think boys like it because it involves climbing trees. Zacchaeus can’t have been that bad if he liked climbing trees!

But there is an awful lot in this story and it is just as relevant for adults, probably more so. It shows how the public hate those in authority lining their own pockets with tax payers’ money. Some things don’t change! It also shows us how Jesus treats people – he doesn’t judge. More than that, Jesus actually wants to spend time with people that society doesn’t value. When Jesus says he wants to spend some time with Zacchaeus, you can almost sense Zacchaeus’ joy – he responds immediately.

It also strikes me how bold Jesus is at inviting himself to Zacchaeus’ house. It is the Alpha course in reverse. It’s not very English, and it’s not what I would naturally do. I suppose there is an element of Jesus being something of a celebrity at the time, and Zacchaeus feeling honoured, but it is a tactic that Jesus’ instructs his disciples to use. When Jesus sends out the seventy two, he says:

"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. Luke 10:5-7 [NIV]

I think the message for me is to engage with people, and get past the cultural niceties which inhibit that. I would like to live more like that, following God’s nudge to speak to someone I don’t know that well. It would have a sense of adventure.