AfterWords: "Towards Jerusalem - What We See (Divine Reversals)"

 

Luke 19:1-10

Many of us learned the song in VBS or Sunday School or somewhere along the way: “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. He climbed up in sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see….” We learned the words and the motions. But hearing the story and learning the song in our childhood did not reveal the real importance of this encounter, did not reveal the joyful ‘divine reversals’ this story shows us as we dive a little deeper.

Zacchaeus decides he wants to see Jesus, so he elbows through the crowded streets and finds a tree that he hopes Jesus will walk under or walk near as he’s passing through Jericho. Surprisingly, Jesus ends up spotting Zacchaeus and comes right to the tree. As the song says, “And he said, Zacchaeus, you come down! For I’m going to your house today….” Even as Zacchaeus was looking to see Jesus, Jesus sees Zacchaeus first.

We know Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, that he is on the road and passing through the city of Jericho. But, everything changes when Jesus spots Zacchaeus in that sycamore-fig tree. Now, “…I’m going to your house today.” That doesn’t mean walk past the house; this likely means a meal, a long, drawn out visit that will probably include slaughtering a goat, rounding up vegetables, baking bread. While Luke doesn’t say so, it could even mean spending the night if the day is mostly gone. In any case, Jesus has gone from “passing through” to “I’m going to your house.”

We hear at the beginning of the recorded encounter that Zacchaeus was a wealthy chief tax-collector. After encountering Jesus, after welcoming Jesus into his house, Zacchaeus experiences a profound change. “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount” (v.8). He may very well lose his standing as Chief Tax-Collector, and he is certainly parting with well over half his wealth (1/2 to the poor and then four-fold repaid to those he’s cheated). We would be hard pressed to find a more beautiful and exemplary picture of “repentance” in Scripture. Here, Zacchaeus has experienced a profound change of heart and mind—a reversal to be sure, and that change is lived out in his actions.

Zacchaeus becomes an example for us. He looks for Jesus. He takes time out of his day to receive Jesus in his home. He allows the change of heart and mind to be expressed in his words and deeds. And, Jesus? He is looking for all who are lost (not in the right place, out of place, unintentionally wandering). He is ready to take time to sit with us, to see us, to be with us. Much more than a VBS song, this encounter gives us the hope of divine reversals in our own lives as strive to see Jesus.

Sunday, April 6, 2025
“Towards Jerusalem: What We See (Divine Reversals)”
Watch/Listen: HERE

AfterWords: "Towards Jerusalem: Rich Man, Poor Man"

 

Luke 16:19-31

Too many have read this parable as a definitive statement about the rich and the poor, as a story discounting the wealthy and elevating the poor. Others have tried to use this as a doctrinal statement about the end-times and the afterlife ("eschatology"). Since we North Americans are wealthy in comparison to much of the world, perhaps it’s a good thing this is not a story directed against the “wealthy.” And as far as being an “eschatological” text, it’s about as eschatological as, “A guy died and went to heaven, and when he got to the pearly gates, St. Peter stopped him and asked….”

While the purpose of this parable differs from those common misperceptions, we do find an overriding theme: What we do here and now impacts our eternity there and then.

While you and I can probably name a dozen rich and famous people, the lack of name given to “the rich man” is yet another example of Jesus turning the world on its head. At the same time, we may be hard pressed to name a dozen…or five…or three…or even one person who is broken, destitute…yet, Jesus knows him by name: Lazarus.

So, what did “the rich man” do to end up in Hades? Did he have some deep, dark, evil sin? He does not end up in Hades because of anything he has done. So, why? The rich man ends up in Hades because of what he did not do, because of what he refused to do, because he did nothing.

At the gates of his house lies a beggar, Lazarus, who has nothing and no one. Could our rich man not have given Lazarus at least a simple, rough wool blanket…to keep the dogs from licking his sores? Could our rich fellow not have given Lazarus at least some rice and beans, some bread and olive oil? At the very least, could he not have simply acknowledged the existence of Lazarus?

The rich man’s sin was this—he closed his eyes and ears to the sights and sounds of need around him. He did nothing to alleviate the poverty that faced him each day. Nothing.

This past week, the RGV was slammed by an unexpected and destructive storm. Flood waters damaged houses, ruined automobiles, closed businesses, and destroyed dreams. Those of us who live in the RGV are now surrounded by people who suffer because of this storm.

So, how do we respond? A few weeks ago, Jesus told us the story of “the good Samaritan.” That parable calls us to be kind to those in need. We may think that what we have to offer is ‘too little’ or ‘insignificant.’ I imagine the lad who came forward with five loaves and two fish thought the same thing, yet God used his gift to feed 5000 people.

We do what we can. We cannot fix every situation. We may not even make a huge dent in the problem. But, we can do something. We can give, we can clean, we can cook, we can serve, we can listen—we do what we can. When we do what we can, God is honored, and lives are touched in profound ways. Unlike the rich man in Jesus’ parable, let’s open our eyes and ears and respond somehow—cleaning supplies, clothes, a helping hand, food, money, a listening ear. Let’s do something. Because the something we do here and now will have eternal consequences there and then.

Amen.

Sunday, March 30, 2025
“Towards Jerusalem: Rich Man, Poor Man”
Watch/Listen: HERE