PODCAST - Press sideways triangle below to
listen
Tuesday 33rd
Week OT
The Institute
November 17, 2014
ZACCHAEUS UP A TREE ++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø Zacchaeus desires 2 C J & goes 2
extraordinary lengths to do so
Ø He risks social stature he’s carefully built
up
Ø Small in physical stature, acts in most undignified
way, racing ahead & climbing a tree!
Ø When J sees how far out on limb literally
& metaphorically Z has gone, he does the same
Ø Calling him down, J says he must stay at Z’
house
ZACCHAEUS’
RESPONSE TO JESUS +++++++++++++++
Ø Like Martha, who receives Jesus into her home
& Mary Magdalene, whose discipleship is expressed in financial service, so
Z receives J w/ joy, opening his heart & wallet in generous outreach
Ø Z declares that ½ his possessions will go 2
poor & any ill-gotten $ he’ll repay 4x over
Ø In addition to his dignity & reputation,
Z risks his financial security & social standing among his rich cohorts
Ø Gospel’s not specific about ways in which Z
feels lost, or what prompts him 2 look 2 J 2B found
Ø Nonetheless, J perceives Zs’ need &
leaves w/ him saving grace 2 negotiate challenges that are surely ahead for him
IMPLICATIONS
OF HIS RESPONSE TO JESUS ++++++++
Ø J doesn’t ask Z 2 leave behind his profession
nor 2 give away rest of his possessions
Ø Rather, he meets him in the place of his seeking &
opens up a saving way forward w/i his particular circumstances
Ø 1 wonders what’ll be cost 2 Z 2 live out of
this saving grace?
Ø Will he be ostracized by the Jericho elites?
Ø Will he follow Jesus out onto the final limb,
the tree of the cross?
Ø Will his life, like that of Jesus’, seed new
shoots of hope and life?
CONCLUSION ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø That isn’t the question that should be on our
minds
Ø Our question is will this encounter w/ J in
this revelation seed new shoots of hope and life in us?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
