Jesus’ Invitation

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.” Matthew 14:25-26

You just ordered your tall Pumpkin Spice Latte, extra hot, skim milk, one pump with no whipped cream but as you are heading toward your chair to savor your drink, you notice someone familiar. You know you’ve seen the young woman before but from where? She is not from work, not from your church, and doesn’t live in the neighborhood but you know you know her. I am sure that is how a lot of customers felt on a Saturday morning in an LA coffee shop when Kelly Clarkson shocked everyone with an impromptu flash mob performance of her new song from her upcoming album. You never know what surprises await you in life!

Surprised was most likely how Zacchaeus felt on that warm, sunny day when Jesus found him up in a tree on a dusty road to Jericho. The story about Zacchaeus is familiar to most people since most of us have probably sung his theme song at one point or another. “Zacchaeus was a wee little man; And a wee little man was he; he climbed up in a sycamore tree; For the Lord he wanted to see; And when the Savior passed that way; He looked up in the tree; And said, ‘Zacchaeus, you come down; For I’m going to your house today!; For I’m going to your house today!’; Zacchaeus was a wee little man; But a happy man was he; For he had seen the Lord that day; And a happy man was he; And a very happy man was he”

You can thank me later for putting those words in your mind that will keep popping up all day long!

It had probably been a long time since Zacchaeus had heard his name without someone spitting on the ground as they said it. The Bible doesn’t tell us why Zacchaeus decided to become a tax collector. Maybe it was the only job he could get at the time or he knew he could make money by being one. Whatever the reason it had been a long time since Zacchaeus had lived up to the meaning of his name: pure and innocent. Yet on this particular day, while hanging onto a tree limb, he heard his name, not laced with profanity, but with love.

“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 19:5-6 NIV)
Jesus was no stranger to pulling off impromptu flash mob performances. Months earlier Jesus had been walking through town and stopped at the tax collection booth where Matthew worked. Unlike Zacchaeus who had made the effort to see Jesus, Matthew kept working, that was until he heard his name and an invitation, “Follow me.” Matthew was surprised but it didn’t take him long to put down his pen and leave behind his lucrative profession to follow Jesus. (see Matthew 9:9-13)

What do you do when you hear the new song that Jesus invites you to sing? You throw a party! “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.” (Matt 9:10). If you are a Matthew or a Zacchaeus then your list probably will not include the social elite, the powerful or the “righteous” but they will include people you want to hear Jesus’ new song.

It is incredible how many stories there are about tax collectors in the Bible! Jesus had told a parable in Luke 18 comparing the self-professed righteous religious leaders with a tax collector. The religious leader prayed, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” (v11-12). However, the tax collector stood at a distance and pleadingly prayed, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” (v13)

Guess which one had center billing in Jesus’ story? “I tell you that this man (the tax collector), rather than the other (the religious leader), went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (v14)
“When people are empty of Christ, a thousand and one things come and fill them up: jealousies, resentment, a worldly outlook, worldly pleasures. Try to fill your soul with Christ so that it’s not empty.” –St. Porphyrios

When Matthew heard his name called by Jesus, he closed up shop and followed Jesus. When Zacchaeus heard his name called by Jesus, he climbed down from the tree and went with Jesus. Overwhelmed with grace, he changed his business practices as he made right the wrongs he had done to others.

Tax collector, sinner, and outcast may have been considered synonyms among the religious and elite society of Jesus’ day but not for Jesus. Jesus looked into a booth and invited Matthew to finally come home. Jesus looked up into a tree and invited Zacchaeus to finally come home. We may have someone or a group in mind that is our synonym for tax collector. However, Jesus doesn’t because he is looking into the nooks and crannies of life with the same invitation of hope and life, “Follow me”

God is great!