The Links to the Bartimaeus Story
As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening. They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, He stopped and ordered that the man be brought to Him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
Luke 18:35-43
The Zacchaeus Story
Jesus entered Jericho and made His way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, He looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” He said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Luke 19:1-10
As I told you yesterday, I don’t know where to start today’s Gem. I normally have a clear sense of what I want to put in each Gem before I start it. For those of you who know me, you know I am not a man who is normally lost for words. The problem in this case is that I have too many words to share and don’t know what to leave out. Well, yes, I often have that problem. But in this case there is just too much good stuff to share. I don’t want to turn this section into 40 Gems like I did with the Prodigal Son or 20 Gems as I did with the Lazarus and the Rich Man story. But it also goes against the grain to miss out so much good stuff.
So I intend to spend the first part of this Gem sharing some left over (gold) nuggets from the passage and then I will spend the second half summing it all up.
Some remaining Gold:
Both of these men were seekers after Jesus, Son of David, Messiah. Although we don’t know why Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, we know he was highly motivated. It is likely he had heard all about Him. It is almost like he wanted to get a look at Him to see what He looked like. But clearly it was for something more than a passing look. However, it turned quickly into something more, and ended up with his repentance and him finding saving faith. At that moment, that descendant of Abraham who had turned into a quisling and was viewed by those around him as a notorious sinner, became a true son of Abraham. THIS piece of filth became pure. Yes, I know, I have switched the names and the roles. I have done it deliberately. On whose authority? Jesus, because that is what He was doing. Jesus was using each situation and highlighting the truth behind the one who was filthy was now pure.
The urgency about Luke 19:5 is fascinating. “I must be a guest in your home today.” I must! Why is there a necessity about this action? It is all part of the Divine plan being enacted here. Staying in Zacchaeus’ home is part of His mission. This is what His Father has chosen for Him during His time in Jericho. There is no hint of it before the encounter with Zacchaeus. Jesus was intent on leaving Jericho as soon as possible. But it soon became clear that He was in Jericho for Zacchaeus. Well, for these two man actually, from opposite ends of the spectrum, but both in need of salvation. The verb [meno] carries the sense of staying the night. I didn’t mention that before, but it is not just a brief stopover lunch or a meal. Jesus stayed the night with this “filthy sinner”. On leaving the house, Jesus would have been considered unclean. How could this rabbi from Galilee even consider stopping at the home of one so filthy, ceremonially speaking, when He is on the way to Jerusalem for Passover? It has huge implications.
“If I have cheated anyone” does not carry a sense of doubt over the factuality of the fraud taking place. The fact of what he has done is not in doubt, the undetermined aspect is the extent of the fraud and extortion. The conditional construction in this case is best translated, whoever I may have defrauded. . . Zacchaeus is not denying he defrauded anyone. Rather, he is admitting he has defrauded and extorted money falsely. He is willingly putting things right to the highest level. He has done this act in his role as a tax collector which allowed him to set the tax levels. The Law allowed for him to repay the amount taken and then to add 20%. But he is willing to return 4 times the amount according to Exodus 22:1 which says: “If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he shall pay five oxen for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.” Zacchaeus is admitting he stole the money and is willing to pay it back at the highest rate demanded by the law. His heart is truly repentant.
Summing it all up:
What is remarkable about these two stories, is that they are premised on what has gone before them. I am convinced both Jesus and Luke are picking up on the Pharisee and the Tax Collector of Luke 18:9-14. It is no coincidence that we have a tax collector and a sinner as the focus of these two summary stories. Jesus has cast a tax collector in the leading role of both stories deliberately. The names of these people depict the two sides of the story. The filthy sinner and the pure righteous man. We all know where the Pharisees think the truth lies. We all know where the people think the truth lies – they have been taught by the Pharisees, who turn the people into twice as much as sons of hell, as they are. But the stories make it clear that both of these people can be “healed”.
Notice, I used the word HEALED. The word “sozo” or more correctly “sodzo,” contains both the idea of healed, but at a deeper level “saved” – as in the terms of eternal salvation. This blind man can be healed from his physical ailment but he can also receive salvation – immediately. He can walk free having been forgiven. Remember earlier questions about whether Jesus is able (allowed) to forgive sins. Only God can do that. That’s right, He has the authority to do so as Son of David, Messiah. The blind man knows that! Now isn’t that ironic. There is a huge point being made there but I will leave that for you to unpack. There are none so blind, as those who will not see. However, the point is that both of these men – the pure (a jibe at the Pharisees themselves) and the filthy, can both be saved if they will come on God’s terms. Just confess your need.
Don’t miss the allusion to the earlier question about whether a rich man can be saved. The fact is there seems to always be a representative of the rich in all these stories, parables and encounters. After all, that is a major theme of Luke’s – well actually, those in focus are the poor not the rich, but by the fact that there is a rich man in the story, it serves to highlight the plight of the poor. But where Pharisees and others are concerned they see the poor as lost merely because they are poor. The “filthy poor” and the filthy rich can be saved simply by voicing their need and trusting in the One who came to save them. This blind beggar simply took the mercy that was offered him, left his cloak behind with all that meant and trusted Jesus to take care of his future. He answered Jesus’ question – what can I do for you? Do you really want to be healed? Yes, I do. I want ultimate healing. Not the healing of my body, but the healing of my soul. I want salvation. I want to be made right with God, with all the meaning that we have accumulated for that term. We all need to realize, God is far more interested in healing our souls and our sin sickness, than He is about getting our bodies into heaven in one piece. That is why Jesus can say, “It is better that you lose an eye but not your soul.” Learn to look in the right direction and to the things that are most important. Don’t let the lesser get in the way of the most important.
Now, I would like to draw your attention to one more hugely important link. The statement: – “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.”
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” is hugely significant. I am sure if you cast your mind back to Luke Chapter 16, you will realize this comment is a link to the Lazarus story. You consider yourself sons and daughters of Abraham. The reference to a son of Abraham is a huge comment in the context of the Lazarus story and the aftermath, up to this point. These stories and parables are all cumulative and building upon one another. No Jew would talk about the daughters of Abraham, that is my addition, just to draw attention to the fact: ladies, it includes you too. A true child of Abraham is, as Paul says, one who is circumcised of the heart, not the body. One who has a heart that is responsive to God the Father and one who confesses their true state of sinfulness is a “son of Abraham”. That is clear from the stories. Both of these men come as they are – no pretence. Rich people can enter the Kingdom of Heaven when they don’t allow their riches to get in the way. As we have seen time and time again, in all of the evidence in Luke, when they are willing to surrender their wealth to create friends in heaven. I will let you dwell on that word picture. I will give you permission to right brain that one. But being a true son of Abraham, also hints at it being on the basis of faith. Abraham is the father of faith. The blind man was told his faith had saved him. What faith? He was willing to trust Jesus for the outcome even if it meant he couldn’t beg again. Even to the point where he trusted so strongly, that he was willing to leave behind his begging cloak.
That and only that, is the way for a rich man or woman and for a filthy man or woman to come to God. That is the reason why Jesus came – to call guilty sinners back to the Father. Whenever He stops and finds one with a soft heart to the things of God, who is willing to confess their need, salvation occurs. One more thing I will say and then I will close and leave the rest to you to work out. Notice that in each case, Jesus is the one who initiates the process. The invitation comes from Jesus (or the Holy Spirit). After all, He is the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus invited the blind man forward and even invites himself into Zacchaeus’ house, but He has to be received. If the heart is hard and not soft – salvation won’t occur. (See Gem 877) I think its serendipitous, a God touch.
This is a remarkable way for Jesus and Luke to finish this string of teachings, parables and events. Now its time to ponder the depth of all Luke has put together. Today is the day of salvation. The rest I leave for you to put together. The point is will you stop and take it all in and respond firstly for the sake of your soul. Then will you be willing to stop and invite another to join you on the way?
The one who saved your soul longs to remake your heart. His plan is nothing short of a total transformation.
Max Lucado
Your salvation wasn’t a joint effort. You didn’t contribute a penny because you were spiritually bankrupt.
Bob Gass
The question in salvation is not whether Jesus is Lord, but whether we are submissive to His Lordship.
John MacArthur
Life Is Not About Understanding Your Practices But Practicing Your Understandings.
Robb Thompson