Dropping In

Dropping In

Zacchaeus was a small man. No I am not talking about his height. He may have been a short of stature, but in character, he was tiny. Let me explain.

In Jesus’ day, the Roman empire had conquered most of the known world. He was born in Bethlehem because the Caesar Augustus decided once again to levy even another crippling tax on the conquered Jewish people.

Now, when Rome conquered a nation, they would gather all the leaders in an area, and ship them off to Rome, to live out the rest of their days using their skills as slaves for Roman officials and prominent families. Then they would appoint new puppet leaders as well as Roman Governors and other appointed officials to keep the peace by keeping the populous hungry and scared.

Everyone knew that at any time, for any reason a roman citizen could claim their property and home and have them dragged out of their beds and beaten and killed if they resisted in any way. The only way they were able to keep anything was to work very hard to pay taxes that left you with just enough money to exist. That was life in Jesus’s day. And it was hard. No wonder people were longing for a Messiah to come and save them from the roman oppression on their lives.

The only Jews that did well, were those who were Roman sympathizers, like King Herod and Zacchaeus, and other tax collectors. They lived very well indeed. They were encouraged to extort as much money as possible from the local population. He would send the required amount of funds to Rome, but whatever he collected extra, well that was his. And the Roman Army gave them the mussel to squeeze evet last coin from everyone. He and the other tax collectors lived very well. And they were despised by his people.

Enter Jesus… 19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

There was not a more despised man in town. And Jesus, the prophet, miracle worker, and preacher, invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home to eat! Tongues were wagging that day. Zacchaeus and his ilk profited from the misery of everyone else. And Jesus just talking to the man was a slap in the face of all oppressed Jews everywhere.

But the result of Jesus’ visit was amazing. Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “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.”

As I was writing this sermon another story came to my mind. And I would not be surprised if the author was inspired by Zacchaeus’ story. (Spark Notes 2018)

Scrooge, grateful for a second chance at his life, sings the praises of the spirits and of Jacob Marley. Upon realizing he has been returned to Christmas morning, Scrooge begins shouting "Merry Christmas!" at the top of his lungs. Genuinely over joyed and bubbling with excitement, Scrooge barely takes time to dress and dances while he shaves. In a blur, Scrooge runs into the street and offers to pay the first boy he meets a huge sum to deliver a great Christmas turkey to Bob Cratchit's. He meets one of the portly gentlemen who earlier sought charity for the poor and apologizes for his previous rudeness, promising to donate huge sums of money to the poor. He attends Fred's Christmas party and radiates such heartfelt bliss that the other guests can hardly manage to swallow their shock at his surprising behavior.

The following morning, Scrooge arrives at the office early and assumes a very stern expression when Bob Cratchit enters eighteen and a half minutes late. Scrooge, feigning disgust, begins to scold Bob, before suddenly announcing his plans to give Cratchit a large raise and assist his troubled family. Bob is stunned, but Scrooge promises to stay true to his word.

As time passes, Scrooge is as good as his word: He helps the Cratchits and becomes a second father to Tiny Tim who does not die as predicted in the ghost's ominous vision. Many people in London are puzzled by Scrooge's behavior, but Scrooge merely laughs off their suspicions and doubts. Scrooge brings a little of the Christmas spirit into every day, respecting the lessons of Christmas more than any man alive. The narrator concludes the story by saying that Scrooge's words and thoughts should be shared by of all of us ... "and so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, Every one!"