Seeing, Seeking, & Saving (Part 2)

Zacch & Bart’s Excellent Adventure (Part 2)

In Part 1, we considered Bartimaeus (Bart) and how Jesus healed him despite the crowd's attempts to get the blind beggar to shut up. However, once Jesus healed him the formerly crabby crowd began to rejoice when the oppressed man was healed. However, Kenneth E. Bailey poses an important question,

“By extending special grace to the very man the crowd had just rejected, Jesus gives the crowd a verbal slap on the wrist! Would they be able to absorb Jesus’ public criticism of them? Yes, indeed, for they join the formerly blind man in his praises to God. As long as Jesus is offering special grace to the oppressed it would be churlish to make a fuss. When he offers special grace to the oppressor it may be a different story, as the reader soon discovers.” (Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, 174)

In this post, we will consider an oppressor‘s (Zacchaeus) encounter when he sought to see Jesus. 

II) Zacchaeus Seeks Jesus (Luke 19:1-10)

The Bible is filled with passages encouraging people to seek God. The truth is God wants to be found by his creatures. Here are a couple of well-known “seeking” passages. In the context of sinful Israel being sent into exile, the Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah of the coming day when they would seek God again,

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

In the New Testament, Jesus in his most famous sermon taught that God would respond to the seeker, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

This leads us to the story of a famous seeker preserved in the Gospel of Luke named Zacchaeus (Zacch). Let’s read Luke 19:1-10…

                        He entered Jericho and was passing through.

And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus.

              He was a chief tax collector and was rich.

       And he was seeking to see who Jesus was,

                         but on account of the crowd he could not,    [Why?]

because he was small in stature.  

          So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree

                                         to see him, for he was about to pass that way.

  And when Jesus came to the place,

                        he looked up and said to him,

                                                              “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down,

                         for I must stay at your house today.”

  So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.

  And when they saw it, they all grumbled,

                        “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

  And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord,

           “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor.

                                                          And if I have defrauded anyone of anything,

                                                                    I restore it fourfold.”

  And Jesus said to him,

              “Today salvation has come to this house,

               since he also is a son of Abraham.

                               For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

As we look at the second part of this week’s adventure we need to take into consideration a number of Biblical allusions that may be in play and also consider the counter-cultural surprises it contains.

I) Biblical Allusions (Joshua 7; 2 Sam. 12:5-6; Ex. 22:1-5; Luke 3:7-14; 18:18-30):

The Zacchaeus narrative is such a familiar story, especially for those who have grown up in the church and can picture a Sunday school teacher putting Zacchaeus up in the old flannel-graph tree. Yet as I read this story I see that it is filled with allusion to Old Testament and even other New Testament events. This may not be your parents' Zacchaeus in a tree story, delightful though it might have been.

While these events didn’t usually make it to the flannel graph…they add great depth to the story. Simple observation often opens the door to greater understanding and appreciation. Too often we don’t take time to notice the interpretive clues that are right there in the text.

1. Where does this narrative take place? It takes place in Jericho which reminds me of the story of Achan in Joshua 7. In his greed, Achan took what had been devoted to God, from the conquest of Jericho, for himself. Now in the Roman town of Jericho, one of the top three tax collecting sites, Zacch is the one who perhaps has been defrauding others for his own benefit. Achan’s sin hurt others, so must have the oppressive policies of the chief tax collector. In an act of repentance, Zacchaeus pledged to give half of what he has to the poor and promises to repay any he has defrauded fourfold. This is likely a culturally appropriate exaggeration for changing the way he does business. What a change!
2. This fourfold restitution evokes David’s reaction to Nathan upon hearing his story of the rich man who stole the poor man’s lamb (2 Sam. 12:5-6) when he cries out that the man who did this should die after making fourfold restitution (Ex. 22:1-5). The law called for it. Here Zacch makes this declaration without being confronted.
   
3. To make a New Testament connection, the proximity in Luke’s account begs us to ironically compare Zacchaeus, the ruler of the tax collectors, to the rich young ruler of (18:18-30) who went away sad when Jesus asked him to give his goods to the poor. Here the despised and oppressive tax collector, after being in the presence of Jesus pledges to give the majority of his wealth to the poor and mistreated unasked! Salvation indeed had come to his house…and it was received and responded to! 
4. Finally, Zacchaeus’ response is one of full repentance in keeping with the message that John the Baptist had preached along the Jordan River probably not too far from Jericho. In fact, it’s possible that Zacchaeus heard it from John directly (Luke 3:7-14)!

“Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, ‘Teacher, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Collect no more than you are authorized to do.’” (3:12-13)

In addition to these allusions that would likely have been understood by the original audiences, there are a number of aspects to this narrative that would have tweaked those clinging to the dominant culture of that day. I am indebted to Kenneth E. Bailey’s works for helping those of us immersed in Western culture to begin to see Jesus' ministry and teaching within its native the Middle-eastern culture, and thus better understand the teaching of Christ.

Counter-Cultural Surprises:

Zacch’s adventure began with the desire to seek Jesus so that he might be able to see “who he was”. We know that he couldn’t see because he was short—Or do we? Certainly, that was the case but as a wealthy man, he should have been held in honor if he hadn’t been a traitorous and cheating tax collector. However, because he was likely the most hated man in town, he could not enter or push through the crowd to see Jesus. It would have been too dangerous…like the U.S. President walking into a crowd of protesters,  without Secret Service protection.

Zacch seems to have been willing to step outside of cultural norms to seek Jesus and Jesus is willing to violate that same cultural sensibility to seek and save the lost. Here is a brief sample of counter-cultural surprises in this narrative:

• Jesus, instead of stopping to enjoy the hospitality of the leaders in Jericho “was passing through”. The celebration of the welcoming crowd in the last scene (Bart’s story) perhaps grew uneasy and disappointed that he was not going to honor them by staying the night.
• Zacch ran to get ahead of the crowd. An adult man doesn’t run without bringing shame to himself. We can be sure that Zacch thought he ran unseen while everyone’s attention was diverted. Most likely he was wrong. Someone always sees those embarrassing moments.
• Zacch climbed a tree.

  

  This tree in the movie was not
  leafy enough. He was looking
  to remain hidden but failed.

  This was strike two. It would have been culturally unacceptable for an adult to climb a tree like a child. This tree, by law, would have been outside of town but provided Zacch little protection from ridicule. Bailey argues effectively for the probability that Jesus didn’t just guess Zacch’s name or demonstrate supernatural knowledge (though it is certainly possible) but that the angry crowd had surrounded the tree and were hurling abuse at the little tax collector they had “treed”. They could say whatever they wanted from the anonymity of the crowd, much like comment threads on almost any political or sports-related web post.
• 
  Jesus called Zacch down and invited himself to his house. If Bailey is right and the crowd was taking out their hostility on the tax collector in the tree, then to borrow a line from a Captain America movie, Jesus “stepped on their moment” by inviting himself to Zacch’s house and giving him safe passage away from the crowd. Bailey suggests that Jesus deliberately redirected the hostility of the town onto himself. Pretty awesome! If Bailey is not correct, then Jesus still broke social protocol by inviting himself, and passing up the town’s hospitality for that of a turncoat tax collector!
• Zacch accepted Jesus into his home and responded to this show of costly love by repenting and announcing a new approach to business. Certainly, the hostile crowd could not have imagined such a change…one that would profoundly benefit them.

As a result of reading this narrative I have to ask myself some soul-searching questions:

• Is there anything in me that takes advantage of others for my own benefit?
• Do I recognize Jesus' acts of love, forgiveness, and acceptance towards me?
• Do I allow Jesus, who by the Holy Spirit indwells me, to make changes in my life?
• Am I teachable and open to correction by the Holy Spirit or do I need to be smacked in the ego with the 2x4 of affliction or can I quickly catch a clue as the Holy Spirit gently brings conviction?

I want to be sensitive to such conviction this week. I want to answer the call to repent wholeheartedly like Zacchaeus did!

Conclusion: Jesus Saved them both (Bart & Zacch)!

To lean on Bailey (Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, 182-183) one last time, Jesus said three things at the end of this pericope (i.e., self-contained story, event):

1.  “Today salvation has come to this house” “The life-changing power that entered Zacchaeus’s house was not Jesus’ decision to stay overnight. Rather, it was Jesus’ deliberate act of shifting the town’s hostility away from Zacchaeus to himself. ‘With his stripes we are healed’ (Is 53:5).” [Bailey 182] 
2. “Since he also is a son of Abraham.”  Jesus was publically declaring Zacchaeus’ citizenship in the community of Israel, and more importantly the community of faith. He was part of the kingdom of God because he responded to the love of the king with costly faith. Jesus was saying that “He is one of us!” 
3. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” We talk about how Bart saw Jesus and how Zacch was seeking to see Jesus, but ultimately it was Jesus who saw him and was seeking them. That is how God works. Have you stopped to consider whether He looking for you? If you are lost, then the answer is yes!

Are we seeing? Are we seeking? Jesus is saving!

O Lord, do your work in us so that those who watch our lives and perhaps have grumbled against us, may instead be prompted to praise you!

May we listen to the Spirit who gently and persistently exposes our blind spots so that you don’t need to take more drastic measures with us (like you did with Achan and even with David). May we not oppress or intimidate others, but deal fairly and even generously with them because you have shown your love to us!

May we joyfully welcome you to stay at our house anytime and may your presence with us purify us all! Amen.

Seeing, Seeking, & Saving (Part 1)

Alternate title: Zacch & Bart’s Excellent Adventure (Part 1)

Intro: In recent weeks we have seen that as Jesus turned south and headed for Jerusalem one final time, he walked in wisdom, love, and light as an example for us.

We considered how God takes the initiative in seeking, and rejoices over even one sinner who repents, as revealed in Luke 15’s three-fold “Lost & Found” parable.

Then last week we saw how Jesus was purposeful in preparing his followers as he headed to the cross. He told them ahead of time what would happen—both the good and the bad—so that they might believe. We asked ourselves, “What has Jesus told us?” Are we listening?

Today we continue this journey to the passion of Christ with a pair of encounters in Jericho.

This passage is an interesting play on blindness and sight. Who is blind and who can see in each story? When preaching through Luke in Beaverton, we called this “The Blind Man & the Bad Man” but perhaps these descriptions should be put upon the crowd instead. Let’s take a look at Zac & Bart’s Excellent Adventure!

I) Blind Bartimaeus Sees Jesus (Luke 18:35-43; Mark 10:46-52)

Here is Luke’s account of this encounter, with additional details from Mark’s account in bracketed italics:

As he drew near to Jericho, 

         a blind man [Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus]

                   was sitting by the roadside begging. 

        And hearing a crowd going by,

            he inquired what this meant.

They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” 

     And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 

And those who were in front rebuked him,

     telling him to be silent.

     But he cried out all the more,

                                             “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 

And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him.

[And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”

And they called the blind man, saying to him, 

                               “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”

And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.] 

And when he came near, he asked him, 

                        “What do you want me to do for you?” 

               He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”

And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; 

                                                     your faith has made you well.” 

[And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; 

                                                     your faith has made you well.”] 

             And immediately he recovered his sight

             and followed him, [on the way]      glorifying God.

And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

What do we see Bart doing?

• He inquired what this meant.  He didn’t just ask one person but literally “he kept asking for himself.” As the crowd went out to usher in the honored visitor, the blind man, Bartimaeus (as Mark preserves his name), heard a crowd and inquired as to the reason for the commotion. He was told that “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” This would be Jesus’ last visit to Jericho; an opportunity not to be missed.
• He begged for mercy. Bartimaeus jumped at the chance, surely having heard of the miracles of healing a deliverance Jesus regularly performed. Hearing that it was Jesus passing by he cried out for mercy. His cry for mercy seemed to be the standard beggar’s plea, though maybe a bit louder. But he was asking more than money, as we will see.
• He cried out all the more.  It would have been culturally inappropriate for beggars to cry out to important guests of the town on their arrival. The leaders of the community would have discouraged him from begging in order to put a better face on Jericho for Jesus’ visit. We do the same thing today when cities prepare for international events like the Olympics—for example, orphanages for blind girls were removed in China, tenants evicted in East London, and residential slums are currently being demolished in Rio de Janeiro for this year’s games. Bartimaeus, could not be discouraged and was shouting for mercy despite being told to shut up!

Why would Bart do this? Why would he risk the on-going patronage of the residents of Jericho? The difference is the One to whom he called—Jesus, “the Son of David” which is a title loaded with meaning. This plea seems to suggest that Bartimaeus realized that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies. The blind man ironically saw what few others did. The blind saw and the seeing were blind.

• He cast off his cloak and sprang up. Bart wasted no time in responding to the call of Christ. Have you ever thought about the meaning behind a blind man throwing away his cloak? How was he going to find it again? He probably realized that he wouldn’t need it again…or that he would be able to see to find it. In this response to Christ, Bart is an example to us all. We may ask for mercy, but when it is offered do we spring up in faith, or do we wait until tomorrow?[1]
• He passed the test of faith. Jesus asked Bart a question that really was a test of faith. The request for “mercy” might have been a simple beggar’s request for money to sustain him in his current situation…or it could have been a request for something more. Jesus gave Bart an opportunity to choose the adventure of faith or to settle for less. If Jesus was to heal him then he would not be able to beg anymore. With little education or work experience, such a change might be terrifying, but Bart chose the path of faith. We can see that he believed that: 

1. Jesus had the power of God to heal. He most likely had heard many stories about Jesus’ miracles of healing. What is amazing is that somehow he had not been able to get to Jesus before this time. He didn't settle for the short-term safety of begging for money but asked for his eyes to be healed.
2. Jesus would show compassion to the poor. Certainly, this was a cultural expectation where giving to the poor was seen as doing the work of God. Yet at the same time, it is an acknowledgment that he himself is a beggar and in need. Bart knew he was poor. Beyond that, if we take Hebrews 11:6 into account, we can see a faith that is pleasing to God in that Bart believes God exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
3. Jesus was the Son of David, and he calls him “Lord.” As I mentioned earlier, Bart had a clue as to the true identity of Jesus as the Messiah, and healing was in the hands of the Coming King! I am reminded of Tolkien’s scene in the LOTR trilogy, where Aragorn, the true king, is able to heal those wounded by the enemy’s evil. Aragorn heals his followers in secret as Tolkien’s inspiration, Jesus, had done.

Bartimaeus’ request was to recover his sight, and in Greek the word used is “anablepō”, which literally means “to look up” (ana = up; blepō = to see) and is used for the “recovery of sight.“ Jesus grants his request and heals him. I regularly post sunset and cloud photos on Instagram with the hashtag #keeplookingup, as a reminder that we like Bartimaeus are blind without the touch of God. We need eyes of faith to see God at work around us and trust him with our lives.

What should we consider as a result?

• How desperate am I for Jesus to work in my life? This would have been Bartimaeus’ last chance as Jesus was headed to Jerusalem—he was not going to miss out on this opportunity for grace. It seems like we are often much less aware of our desperate condition and thus less committed to seeking the Lord.

• How badly do I want to be changed? (e.g., how I see the world, myself, and God.) Do I really want to “look up” and give God glory for everything?

• Am I willing to accept responsibility by living into that gift? Bartimaeus could beg no longer but cast aside the cloak of the old blind beggar to follow in faith and gratitude. Are we willing to leave our old way of living behind for the excellent adventure of the life of faith? How do we testify to Jesus’ gracious work on our behalf?

v.52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; 

                                                    your faith has made you well.” [sozo]

        And immediately                            he recovered his sight

                and followed him on the way.

Jesus declares that Bart has been “saved” for the word translated “well” is the Greek “sozo,” the holistic word for healing/deliverance from danger/spiritual salvation. Here is the punch line… in the restoration of his sight Bart was commissioned to, “Go your way...” no demands were made on him. He didn’t have to work off the price of his healing. So what is the way that he “goes”? He followed Jesus on the way! What he saw with his heart he now saw with his eyes and followed with his feet! Bart immediately followed Jesus and glorified God—he looked up!

R. Kent Hughes wrote, “Scholars say Mark’s Gospel preserves Bartimaeus’ name (10:46) because he became a stalwart in the Jerusalem church. He followed Jesus, witnessing the Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday, the horror of the Crucifixion, and the joy of the Resurrection. Talk about getting an eyeful.” (Hughes, Luke, Vol. 2, 218)

O Lord, this week may we testify to your healing, liberating, sustaining work on our behalf! May we be “forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what is ahead in the upward calling of God”! You are faithful and true! You are loving and kind! You are powerful and yet gentle in your dealings with us! Son of David, Son of man, thank you for your mercy that has made us sons of Abraham…and even more, children of God! Amen.

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[1] The Egyptian Pharaoh during the ten plagues in Exodus was asked by Moses when he should pray for the frogs that were covering everything to be removed. Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow.” (Ex. 8:10) Can you imagine spending one more night with the frogs?