Devotional 10-28-16

Please read Luke 19:1-10

This week's gospel text is the story of Zacchaeus, the rich tax collector who experienced a radical life-changing transformation when he met Jesus.

This was one of my father's favorite bible passages. It is compelling; who doesn't love a good conversion story. The ornerier the sinner/-cum-saint, the better the testimony. Although we don't know much about Zacchaeus, Luke gives enough details that the original audience would have made no mistake as to his deplorable nature. Zacchaeus, says Luke, was both a tax collector and rich.

I imagine first-century Palestinians didn't like to render unto Caesar any more than peoples of all times and places throughout history. Today we may have disdain for the IRS, but ancient Jews had a better reason for their hatred of tax collectors. These "publicans" were in collusion with the occupying nation to collect taxes from their own neighbors--they were seen as traitors. Moreover, tax collectors got rich by collecting more than the amount due and keeping the extra. No wonder the crowd grumbled when Jesus chose to eat with Zacchaeus.

What dad liked about the story of Zacchaeus is how, when we are looking for Jesus, He finds us. And life will never be the same.

I went to a United Methodist Men meeting with Dad at his church where he shared a devotional he had written based on Zacchaeus's conversion. For Dad, Zacchaeus experienced new life because he was willing to leave his place of comfort--the sycamore tree where he could view Jesus from a distance. How often we might be tempted to watch from afar without any personal commitment or participation. But Jesus says to Zacchaeus and, I think, to us, "hurry and come down!"

When Zacchaeus and when we respond obediently, our lives are changed.

Dad concluded, "Check your fingernails. Do you have sycamore bark from clinging on to keep your distance?"

May each of us seek Jesus and be found.

Jeff Taylor