|
When Grace Invites Herself Over
by Matt Laney
When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down [from that tree]; for I must stay at your house today.” - Luke 19:5 (NRSV)
Jesus is passing through Jericho surrounded by curious onlookers. And there, up in a sycamore tree, is Zacchaeus: small man, big money.
Zack isn’t a run-of-the-mill tax collector, but a chief tax collector. He’s grown rich off the backs of his neighbors. He prospers while most everyone else struggles.
He’s not necessarily a total monster. Maybe he loves his family, volunteers at synagogue, coaches his daughter’s team. I mean, someone must collect taxes. The extra fees are just business. Market forces. That’s what he tells himself.
Jesus knows how tax collectors roll and still has compassion. He says, “Zacchaeus, come down. I must stay at your house today.”
The crowd is outraged. A holy man should be calling him out, speaking truth to power, afflicting the comfortable and all that. Jesus should at least demand repentance before getting anywhere near this lowlife.
Zacchaeus responds, “Half of my possessions I will give to the poor. If I have defrauded anyone, I will pay back four times as much.”
Jesus declares, “Today salvation has come to this house.” He doesn’t mention heaven or reference his death as the atoning sacrifice for sin.
Being truly seen—no longer disdained as a pariah—undoes Zacchaeus. Because when God sits at your table and grace looks you in the eye, you can’t keep living off other people’s suffering.
Jesus calls that salvation: not what Zacchaeus believes about Jesus, but how Zacchaeus responds to unbelievable grace.
Prayer
Lower me, Jesus, until we see eye to eye and heart to heart.
| 
