“I will pay back…”

Luke 19:1-10                                                 Rev. Todd B. Freeman

Bethany Presbyterian Church, Dallas                                October 31, 2004

I have never considered myself as one who lived a deprived childhood. A bit sheltered, yes, but not deprived. Well, maybe a little bit deprived. Even though I spent my entire childhood attending church and Sunday School, I never learned that catchy little song about Zacchaeus. I know many of you remember it by heart to this very day. But I had to look up the lyrics on the Internet. Since they do such a good job retelling this popular Bible story I want to share them with you. They go like this:  (Those of you who know the tune can sing along in your head, if you so choose.)

Zacchaeus was a wee little man, A wee little man was he.

He climbed up in the sycamore tree, the Savior for to see.

And when the Savior passed that way, He looked up in the tree,

And he said, “Zacchaeus, you come down from there;

For I’m going to your house today, for I’m going to your house today.”

And Zacchaeus came down from that tree, and he said,

“What a better man I’ll be. I’ll give my money to the poor.

What a better man I’ll be. What a better man I’ll be.”

What most kids remember about Zacchaeus what that he was short. That probably helps endear him to children, since they too can relate to not being able to see what is going on, like at a parade, because of what is now termed in politically correct language as being vertically challenged.

There’s no doubt that the way Luke tells this story that he intended Zacchaeus to be an endearing character. The story itself paints an intentionally humorous picture. But this is far from being a lighthearted, simple story. It is packed with both theological and practical revelations about such things as self-esteem, self-consciousness, courage, prejudice toward outcasts, good stewardship, God’s grace, and Jesus’ primary mission. I’m going to address only a couple of these today. And I want to begin by commenting on this last point, which is found at the end of the story.

Verse 10 has Jesus declare: “For the Son of Humanity has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” After what begins as the story of a lost person seeking to get a glimpse of Jesus, we learn that all along it is Jesus who seeks out the lost! That’s good news for the lost. But who are the lost? What makes them lost? One part of that answer is those who have strayed from the ways of God. People are lost because of their disobedience to God’s law of loving others, including our enemies, our neighbors, and ourselves.

Another part of the answer of who is lost might be those whom society has shunned. These are the people that others look down on – perhaps a play on the image in our story of Zacchaeus being a short person.  Biblical commentator Brian Stoffregen adds, “It can be that the ‘lost’ sheep is out of the fold because the fold won’t let it in. People are lost (or stay lost) often because the church or society may keep them as ‘outsiders. [In this story] it was certainly the ‘grumblers’ wish that Zacchaeus remain lost.” Is it possible that we are guilty of secretly hoping that certain others remain lost and outside the fold?

Luke had a strong theology of the church; that the work of Jesus must be the work of his church, the body of Christ. In this particular case, since Jesus sought out the ‘lost,’ then so must we as a congregation. Perhaps we need to be more like the sycamore tree, so that those who are seeking can climb up our branches to get a glimpse of Jesus.

Commentator Jerry Goebel asks, “Are we looking down into the dark alleys and looking up into the sycamore trees to find the lost children of Abraham? Our purpose is to ‘seek and to save’.” Just as it seems that our politicians have been fervent to embrace the mission of ‘search and destroy,’ are we, as Christians, being just as fervent to ‘seek and save’? Goebel adds, “Who will carry that candle into the darkness? Who will take that water into the desert? Who will give up their pride and prejudice to sit among the lost – even if we wind up insulted by ‘believers’?”

The Greek word that is translated here as ‘save,’ also carries the meaning, ‘to make whole.’ Here and elsewhere in Luke, it is evident that to be ‘saved’ is not merely in reference to individualistic salvation from eternal hellfire and brimstone. Can we really talk about a personal salvation that doesn’t also affect other people?

To be saved is to be transformed here and now. Part of Zacchaeus’ salvation was a heart that was transformed from greed to giving. “Not only did his giving make his own life whole, but it also improved society – resources for the poor and restitution for the cheated. Salvation is more than an individual event – society also needs to be given new life and made whole. That’s why even our own John Calvin, during the Protestant Reformation, was so keen on emphasizing the crucial importance of public elections.

“How do we ‘save’ people from greed? Their, and our, desires for getting more and more have to be converted – literally ‘turned around’ to giving more and more.” Zacchaeus was converted by his encounter with Jesus. His repentance took the form of action when he promises Jesus, “I will pay back…" Our approach to good stewardship can be positively influenced by this attitude and action of giving back.

What if we began each day with the simple prayer, “God, today I will give back…” Our Reformed understanding of stewardship, as you know, emphasizes that all we have is really only on loan to us. All actually belongs to God and we are asked to be good stewards of those blessings. It is our belief that we are blessed so that we may bless others – like through the life and ministry of this congregation. Out of gratitude and thanksgiving, we are to give back our time, our talents, and our financial resources. In the process, we the church, and society itself are transformed – made whole – saved.

As a congregation we are to be involved in doing the work of Christ, which includes that mission to seek and save the lost. We can only do that through the generous giving of ourselves.

As a congregation, we are all deeply aware of the challenges we face in the coming year. Some even say that it is a make or break time for the future of this church. I, too, believe that this is true. How each of us responds to these challenges will be more crucial than ever!

I am deeply grateful for the six elders who formed three teams this fall to visit with all of us about the issues we face. Perhaps most importantly, they have been collecting your input as to what the life and ministry of this congregation really means to each of you, the difference it makes in your life that you are a part of this particular family of faith, and how it would impact your life if Bethany didn’t exist. I really look forward to the concluding report that they will be sharing with us later this year.

They have also asked each of us what it is that we can do personally for the common good in the year ahead. This is important not only in order to survive, but to thrive and grow as a vibrant and relevant congregation.

Zacchaeus told Jesus what it was that he would pay back. How will you complete the sentence posed in title of this sermon?

See you next week on Pledge Sunday when each of us have the opportunity to answer that question!

Amen.