I’m enjoying my reading and reflecting on the earthly life of the
one I testify of following, found in the four Gospels. I also enjoy eating and try not to miss a meal. Especially, at Bettyann's table. Therefore, I wasn't
struck by the fact that Jesus seemed to love to eat, as I munched and read. At least that's what
the Gospel of Luke records. Through-out Luke's
narrative, Jesus is often coming and going from meals. Interestingly
enough, Jesus is often eating meals with a very sundry cast of
characters. Early on in Luke's narrative, Jesus is thrown a banquet by
tax gatherers—some of the most unsavory folks in Jesus’s day.
As I begin to put many of the meal stories together, I find many meals with Jesus were not simply about the food. They were the conduits for spiritual and life transformation. One dramatic example of this transformation occurs with a chief tax gatherer, the wee little man, Zaccheus. And unlike other accounts of meals with Jesus in Luke's Gospel where he is the invited guest, Jesus invites himself over to dine in Zaccheus's home. As a result of this eating experience, Jesus gives Zaccheus a new identity as a "son of Abraham," a title that inflamed the religious leaders of his day. How could Jesus count a scheming, conniving, tax-collecting outsider as a "son of Abraham"—which meant he was a son of the faithful patriarch and a true Israelite? And how did Zaccheus demonstrate faith that garnered Jesus's commendation?
I thought I knew, but just to refresh my memory I researched the website www.lectionary.org/luke a bit in order to understanding his place in society as a chief tax collector providing a necessary backdrop for the Zaccheus feast. Chief tax collectors contracted with the Romans to collect taxes in a particular town or region. It's as if he purchased a franchise from the Roman government at a substantial price, and then subcontracted the actual collection of the taxes to a group of men who worked under him. His profit was the difference between the fee paid to the Roman government and the amount of taxes he collected. The system was prone to abuse and rewarded tax collectors for excessive collections. Thus, the Jews saw tax collectors as mercenaries and thieves, and for one of their own to be in business with the Romans meant utter ostracism from the Jewish community. In fact The Tosefta Toharoth notes, "When tax collectors enter into a house, the house is considered unclean." There is no wonder for me why all who heard Jesus invite himself over to Zaccheus's house reacted with grumbling?
Yet, hearing the news of Jesus's arrival, this much-maligned man pushed his way through the crowds, hoisting up his garments in a most undignified manner just to get a glimpse. Zaccheus had heard the stories about Jesus—his healings, his eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners, and his remarkable, authoritative teachings. Now his curious faith compelled him to see for himself if all that he heard was really true.
Even knowing all of this, how surprising it must have been when Jesus invites himself over for dinner! Jesus wants to dine with this one who is despised. In response, Zaccheus overflows with generous gratitude. "Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor" Luke 19:8. Jesus has asked for nothing but hospitality from Zaccheus, and in response, Zaccheus willingly surrenders half of his wealth. The tax collector's willingness to let go of half of his wealth demonstrates faith—a faith, just like Abraham. The hospitality of Jesus prompts his faith-fueled donation.
I am surprised and thankful, for the sake of my own faith walk, to realize his faithful response goes beyond gratitude as he seeks to restore justice to those whom he has defrauded. It wasn't enough for Zaccheus to give away half of his wealth in response to Jesus; he insists on repaying those he has defrauded. The Old Testament requirement for restitution is for the amount defrauded plus one-fifth. But Zaccheus doesn't simply meet the letter of the law; he offers to repay four times as much as he has defrauded others! Four-fold restitution will impoverish Zaccheus, as he's already committed to give away half of his wealth. Yet in response to Jesus's gracious invitation, Zaccheus parts with his wealth as a sign of his saving faith. Jesus declares, "Today, salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham" Luke 19:9.
Like Abraham, Zaccheus responds with faith that prompts action. Voluntarily impoverishing himself, Zaccheus shows that he, too, will live by faith—faith that demonstrates its true character in action. Thus, Zaccheus's faith also benefits the community around him. At some point after Jesus invites himself to the tax collector's home, Zaccheus rises—uncoerced, unadmonished, and unprompted—and commits himself to doing justice.
As I begin to put many of the meal stories together, I find many meals with Jesus were not simply about the food. They were the conduits for spiritual and life transformation. One dramatic example of this transformation occurs with a chief tax gatherer, the wee little man, Zaccheus. And unlike other accounts of meals with Jesus in Luke's Gospel where he is the invited guest, Jesus invites himself over to dine in Zaccheus's home. As a result of this eating experience, Jesus gives Zaccheus a new identity as a "son of Abraham," a title that inflamed the religious leaders of his day. How could Jesus count a scheming, conniving, tax-collecting outsider as a "son of Abraham"—which meant he was a son of the faithful patriarch and a true Israelite? And how did Zaccheus demonstrate faith that garnered Jesus's commendation?
I thought I knew, but just to refresh my memory I researched the website www.lectionary.org/luke a bit in order to understanding his place in society as a chief tax collector providing a necessary backdrop for the Zaccheus feast. Chief tax collectors contracted with the Romans to collect taxes in a particular town or region. It's as if he purchased a franchise from the Roman government at a substantial price, and then subcontracted the actual collection of the taxes to a group of men who worked under him. His profit was the difference between the fee paid to the Roman government and the amount of taxes he collected. The system was prone to abuse and rewarded tax collectors for excessive collections. Thus, the Jews saw tax collectors as mercenaries and thieves, and for one of their own to be in business with the Romans meant utter ostracism from the Jewish community. In fact The Tosefta Toharoth notes, "When tax collectors enter into a house, the house is considered unclean." There is no wonder for me why all who heard Jesus invite himself over to Zaccheus's house reacted with grumbling?
Yet, hearing the news of Jesus's arrival, this much-maligned man pushed his way through the crowds, hoisting up his garments in a most undignified manner just to get a glimpse. Zaccheus had heard the stories about Jesus—his healings, his eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners, and his remarkable, authoritative teachings. Now his curious faith compelled him to see for himself if all that he heard was really true.
Even knowing all of this, how surprising it must have been when Jesus invites himself over for dinner! Jesus wants to dine with this one who is despised. In response, Zaccheus overflows with generous gratitude. "Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor" Luke 19:8. Jesus has asked for nothing but hospitality from Zaccheus, and in response, Zaccheus willingly surrenders half of his wealth. The tax collector's willingness to let go of half of his wealth demonstrates faith—a faith, just like Abraham. The hospitality of Jesus prompts his faith-fueled donation.
I am surprised and thankful, for the sake of my own faith walk, to realize his faithful response goes beyond gratitude as he seeks to restore justice to those whom he has defrauded. It wasn't enough for Zaccheus to give away half of his wealth in response to Jesus; he insists on repaying those he has defrauded. The Old Testament requirement for restitution is for the amount defrauded plus one-fifth. But Zaccheus doesn't simply meet the letter of the law; he offers to repay four times as much as he has defrauded others! Four-fold restitution will impoverish Zaccheus, as he's already committed to give away half of his wealth. Yet in response to Jesus's gracious invitation, Zaccheus parts with his wealth as a sign of his saving faith. Jesus declares, "Today, salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham" Luke 19:9.
Like Abraham, Zaccheus responds with faith that prompts action. Voluntarily impoverishing himself, Zaccheus shows that he, too, will live by faith—faith that demonstrates its true character in action. Thus, Zaccheus's faith also benefits the community around him. At some point after Jesus invites himself to the tax collector's home, Zaccheus rises—uncoerced, unadmonished, and unprompted—and commits himself to doing justice.
