Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak with you today.  For some of you that don’t know me, I thought I’d give you a little background on who I am.  I was the middle child of five.  I was raised in California, and I also spent my summers on a farm in Amity, Oregon, with my grandparents. 

I asked my husband Kent to define me personally in a few sentences.  (Thankfully he was kind.)  The first thing he mentioned was that I like to think outside the box and approach things/problems creatively.  His second attribute was that I was driven and determined (like the character in this story).  I like to see things through.   I agree.   

When I sat down to craft this message, I started in one direction and ended up in another.  This happens to me a lot!  It’s how my brain works and for some of you that don’t know me ………my brain never stops.  I believe that I landed where the Holy Spirit was directing me to the story of Zacchaeus.  Zacchaeus is a great short story (pun intended), but it is not a children’s story.  In this story, I believe that Jesus is showing me the importance of mentorship.  I looked up “mentorship” online, and there were anywhere from 5 to 15 traits describing what a mentor is.  In Zacchaeus’ story I found two: to be present and to listen.   Sometimes to do that you have to look at things inside, outside, and upside down. 

My mentoring jumping-board topic sprang from something that happened this summer.  Kent was working with his siblings for a recent family reunion.  The reunion was going to take place in a town where none of them had lived.  The siblings were texting back and forth to come up with things to do and interesting places to visit.  One of Kent’s sisters came up with the idea to visit the Spam Museum in Austin, Minnesota.  Kent’s brother Mark replied that he was not interested in going and would do something else.  No one said anything in the group text, and they continued making plans and arrangements.  Then a text showed up from Mark which said, “Pam and I were talking and apparently, I was mistaken.  I would love to go the Spam Museum.”  Sometimes a mentor nudges you in the right direction. 

Since mentoring was my topic, I began looking at great mentors in the Bible.  I looked at Jethro and Moses, Samuel and David, Priscilla and Aquila, and came up dry.   I then turned my attention on Luke because he’s my favorite gospel writer.  I looked over all the stories that were told, parables explained, and miracles performed by Jesus.  Since Luke was a physician, he loves to encompass body, mind, and spirit in his writings.  In Luke we find that Jesus addressed body issues by cleansing ten lepers.  He outlined dedication and persistence through the Parable of the Persistent Widow.  With a surgeon’s precision Jesus dissected the heart of the Pharisees and the Tax Collector.  Jesus recovered a blind beggar’s sight.  And then, he enters Jericho and befriends Zacchaeus.    

I found it interesting that Luke’s gospel is the only one who recounts Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus.   This story must have struck a chord with Luke’s inclusion of body, mind, and spirit.  Jesus was showing Luke (and me) how to mentor others.  Let’s read Luke 19:1- 10:

 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short, he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now, I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

What do we know about this passage?  Jericho was a pivotal point throughout Biblical history.  Moses died near Jericho.  It was home to Rahab.  We know about the falling walls of Jericho.  The rebuilding of its walls was cursed by Joshua.  The prophet Elisha visited Jericho.  A Babylonian king was captured in Jericho.  It is safe to say that Jericho had an extensive history with a colorful past.  I surmise that Zacchaeus had a colorful past as well.   

My title gave me license to explore this topic inside, outside and upside down.  Be warned that I’ve taken some creative liberties with this passage.  Let’s look inside Zacchaeus first. 

Inside the character of Zacchaeus: 

You know that I’m Jewish and work as a Roman tax collector.  Because of this, I am despised by the entire Jewish community of Jericho.  The Romans know this and use my position against me.  I have no friends. 

What you may not realize was that I was an only child.  My parents didn’t have much money, but they provided me with food, shelter, and love.  For some reason I didn’t grow as tall as my friends and classmates.  No matter what I did, I received scorn and ridicule.  Then it turned physical.  I couldn’t defend myself and would constantly find myself bruised and battered.  These beatings crushed me and my confidence and spirit.  I grew resentful and angry. 

When my parents passed away,  I had to find a way to support myself.  I had to take a job that no one else wanted and the only job that I was qualified for.  I had no choice.  I knew that a good Jew would not work for Rome.  I was not loyal to my people because they could care less about me.  So, I became a tax collector.  I convinced myself that way I would gain stature through my money and my influence.  The people of Jericho couldn’t hurt me anymore than they already had.  I would show them! 

Here I am years later, and I feel lonely and deserted.  My money has no value.  It’s cold and unfeeling.  I’ve learned that influence is fleeting.  Then I heard about Jesus.  He sounds amazing.  I’ve heard that he is a great teacher and counselor.  There is talk that he sees through people’s physical and emotional limitations.  He’s a miracle worker that heals them.  I need healing.  I need to repair my relationship with my people.  I don’t know where to start.  I believe that Jesus can help me show others that I really need them.  I need companions.  I need a sense of family. 

When I heard that Jesus was coming to Jericho, I knew I had to make a change.  I had to see and talk with him at all costs.   I ran out to meet him without my security guards.  I ran back and forth up and down the street.  People were lined up in front of me.  I couldn’t see anything.  I jumped as high as I could.  I weaved between people, but they would close ranks and block me at every turn.  They knew it was me.  They turned and looked down on me and pulled their children to their shoulders to make it more difficult to see Jesus.  Then they closed ranks and stepped closer together to block me. 

How can I gain height?  How can I see Jesus?  A sycamore tree.  Sycamore trees are plentiful.  I can climb up to see him that way!  It sounded like a great plan.  I just need to find one where I can reach the first limb.  I ran until I found one!  People are watching me, and no one offered to help!  They turn their back on me again.  It’s okay.  I must do this!  The first limb was almost beyond my reach.  I jumped up and managed to grab it.  I used my sandaled feet to climb up, straddle, and finally sit on the branch.  I know that if I’m able to glance at him that everything will change and change it did. 

Next let’s examine who was on the Outside: the people of Jericho:

Oh no, can you believe it?  Look who decided to show up to see Jesus!  What could Zaccheaus possibly want?  Is he planning on selling tickets to make more money?  Jesus is all about healing and lifting people up.  He’s rich.  He doesn’t need Jesus’ help.  People are shouting out loud, “Jesus can’t make you taller, Zaccheaus”.  There was laughter throughout the crowd.  “Go away, Jesus is Jewish not Roman.  He’ll want nothing to do with you”.    “Hey everyone, block Zaccheaus’ path!   There was lots of jostling and sniggering.  Wait, what is he doing?  Zaccheaus is running around looking for something.  Look, he’s attempting to climb a tree.  This is hilarious.  This is not his best look no matter who he is.  He’s hanging on to that tree for his life.  With his weight I’m not sure it will hold him.  What!  He caught his cloak on a branch.  More laughter from the crowd.  Not good.  I must look away.  After all, I came to see Jesus, not Zacchaeus!

Where is he?  Oh, I see him.  He looks like one of us.  That’s a surprise.  Jesus is coming and I have a front row view of him.  I wonder who he’ll heal today?   Wait.  Did I hear that right?  There must be something wrong with my ears!  What did he say to Zaccheaus?  That can’t be right.  Why would Jesus go to a self-glorified, money-hungry traitor’s home?   What about us?  I thought he came to seek and to save the lost.  Why is he wasting his time with Zaccheaus?  The crowd starts booing and shouting.    

The Upside/down of Jesus and Zaccheaus:

Zaccheaus was perched high above the crowd when Jesus spotted him in the sycamore tree.  Zaccheaus had tuned out the crowd.  He only had his ears and eyes on Jesus.  Zaccheaus thought, What?  Is he talking to me?  I’ve never met him and yet he knows my name.  The Lord said, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  The crowd witnessed Zacchaeus almost falling to the ground in front of the Lord’s feet.  He collected himself and uttered, “Look, Lord! Here and now, I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”  A gasp came across the crowd!  People cheered.  They approached Zacchaeus and slapped him on the back.   Maybe we were wrong about him after all. 

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

This Biblical story is upside down and backwards from what we experience in our everyday  lives.  Jesus stated clearly for all to hear that Zacchaeus was one of them, a son of Abraham.  Zacchaeus needed them as much as they needed Zacchaeus.  Jesus gave him salvation because of his faith and fortitude, not because of his position or money.  He had been lost and Jesus found him.    

Today people openly and freely tell you when you’re wrong.  I don’t believe it’s any different today than it was 2,000 + years ago.  They don’t expect you to change.  It’s easier to talk at each other than to each other. 

In conclusion:  I know that I need to be more Christ-like .  Jesus exposed Zaccheaus to the crowd.   He mentored him with laser focus.  He didn’t admonish, condemn, or criticize what he had done or why.  Jesus knew that Zacchaeus was broken and off-track but willing to change.  Why else would he have shown up sitting in a sycamore tree?  Jesus’ mentoring style was to be present and listen.   I purposely didn’t write any queries, I thought I would leave that open.   Remember, sometimes you must look at things inside, outside, and upside down to figure it out.  It wasn’t about where he was but where Zacchaeus needed to be.  After all Zacchaeus name means pure heart.  Jesus had to come to Jericho to remind him of that.   

This message was given to Spokane Friends by LaVerne Biel during Sunday worship service on September 17, 2023

Note: My title taken from a Berenstain Bears children’s story.