Rich or poor.

As Jesus watched a poor widow in Mark 12 : 41 giving an offering that far exceeded her means he indicated that she was a women of great wealth. She was rich in faith. Jesus demonstrated her value in the eyes of heaven. Here was a women who was a second class citizen in Jesus day. She had lost the companionship of her husband, which meant she had lost her status in society. She was a poor widow. They were considered amongst the lowest of all. People in Christ’s day measured spirituality by wealth and achievements, but Jesus gave her the highest status possible in heaven’s eyes.

At the opposite end of the scale Luke 19 tells the story of a tax collector who wanted to see Jesus. He wanted to see who He was, not what He was or did or said. He wanted to get to the heart of the matter. As you know, he couldn’t see anything because of the press and his stature. Jesus was so busy that He was pressed on every side. This happened often in the gospels. It can still happen today. We can be so busy, pressed on every side with needs, even while doing the Lord’s work, that we can’t see the Lord for the press.

But here was aman who walked the streets of Jerusalem with great dignity suddenly running with the street urchins for the nearest tree. Obviously in seeking Jesus he had forgotten himself. He lost his normal inhibitions. It happens often in a crisis.

I read of a Californian earthquake where a man was trying to calm and comfort his hysterical neighbours over the fence. He was telling the women and children they shouldn’t scream like that, it was going to all right. As they began starring at him he discovered that all he had on was a pair of shoes. As he rushed naked back into the house he found the screen door locked from the inside and a hole in the screen where he dashed out. It is amazing what happens to our inhibitions when life is at stake.

Zacchaeus had one supreme motivation. Jesus was coming to town and he had to see who he was. If there was the slightest chance that he could find a solution to his sleepless nights and his guilt and remorse, he was not going to miss the opportunity, and so he ends up out on a limb. He got the surprise of his life when Jesus stops underneath the tree, looks up and called him by name.

Zacchaeus was up a tree physically and spiritually and Jesus invited him down to a place where he could acknowledge his need. He didn’t belong up the tree. Someone else belonged on the tree. He would be nailed there not long after this.

There was a timeless message of good news proclaimed by His enemies who said, “this man receives sinners.” Zacchaeus didn’t have to wait until he had covered his tracks. He restored 400% and gave 50% of all he had to the poor. But no, he didn’t have to wait, salvation came when he received Jesus into his house and life.