Salvation Comes Home

This sermon was preached remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The story of Zaccheaus can be found in Luke 19.

People of God, grace and peace to you from Jesus, who is salvation, who invites himself into our homes today, who is coming near, even and especially while we are apart. Amen. 

Zaccheaus wants to see who Jesus is, but he can’t see over the crowds. 

I’m not sure it has much to do with his physical height or financial wealth. When the crowd is thick and noisy and amassed between you and the object of interest, all you get is the crowd: the groupies and their versions of what it all means, varied and extreme emulations of the one on stage.

Two years ago a few friends asked me and my husband to go to the annual Minnesota Vikings game - in London. But there was a catch. Everyone else in this group is a whole-hearted Vikings fan. And I am a Packers fan. They said I could come to the game as long as I “behaved myself”. Whatever that means. Packers fans are always well behaved!

I almost turned down the ticket because I was imagining a stadium covered in purple. A crowd of Vikings fans didn’t exactly sound like fun to me. But I went. And I’m glad I did because it wasn’t the crowd I expected.

We saw every NFL jersey. American football fans from all over Europe were there - not so much for the Vikings or the Browns - but for the love of the game and a chance to imitate one of our most over the top, sensationalized rituals.

The only foods for sale inside the stadium were foot long hot dogs and Krispie Kreme donuts. Because, as one vendor explained, “USA!” I quickly fell into their general excitement about every single play while I ate hot dogs and donuts. I couldn’t see America or even Vikings culture - just the crowd that was following with such enthusiasm and dedication. 

Think about a concert, a sporting event, or a rally you’ve been to - not as a super fan, but as a curious tag along. You probably noticed the swag people were wearing, the target demographic of their base, and the deep loyalty of members in the crowd. You witnessed behavior and beliefs in line with the main attraction, but also folks too zealous or putting limitations on what it could look like to follow.

Zaccheaus is looking for Jesus in the crowd, trying to figure out who he is, but he can’t see through the crowd. All of Jesus’ followers are in the way. Yes, physically they block his view. But their grumbling suggests that they are also a spiritual and social barrier: He’s a tax collector, and chief among them, a far cry from one of us! He’s a sinner and doesn’t belong anywhere near our Jesus. 

That’s right. This crowd is made of those Jesus has drawn from the margins in, the poor and vulnerable, the widowed and differently-abled. When they were on the edges, Jesus saw them. He knew them for more than the one thing their neighbors projected onto them. He made room for them in the midst of community, holding space for their value and belonging against all odds.

These are not the Pharisees or local officials whispering judgment and disgust. These are disciples of Jesus. These people, whether they know it or not, are the church. And they’re in the way. 

Perhaps you’ve heard Zaccheaus told as a story of repentance. The rich tax collector meets Jesus, confesses his sins, and Jeus forgives him when he agrees to change his relationship with money. But Zaccheaus never apologizes. And Jesus doesn’t forgive him, either. 

Luke’s gospel has been rooted in stories and scenes of economic and social justice, rejecting the status quo and the judgment of our neighbor in favor of wholeness and life together - not only in the afterlife, but here and now.

Luke’s gospel gives us Mary’s prophetic and dangerous song while he grows in her womb.

Luke’s gospel gives us Jesus declaring his own body the fulfillment of good news to the poor, freedom for the imprisoned and oppressed, sight for the blind, and the year or the Lord’s favor. 

Luke’s gospel gives us the rich man and Lazarus, the parables of the Lost and the talents, and a Jesus who drives money changers out of the temple.

This scene in Jericho is the last act of Jesus’ ministry in the gospel of Luke, and even though Zaccheaus can’t see Jesus through the crowd, Jesus sees him. By now we know that Jesus does not see the way we see. It is not only outer clothing or bank statements or job descriptions or physical appearance he is taking in. 

When Jesus looks at you, he loves you and he knows you. Completely. We do not get to be one dimensional or oversimplified in this relationship. Jesus looks and loves and knows all the complexities of who we are. 

Zaccheaus! Come down from there right now. I’m coming over to your house today.  And Zaccheaus receives Jesus gladly. But the people begin to mutter. He’s a sinner. And Jesus is going to his house! Sure, they’re sinners. We’re all sinners. But Zaccheaus is different. Worse. Beyond the bounds of this thing we’re doing.

Meanwhile, Zaccheaus is at home with Jesus, sharing more of himself than the community is willing or able to see. As it turns out, Zaccheaus is not just a taker. There’s more to him than that and Jesus listens while he shares what he gives and why. Zaccheaus articulates a call to generosity, a connection to others, a responsibility for his neighbor. And Jesus rejoices in what Zaccheaus tells him.

Salvation has come to your house today.

Jesus is Salvation, who has quite literally come to his house. He speaks Abraham’s name, which reroots Zaccheaus in the family tree, the ancient belonging of all God’s people. And for good measure, just in case his followers are eavesdropping outside the window, he flexes the boundaries of who is Lost to include a chief tax collector - and just about everyone. 

Friends, perhaps this is a repentance story, but it’s the followers of Jesus who need to repent. We have a habit of crowding around and blocking the view and deciding things for Jesus that are convenient and comfortable. 

But now the crowds have dispersed. The sanctuaries are empty. It’s time to test this belief, that church is not a building - it is a community of sinners who follow Jesus. 

People are looking for Jesus right now - curious and trying to catch a glimpse of who he is - but Christians have a habit of getting in the way and making the best stuff about Jesus small and conditional. Jesus is about to steal a donkey and ride into Jerusalem so he can break death with love. And he seems to know we still don’t get it. And we might never get it. 

But he leaves Zaccheaus and his followers with one more image of grace untamed and people worth seeing and salvation coming into our homes today.

Who are you called to see again, this time for more than just one thing?

How will this time apart change the way we crowd and how we follow? Will it make our discipleship new? 

Hear the good news, Church: Even while we are apart and at home, salvation has come to see you, to know you, and love you today. Don’t clean before he shows up. Jesus brings everything you need: good fruit and food, bread and wine, healing, forgiveness, life - and love that expands.

Thanks be to God. Amen.