When I saw that I was randomly assigned to this passage of Scripture, I was overjoyed, as this exact story is what catalyzed and has been fueling what we believe to be our mission in this season of life, for Lydia and myself. As I have been studying this passage with the help of a German brother’s teaching (Holger Reinhardt), I have noticed that we can look at this from two perspectives: that of Jesus’, or that of Zacchaeus’. Both of which I believe need to be emphasized day in and day out as disciples of Jesus.

First, we see this man--who would have been labeled as a “sinner,” or not worthy in society--and his heart that was yearning just to simply see Jesus. We even see the extremes this man went to to make that sight possible. That alone is convicting and can be digested for months.

Next, we can look through the lens of Jesus--oh, how beautiful of a challenge. The all-knowing God-Man recognized Zacchaeus’ deep desire to be seen, to be known, and knew exactly what to do: He knew He had to call Zacchaeus down, give him a little booklet with the “sinner’s prayer” in it, and invite him to the synagogue on the next Shabbat to hear a message from a person on stage--in which all the Jesus-lovers around them were pumped about what Jesus did for this sinner!

Err...not quite…actually, far off.

What Jesus actually does is calls Zacchaeus--one of the most despised in town--down from the tree and says “Zacchaeus, we must go to your home, so that I can be in the midst of your life, and see you function in the details of your family. Let us dine at your table, and intentionally discuss the depths of your heart. Today, this is happening.” And in reality, all the (seemingly) Jesus-lovers grumbled.

Ironically, on that same day, through this act of dining at the table, we see salvation come upon that household. Quite the few hours that simple desire turned out to be. And this is why our brother, Holger, calls this ‘The Movement of the Little Ones.’ We see a little one, both in stature and in spirit, intentionally move towards Jesus, and through one simple, intimate dinner with the true Jesus, has his eternity flipped. This is a movement that the normal crowd knows nothing about.

Could you imagine the disciples we could become and create if we exemplified the abandonment and flexibility found in both sides of this encounter?

[Luke 19.1-10]

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ First and foremost: we say all of this to add on to our normal Sunday gatherings, not take away or critique. We just desire for you to see the flexibility, immediacy, and intentionality that Jesus displays to Zacchaeus. Along with the abandonment and willingness on Zacchaeus’ part.

+ To what extremes does Zacchaeus go to see Jesus? What other extremes do men/women in the NT go to just simply see, touch, or speak to Jesus?

+ What does it show that the crowd around them grumbled?

+ Why is it important that this entire encounter occurred all in one day?

+ How do we think Zacchaeus’ life was altered from this day forward?

+ All throughout the Bible, OT and NT, we see encounters surrounding a table/meal in the intimate setting of someone’s home. What other stories, parables, meals, etc. occurred at “The Table”?

+ Does this idea of “the table” seem to be opposite of our culture, society, and “new normal” today? (think of: remote work, excessive cell phone use, fast food dining, maxing out our schedules etc.)

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ Who do I relate most with in this story? Zacchaeus? Jesus? Or, maybe even the crowd?

+ Since this idea of “the table” is so opposite of today’s culture and “new normal” (both in and out of the Western Church), is there a Zacchaeus in my life that I can represent Christ to? And while I don’t condone inviting yourself into someone’s home…can I invite them over to my home and show them in an authentic way that this life with Jesus is real? In the way that I treat my spouse, my kids, how I steward my resources, my time, etc…

+ Read this article by Holger Reinhardt and watch the brief video at the end: https://www.faipublishing.org/articles/call-table

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ We will be vulnerable and help you out in this section! We are asking for prayer for guidance within the details of opening up our home, our “table,” in Lynchburg. However the Spirit leads you in prayer through this, we receive it :)