Minister’s message: Poor little rich man

Zacchaeus was a little man – a rich tax collector who cheated his way into wealth, writes Rev James Gatherer. He was hated by the people of Jericho. He wanted to see Jesus but couldn’t because of the crowd so he climbed up a sycamore tree.

• Read the Bible story in Luke’s Gospel

When Jesus saw him he stopped and invited himself to stay at Zacchaeus’ house – the crowd grumbled because Zacchaeus was a hated sinner. After spending time with the Lord Jesus Zacchaeus had a change of heart – he promised to give half his wealth to the poor and pay back everyone he had cheated fourfold.

Jesus announced to everyone ‘today salvation has come to this house’. He didn’t mean that Zacchaeus was going to go up into heaven – he meant that heaven had come down into Zacchaeus.

Some of Jesus’ goodness rubbed off onto Zacchaeus and brought about a change of heart but some of the hatred felt for Zacchaeus from the crowd rubbed off onto Jesus. He took it and carried it to Jerusalem where he was crucified.

What happened to Zacchaeus? We don’t know, but my guess is that he was known about in the earliest days of the Jesus movement – that’s why he was remembered and is still remembered today. The poor little rich man into whose heart came the Kingdom of Heaven.

We have a Healing Worship service on the last Sunday of the month at 6.30 p.m. in the church hall next to the bowling club. Thirty minutes, mostly singing songs that speak to our hearts. It is a gentle, welcoming place for anyone who is looking for the Kingdom.

Every blessing

James Gatherer

• Picture: Jesus invites Zacchaeus to come down from the sycamore tree, 11th century Russian Byzantine mosaic (Source)