There are many stories that we learned as kids that we can still tell today. For those of us who grew up in the church, we probably learned them at Vacation Bible School. There are many stories that I learned there, and still enjoy today. That being said, as adults we need to come back to those same stories and take a look at them with new eyes.
The next messages I'll be working on are a part of a new series called, "Adult VBS." In it we're taking a look at stories that we learned as kids, and are relearning as adults.
Like so many things in life, we learn things as kids one way. It's a much simpler way that is good and appropriate for kids. As kids, we only have so much that we can understand. As adults, we have to go deeper into the story because what we learned as kids doesn't tell us as much as what we can know as adults.
One of my favorite examples of this is the story of Zacchaeus. His is a traditional VBS story, and its one that comes complete with its own song!
There's a couple of things to start with. The first is that I've often heard this story where Zacchaeus is presented as a miserable person who really wants to change, and his last, desperate act is to climb a tree to see Jesus. He does that because Jesus saves. That understanding starts with the understanding that Jesus is the Savior and reads back into Zacchaeus that he obviously wants what Jesus is giving.
That doesn't work.
When we read Scripture, we have to remind ourselves that not everyone really knew who Jesus was, and we have to read the story from that perspective. Personally, I think it becomes even more powerful because of it.
Zacchaeus would have known that Jesus was a celebrity. Zacchaeus, as Chief Tax Collector, was an important person, even if he wasn't well liked. His goal would have been to be seen with Jesus, much like many folks do with celebrities. Some things have never changed. In order to see Jesus more clearly, because Zacchaeus was short, he climbs up the tree. Remember, Zacchaeus is looking to be seen with Jesus, and hopefully gain either some respect or at least be able to one-up his detractors.
What was unexpected (although it shouldn't have been) was that Jesus stopped at Zacchaeus tree, looked up at him, and invited himself over to Zacchaeus house.
The crowd is shocked by this. Zacchaeus is shocked by this, but very happy. He's probably thinking that he can ride this out for a long time. But something happens.
In his meeting with Jesus, Zacchaeus is changed. He is still Zacchaeus, but he has also been changed by Jesus.
There's two lessons I think we can draw from this. The first is that Zacchaeus was changed, but he was still himself. He was still who God made him to be, but now without the baggage of his sin holding him back. We see that at the end of the story when Zacchaeus stands his ground, facing the crowd of people.
Also, Zacchaeus does something important. He's going to pay back the people that he's defrauded. To the strictest level he could. He doesn't hide from it, he doesn't try to side-step out of it, but he does it. Not because he has to, but because it's the right thing to do. For him, and for others. Jesus doesn't make this requirement, but sometimes we still do this because it's right.
And look at the reaction of the crowd. Jesus declares that salvation has come to Zacchaeus' house. He's almost daring the crowd to say something. There are probably people in the crowd that have been hurt by Zacchaeus, but Jesus has removed their ability to pile judgment onto Zacchaeus.
The point is, that they have to go forward. They can't go forward if they are wanting to continue to judge Zacchaeus. That's not good for anyone. Jesus doesn't say they have to be best friends, that's not what that mean. But when salvation comes, it isn't easy, and it brings about a new future.
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