Zacchai

 Zakkai phones home    Reading Luke 19: 1-10

Zacchaeus is the Greek form of a common Jewish name, Zakkai. I often wonder what happens after someone encounters Jesus in the gospel. Imagine the crowds have gone and Zakkai is left to ring his wife to tell her that a special guest is coming for dinner. (To date no archaeological excavation has dug up a mobile phone dating back to the first century!)

Hi there my dear, Zakkai here. Just wanted to let you know that we’ve got an important guest coming to dinner.........

Yes, I know tonight’s our night out but I think we’ll have to give it a .......

Who’s the guest? Oh, it’s that preacher everyone’s talking about, Jesus. (Pause). Well actually, it may not be just the meal, it may be a bed too. (Pause) And it may not just be one guest....... 

Well he has a few disciples who go with him everywhere and it would be rude to exclude......

Oh just a dozen, but they’re used to sleeping rough.........

 Yes, I know it’s very short notice, and it’s the servants day off, but he sort of invited himself! ....

What do I mean? Well he looked up at me .........What?  No, I haven’t found someone in Jericho shorter than me....... Yes that right, I’ve been climbing up trees again. Anyway, he looked up and said,’ Zakkai, I must stay at your house today’.  So I clambered down the tree and gave him a hug. And he hugged me back.....

Why me? Well I’m not really sure. With all the crowd surrounding him it was as if he was searching for just one person –me! He knew my name, and he didn’t condemn me for who I am and what I’ve done. And what’s more, he wants to meet you.... Yes, and the children.... and their pet rabbit. It was wonderful. Oh and my dear wife there’s one more thing. I’m sorry but we need to cancel our Mediterranean cruise......

 Yes, I was looking forward to it too, but I think we may be a bit short this month......

 No I haven’t been throwing my money around again to try to gain friends. But in a way perhaps I have. I told everyone that I’d give um, a generous donation to the poor!.... to be more precise, half our money...

That’s right, one half of everything we posses. Ridiculous I know, but perhaps a downsize would be good for us at our time of life.....

No, that’s not quite the lot. Tomorrow morning there will people knocking at the door looking for compensation for money I’ve overcharged them. ...

What?  How many?  Well, most of Jericho I would think.  And I told them I’d repay them everything -  plus a bit more....

 How much more?  Oh, um 400 per cent more....... Yes I know that’s four times more. It’s quite ridiculous. We will be penniless – but I don’t care!.......

 No I haven’t lost my marbles. You see Jesus looked at me, and for the first time I felt accepted, a real person again, not just a cheat, a fraudster, a sinner beyond redemption. For the first time I can hold my head high and know that when I go to the temple to pray I have a clear conscience, my wicked past forgiven by God. And do you know what Jesus said? ‘Today salvation has come to this household’ This household – that means me, you, the children....... Not sure about their pet rabbit , but yes pet rabbit as well. He said ‘For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost’. And if he can save me – he can save everyone! See you soon, Bye.