The Rich Young Ruler or Zacchaeus? Easter Special!

Dear friends,

I believe everybody is encountering Jesus personally on daily basis, however, different people may respond to the encounter with Jesus differently.  I can see the contrast of these two groups of people from the stories in the Bible, in particular, the rich young man in Matthew 19 and Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector, in Luke 19.  These two men were rich, but this was the only common thing about them. 

The Rich Young Ruler

Matthew 19: 16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Jesus and Zacchaeus

The rich young ruler was described in another gospel as a lawyer.  He was a Pharisee and he knew the Law of Moses very well.  He has also tried to to live righteously, but on his own strength.  He did have a good intention to be righteous, but he missed the point.  He had an encounter with Jesus, who he referred to as “teacher”.  He really wanted to know what good deeds he had to do to have eternal life.  I believe he must have heard Jesus preaching about how to receive salvation, but he refused to believe.  At that moment, Jesus did not tell this man again about the good news that He has been telling people, but He told the man to “keep the commandments”, and specifically the last six of the Ten Commandments, which are the laws with the context of relationship with other men.  Why would Jesus do that?  Jesus knew who He was speaking to (i.e., Pharisee) and He wanted to make a point.  This man was so self-righteous that he dared to answer that he had kept all these six commandments.  Out of his pride, this man would go further and asked of what other deeds he had to do.  Then, Jesus told him the ultimate commandment (which consisted of the first four of the Ten Commandments) to love God by leaving everything he has and follow Jesus.  The young man was very sad that the price was to high for him to love God and follow Him.  Because of his self-righteousness, this rich young man had never realized the need of salvation because he believed that he could get salvation by his self-efforts.  He was never really desperate enough for Jesus and His grace and mercy.  he was blinded by deception that he could not see that God’s grace is his only solution.

Zacchaeous, on the other hand, understood that he was a sinner.  He had also heard of Jesus’s teaching on how to receive eternal life, and he wanted to have it.  For him as the chief collector, and perhaps, one of the richest men, in Jericho, climbing a tree in order to see Jesus was a humiliating action.  Forgetting his status and pride, he tried the best he could so that he would be able to see Jesus.  Such action would go unnoticed by God.  His desperation attracted Jesus.  Jesus had never demanded him to obey the Law of Moses.  The only thing Jesus did was telling him of His intention to visit him and fellowship (having dinner) with him.  Zacchaeus responded to Jesus invitation an opened his house, and certainly his heart, to receive Jesus.  Did Jesus ever ask him to sell all that he had and to follow Him? No!  Jesus did not have to do that because Zacchaeus had already responded by willingly to follow Jesus.  What did he do?  He offered to give half of his wealth to the poor and paid four-folds to the people he cheated in the past.  Jesus told him that, not only himself, but his whole household were saved that day.  

Somebody told me this illustration once.  If you have a headache and somebody offer you a Tylenol to relieve the headache, what would you do to the person that give you that medicine?  You would probably thank him and forget about it the next day.  However, if you have a terminal illness, such as a deadly cancer, and you only have one month to live, and somebody give a pill that will cure the cancer, what would you do to the person?  You would probably more than thank him.  You would probably give him half of what you have, or perhaps, work for him as his servant.  If you see your iniquity that would lead to death, you would be more than thankful to Jesus, but you would sell everything and follow Him.  However, if you think that salvation is not a big deal because you think that you have a part to play in your salvation through your self-effort, you would not appreciate what Jesus did for you as much.  That is what grace is all about.  Only by grace you can have your salvation, and nothing you can do to help yourself to be saved.  Why would you still try to do something to help God to get your salvation or maintain your salvation?  Why would you go back to “Law” after you are saved by “Grace”?  Law will probably help you with “behaviour modification”, but only grace will bring you “heart transformation”.  When your heart is transformed, you will be like Zacchaeus.  Without being told, you would make right with people you have offended in the past, give to poor willingly and joyfully, and follow Jesus forever.  That’s the kind of encounter with Jesus that transform people’s life.  What kind of encounter with Jesus do you have?

Let me stretch you further.  Imagine how many potential “Zacchaeus” out there, in the marketplace, in the government and in the academic environment.  They could be people in your office, or people you meet on the street.  Imagine if these people encounter Jesus and His grace that is offered to all unbelievers and sinners.  God wants to use you through your evagelism efforts, your prayer for them and, please do not underestimate this, through your daily life.  For many of them, you could be the only Bible they will ever read.  Is your life reflecting the love and grace of Jesus Christ?  Do people see the products of God’s love and grace in your life?  Do you have something that make them to want what you have (the experience of God’s love and grace)?  Imagine if there are “Zacchaeus” everywhere, giving up half what they own to the poor and pay back four-folds of what they have cheated other people.  The church including all charity organizations) will not have to worry about raising funds for God’s works on earth.  All these people need is an encounter with Jesus and His grace, not religion with all the laws and rules.  Let us all preach and walk the grace, abundant grace, that has been given to us. 

It is time to reflect during the Easter season, or more accurately, the time of rememberance of the victory of Jesus Christ and us, the believers.

Dedo Suwanda