Saint John Baptist. [June 24.]
The Collect.
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LMIGHTY God, by whose providence thy servant John
Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our
Saviour by preaching repentance; Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy
life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his
example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer
for the truth’s sake; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In our
readings and study, we often neglect to pay due attention to a great Saint of
God who laid down his life in fulfilling the mission upon which God had sent
him – to prepare the way of the LORD. John was called from centuries
past, and truly from before the foundation of the world, to be God's messenger.
God named John, and God claimed John, for His own peculiar man. He named John
before he was born just as God has named others before their conception. His
Son, Jesus, was named before Christ was born, and Cyrus the Great was called,
named and ordered before he was ever born – two hundred years before as a
matter of fact, historical and biblical.
"What is in a name?" Mr. Shakespeare asks. There is more than we
commonly acknowledge. Our names label and identify who were are. There are good
and bad connotations associated with names. Few people, for example, name their
children Judas, or Attila, or Tamerlane. There are few young girls given the
name Jezebel, as well. As we have studied earlier, the only name that is worthy
of having is that name of ours written in the Lamb's Book of Life. If it is not
there, it matters not our name.
We are told in Holy Scripture that those who endure to the end shall be given a
new name: "…..To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in
the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Rev 2:17) The White Stone is judicial in
nature representing the imputed righteousness of Christ for the believer. But
why a new name that "no man knoweth saving he that believeth?"
If we carry these old names of ours into heaven, we will be constantly reminded
of the many sins and deeds that were committed under that old name. But God
gives us a new name that is pure and free of any sinful attachments. No one can
denigrate that new name because no one will know it except the Lord who gave it
and the one who received it. Will it not be wonderful to truly start our
eternal life with such a name?
John
lived up to his God-given name, and so should we.
1 And Jesus entered and passed
through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was
the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see
Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for
he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up,
and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must
abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and
received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying,
That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus
stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the
poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore
him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he
also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that
which was lost. (Luke 19:1-10)
This Gospel of Third Sunday after Trinity is one of my favorites. It
illustrates how we may be called by our names before we ever knew Christ
intimately. It demonstrates that regardless our backgrounds, or our stature, we
can be received by Christ if we are zealous in seeking Him.
We should note some characteristic that identify Zacchaeus before proceeding:
1) he was a man of short stature; 2) he was rich; 3) he was not well liked
among the people for he was a chief publican, or tax collector. He held the
same respect of the people as a red-neck bar keeper; and 4) he was persistent
in all that he did. That probably explains why he was a chief tax collector.
He was drawn by an invisible power to Christ. That power was the Holy Spirit,
though Zacchaeus considered his motive to be one of outright curiosity. And
he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was
little of stature If you have come to Christ, it is likely that you
came by the same power.
There were many, many people thronging Christ, so many that Zacchaeus could
neither see over their tall heads, or break through the crowd. Quite often
those who seem nearest to Christ seem to be the very ones that prevent others
from approaching Him. It is true in the ordinary walk of life, and it is true
in many churches.
People who are short learn to overcome that handicap through years of effort.
Actually, medical science informs us that shorter people live longer, but that
is not a part of our focus. Zacchaeus was determined to see Christ, and he
would do whatever was necessary to accomplish that purpose. He had heard many
stories and rumors about this miracle worker. He may have doubted them, but he
had to see for himself! I wish more Christian people would not simply allow
their starving souls to be fed by one sermon on Sunday, but would want to see
God's mysteries, and discover them, for themselves through diligent study.
What could poor
Zacchaeus do? If he lived in modern America, there would probably be a
government answer to overcome his handicap. Perhaps every sycamore tree would
have a ladder, or streets would be lined, according to city ordinances, so that
there were banks on either side upon which short people could walk and see as
well as every body else. But the American socialist model had not reached
Jericho, and Zacchaeus had no such provision. He must find a solution on his
own….and he did!
4 And
he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to
pass that way. Short legs can often run faster than long, gangly ones
if the drive and determination are there. Zacchaeus had become quite clever in
his thinking after a lifetime of having to overcome his little handicap.
Sometimes the thing that we consider to be a handicap turns out to be a
blessing. Zaachaeus assayed the direction the multitude was moving and ran
ahead to a sycamore tree that the Holy Ghost had conveniently placed there many
years before the need of Zacchaeus arose.
Zacchaeus was not considered a good man by anyone. He was not only shorter than
most men were, but he was lower than most in character as well. If you are in
low places most of your life, you learn to rise above the common crowd. This
Zaccaeus did. If you are low, the only way to move is UP. Zacchaeus went UP
into the sycamore tree. Now he could see well, and even better than those who
flocked about Christ. He was satisfied just to be able to see Jesus. The
fact that Christ would be dining in his house that evening never crossed the
mind of Zacchaeus. Many sinners awake from bed in the morning never realizing
that their evening meal will be with Christ!
5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him,
and said unto him, Zacchaeus,
make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. I
would have liked being a fly on the limb of the sycamore tree to see the face
of Zacchaeus when Christ stopped beneath him and looked up at him. Perhaps he
expected a reprimand for the dreadful life he had led. Certainly, he did
not expect Jesus to call his name. How would Jesus know HIS name? How, indeed!
We learn here that regardless of our astonishment, when Jesus calls us, we
respond with haste. The next breath is not a guarantee. We must act while light
remains. We learn, too, that, although we have put ourselves up higher up in
prayer to see Christ, we must descend from our high station with humble
obedience when we go before Christ. "Come
down," is the command Christ gives all who would follow and
dine with Him.
What amazement to Zacchaeus that Christ would abide in his house that day. When
Christ comes into our hearts, He does not make a temporary visit – He comes to
Abide (live there forever).
6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. Friend, have
you descended from your high perch and received Christ joyfully as this poor
sinner, Zacchaeus, has done?
7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone
to be guest with a man that is a sinner. Don't we always have the murmurers
among us in the church. They judge the dress, the hair, the shoes, the walk –
everything of a stranger who comes into their company. Had they,
themselves, not been grievous sinners, and were not most of them still in that
condition?
8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the
half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man
by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. The Roman law
required this compensation for fraud, but the Jewish law required only the
principal plus one fifth. Zacchaeus determined to satisfy both laws. This was
not asked of Zacchaeus by Christ, but Zacchaeus was living by a different
standard now – it was his desire to undo as much wrong as it was possible for
him to do. He now had Christ in his home, and in his heart.
Now follows a beautiful expression of the covenant relationship that
exists in the family of the man or woman who follows Christ: 9 And
Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a
son of Abraham. Salvation had come to the whole HOUSE of
Zacchaeus – including the children. Zacchaeus may have been a lowly publican,
but he was now fully a son of Abraham both in body and soul, for all who
receive the Seed of Promise (Jesus Christ) are the true sons and daughters of
Abraham and entitled to all rights and privileges of the Israel of God.
10 For
the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Lost when? When
they opened there eyes in birth, and all since the fall of Adam in the Garden
at Eden. Christ comes to save that which was lost, and He is there for the most
dreadful of sinners, and even those who presume themselves to be morally good. What
of your soul, friend? Have you climbed a tree just for a glimpse of Christ, or
have you folded your Bible after worship last Sunday and just now opened it for
a glimpse? Zacchaeus got more than a glimpse, and so will all who earnestly
seek Him!
