A Crowd Of Witnesses

All the people saw this and began to mutter, He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner’. Luke 19: 7.

This well-known story about Zacchaeus, tells of the short tax collector who climbs a tree to see Jesus, because of the crowd. A crowd of people gather to see, hear, touch, and get close to Jesus. Whatever the reasons, the fact is that there was a crowd and it was that crowd which caused Zacchaeus to have to find higher ground, to be able to see who Jesus was. You all know the story very well, but there is more that is happening. Let’s meditate on this resurrection event that has been so overlooked, so missed, by many.

The very crowd that has been the high wall, the tall tower, which blocked Zacchaeus from being able to see Jesus, has become the stumbling block to Jesus also. Note, people blocked Zacchaeus, but he found higher ground. They will also block Jesus, but He finds lower ground. Okay, you need to come step by step with me here. This is truly amazing and exciting. These same people who are blocking Zacchaeus are also blocking Jesus.

On one hand, they see Zacchaeus as too low a ‘sinner’ to be around Jesus.

On the other hand, they see Jesus as too high a ‘saint’ to be around Zacchaeus.

There are four things about the people who make up this Crowd of Witnesses, on which we shall continue to meditate. We shall take these from the verse quoted at the beginning.

Seeing Witnesses

All the people saw this. These people saw exactly how Jesus called Zacchaeus down to Himself. Listen, they did not just only hear about it, they witnessed it first-hand. Before their very eyes, all these people who came to see Jesus, saw Him all right, saw Him call a tax collector, a chief tax collector at that, who was not even a part of the crowd. At that point, I was reminded of this advertisement for the national Lottery which says, “If you haven’t got a ticket, you haven’t got a chance.” But this was certainly not true for Zacchaeus. He did not have a place in the crowd. He did not have, as it were, a ticket in that crowd, neither by any kind of status, or significance. Zacchaeus had no ticket, yet, he was the one who received the prize, the grand gift – Life, Resurrection.

Muttering Witnesses

All the people saw this and began to mutter. Aloud, as the witnesses began to mutter, something was wrong. Normally, when you see a life being changed, when you see good being done, you give thanks to God. You are free with your praises, congratulations and such, but not these witnesses. They saw what Jesus had done and began to mutter. Their muttering tongues have nothing good to say. Don’t forget that was an excited crowd. Have you ever seen a quiet crowd as they see the one they waited for, coming? I tell you that that crowd was shouting, greeting, waving and welcoming Jesus, with all sorts of greetings of welcome. This all changed to mutterings, with one action of Jesus, as He called that sinner to Him.

I was reminded of a young First Former at school, who told me that the reason he did not hang out with another student was because he was told to be very careful of the friends he chose. He chose not to have that other boy as his friend, because he was not like him. The same is true for the crowd. They did not expect Jesus to hang out with a sinner, because He was not like those kinds of people. Zacchaeus was indeed different, but it was for such, for whom Jesus came, to give New Life.

Unwelcoming Witnesses

He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. Note, these people knew that chief tax collector and knew him well. They had never welcomed Zacchaeus to their homes, neither would they have ever been caught going to be a guest at his home. Can you see the utter shock and the disdain they have for Jesus? Can you hear them and see them turning up their noses at that action of Jesus? Jesus, the One about whom they had heard so much, the One they came out to see and greet as a celebrity, turns His eyes off them and turns to that wretched man, whom all the Jews hate! I tell you, they did not welcome such an action from Jesus and He turned from being welcomed, to being a most un-welcomed person. I am reminded of the Ruth story. The nearest kinsman was most welcoming when Boaz asked him if he would redeem the property of his dearly departed first cousin. He welcomed the idea, but when he realized that a foreigner had to be welcomed into his family also, he became most un-welcoming. He just could not welcome such a person into his life. Was not that the same as the crowd of witnesses? They did not welcome this unholy move of the Holy One. But The Holy One came precisely to make the un-holy, holy, as He offered them a new beginning, renewed life in Him.

Gossiping Witnesses

He has gone. Note that this talking, this gossiping, is taking place after Jesus has walked away with Zacchaeus. Can you hear their open remarks? Can you hear them as they see Jesus leaving them and going the road to Zacchaeus’ house? Listen to them again. He has gone… He is no longer with us and we came all this way to see Him. He has just gone off with that ‘sinner’, just like that! He has turned His back on us, non-sinners, so many of us, who are good and nice people, to go with a ‘sinner’, a chief tax collector at that. Can you not hear the voices of the smug?

There are still smug witnesses, who see Jesus, but cannot abide by His unconventional ways. These witnesses turn against Jesus and become very un-welcoming of His actions and turn into ignorant gossipers, not knowing the ways and work of Jesus. They become very smug in themselves, as they compare themselves with others. They are not the ‘sinners’ of their society. They are not the prostitutes, the drug addicts, the homosexuals, the lesbians, the thieves, the drunkards, the mentally ill vagrants, who are pests on the streets, and such like. No! This crowd are not ‘sinners’. They are smug with Jesus.

It is no different today, for Jesus is no different today. Many still crowd around in churches, meetings, youth groups, Sabbath and Church schools, rallies and many more gatherings to see Jesus. They witness Him all right, in His messengers and servants, whom they have gone to meet and see. They go carrying their smug-ness as their righteousness and are quickly turned off. Why? Just because this man or woman of God, turned from them, to the one sinner, who is not even in their crowd. This sick, unhealthy gossiping occurs, because the outside one, the excluded one is publicly included.

More is still given by the Lord Jesus even in our time. This Resurrection Experience for the sinner, becomes a turning away for the smug.

Lord, I too ask You to keep me from becoming smug. Keep me ever mindful that I too am unworthy and that You have been changing me daily. Let me know that I am being re-birthed and renewed all the time. Give me the mind always to see myself and my brother and sister, with the perfect eyes and mind of grace. And Lord, even when I would be inclined to despise a person for whatever reason Lord, please let me know more of Thee in me. Amen!