Out on a Limb

Preached at Hallam and Martell UMCs November 4, 2007.

It amazes me to see how many ways Jesus met people. If you look through the Gospels, you see how Jesus traveled across Israel, simply meeting people, teaching, and sometimes, even asking them to follow. Jesus himself tells us in the last verse of today's reading that was the reason He came, “to seek and save the lost.” Jesus had a “go out and find them approach”, whereas the church today often has a “come to us approach.” And more often than not, people don't just wander in off the street, no matter how much we advertise about our “open hearts, open minds, and open doors.”

Now don't get me wrong, I think advertising is important, as is being welcoming in church. But that's not necessarily what Jesus did. Jesus went and developed relationships. Matthew was sitting at his tax collector's office, Peter was washing his nets down by the lake, a woman was out by the well, Paul was on a horse on his way to Damascus. On and on the story went. Wherever there was pain and suffering and searching and longing -- Jesus went. He was the light that pierced the darkness. And that same light, the disciples would take and light the whole world, doing the same thing—building and developing relationships.

That puts a new spin on what we see as worship. I used to think that worship was the most important thing the church could do, and I have not been alone in this belief. We spend our time and energy with planning and execution, we make it the focal point of the week, we build beautiful buildings in which to do it. But I think this focus is a bit selfish—making more of our efforts than the work of Jesus Christ in our lives, transforming us—forgiving of our sins and forming relationships.

Worship is preparation for what we are called to do. It is a place where we can be renewed and refreshed, celebrating what God has done and is doing in our lives. It is a place where we are reminded of what Christ has done for us, and once again we come close to God. But the real service doesn't begin until after we walk out the door.

In our Gospel passage today, we see that Zaccheus has gone out on a limb to see Jesus, and Jesus has come to him—notice that he didn't ask him to come to the Temple, he said, “let's go to your house.” Jesus stepped into his life to build a relationship.

The Good News is that Jesus still steps into peoples lives today! Regardless of how your life is going right now—good or bad--He comes to you today and stops and says, "Come to me. I want to join you in your living. I want to love you!"




At the beginning of Zacchaeus' day he saw Jesus at a distance. From a tree. He was, in the eyes of the people of Jericho, a sinner -- unacceptable, a hated person—chief of the tax collectors. He wanted to see this Jesus who reached out to people other teachers wouldn't bother with.

At the end of the day the view is up close and personal. This greedy, rich tax collector is about to open up his bank account to give to the poor and make restitution to those he had defrauded. Wholeness (salvation) brings healing to the household of Zacchaeus.

The Gospels don't tell us of the conversations that took place that day, but I know that they led Zaccheus to give his life to Christ, changing him forever. He more than made restitution, he changed the object of his pursuit—from money to the pursuit of a relationship with God.

Today, Christ calls you down from the limb you have gone out on. He invites you to share a meal—and although I do not know the conversations Christ has with you in your heart, I do know that His Grace can transform your life -–calling from deep within your heart the person God created you to be—a person in relationship with God. Christ will bring wholeness to your life.

Come down out of your tree, be renewed at a meal with Christ, and go forth into the world, to seek the lost and hurting, and bring them peace.