Jesus The Relational Leader

Lk.19:1-10 Zacchaeus Story

The encounter is set in Jesus' onward journey having passed through Jericho to the entry Jerusalem as final destination. The “entering” portrays this sense of onward journey, less of a preplanned encounter more of Jesus meeting Zacchaeus in a spontaneous way and responding to the present circumstances. This reinforces the meaning of the journey, the learning, lessons, experiences that can only be experienced with this perspective on the moment present.Zacchaeus’ significance was his position as “submagistri” (Gk. “architelōntēs”) in that he was in charge of a territory in the Province as overseeing the tax collection officers. His abundant wealth would have come from his ability to pay to Rome less than he collected from the territory. This was his art. The enmity towards him as a Jew and collaborator with the Romans would be intense and socially evident. He combats this social stigma by climbing a tree to see (“oida” more than physical, perceive, scrutinize, examine, know) Jesus in the same way that Jesus stops at the tree and does the same!

Jesus makes the most of these haphazard encounters on his journeys. They take on deep significance because of the attention and input he brings.  As a leader this is key to not be so single minded and so overly focussed on results, outcomes, neither to be so blind as to ignore the God encounters that may not seem to bring anything to the building of vision or outworking one’s purpose. Jesus exemplifies this sensitive conscious awareness of the opportunities that the journey itself presents to grow, learn, experience, teach…

These encounters are also highly personalised. It is as if for a time Jesus got solely involved with Zacchaeus to the exclusion of the crowd. How do we give ourselves to the secondary people or haphazard encounters, problems, situations? There is focused attention, input given to one man. Jesus is not quantity nor performance not even end-purpose driven. He is ministering fully in the immediate and continuous present. This is also to be read in the light of the parable of the talents that singles out this attitude to small delegated abilities and jobs as a key to increase. 

This is in spite of the crowds unanimous sense of scandal at Jesus' going with an impure collaborator, traitor, extortioner and staying at his house ( the sense of staying with him is not a mere passing visit of an hour but of resting, relaxing, putting down his suitcase for a while. The sense is that Jesus had his feet firmly under the table even if culturally they reclined on a chaise longue!) There is something about not letting the crowd and popular opinion cloud our perception and understanding of a person, their life, circumstances, and the opportunities with them. Jesus did not bow and never has, he has always gone fully with the Spirit and the Father’s instruction to him – no complex!

We are challenged in our understanding of salvation too. It is seen in the context of a journey where by through these kind of encounters a person accumulates, adding more truth  and experience to the deposit they have and everyone has a deposit however small or insignificant that be. Another image is that of an incomplete jigsaw puzzle. Some pieces are in place, others are there but have not been connected and still other pieces are to be found. I believe this is very close to Jesus' perception of people and their experience of His truth and love on this journey towards an ever deeper, fuller experience of salvation. 

The salvation coming to Zacchaeus’ house is interesting. There is no mention of the content of conversation with Zaccheus, but we see the evidence of a life change that is radical. It’s not likely that Jesus directly addressed his financial question but rather addressed the issues of the heart. The evidence we see is the symptomatic demonstration of the unwritten words of Jesus that caused radical inward change. The nature of this change equates to salvation. There is no mention of the keys steps There There is no mention of the keys steps articulated that we find elsewhere (confessions, repentance, forgiveness, baptism, Holy Spirit, etc.) only a man who is no longer pursuing wealth nor holding his wealth as a personal possession but is using it compassionately. Zacchaeus has pieces of the puzzle given by Jesus that have produced this radical engage in him, and that seems enough for Jesus to declare salvation has come. Are we focussed enough to be speaking words of Life, Love and Truth, ministering to individuals in such a way that this kind of deep personal change occurs? 




The Greek uses the term “beggars” (“ptochos”) not just the general needy. It’s to those in  opposite circumstances that Zacchaeus who have nothing that he reaches out. His conscience has been awakened to the restitution of fraudulous gain, given his employment that would take a huge chunk of his considerable wealth. He is going back to those he has deceived and profiting them fourfold. His understanding of wealth has radically changed – we can understand that he didn't seem to have much else of significance in his life. It’s this kind of evidence that is proof of a saving work of Jesus and the Spirit in a life. As with the meaning of encounters too, often we’re so caught up with the steps and stages happening and being “appropriately ticked off” that we miss out on the evidence of a changed heart and life as the proof Jesus sought to declare salvation was at work. Is this how we discern God’s work in the lives of those we deal with?

Jesus presents a radically different perspective of being a leader relationally. When we begin to operate in this way, I believe we will be changed, others will be changed. I believe the leader is anyone who models themselves and demonstrates these principles. 

On the journey...