May 11
Zacchaeus
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)
I love this story of Zacchaeus. It is such a beautiful tale of transformation. We can see in our text that people absolutely hated this tax collector. His greed, his drive, his selfish ambition must have offended nearly everyone. But, here he is wanting to see Jesus. When I think of Zacchaeus, I picture Danny Devito in sandals and a tunic scrambling up that sycamore tree.
He’s way ahead of the dust and the crowd now, totally ignored by everyone ... but Jesus. So what happens when Jesus shows up? Jesus stops, looks up and calls to Zacchaeus ... by name. Jesus gets personal, even friendly! The crowd is greatly disappointed, but Jesus doesn’t care what people think. He’s focused on the harvest ... picking ripe fruit ... and witnessing spiritual transformation. Jesus’ bold, unexpected attention absolutely delights this notorious sinner, and Zacchaeus is transformed that day.
The lesson is simple: when we have opportunity to do something good, to grab someone’s attention, reach their heart and witness God’s transforming power, we must not hesitate. The harvest is too important. Stop. Do the bold thing ... and see life as you’ve never seen it before!
Father, grant that we may see and boldly take advantage of these opportunities. Give us a part in your harvest, and may many be transformed. Amen.
Zacchaeus
Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”
Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.
Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”
Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”
Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)
I love this story of Zacchaeus. It is such a beautiful tale of transformation. We can see in our text that people absolutely hated this tax collector. His greed, his drive, his selfish ambition must have offended nearly everyone. But, here he is wanting to see Jesus. When I think of Zacchaeus, I picture Danny Devito in sandals and a tunic scrambling up that sycamore tree.
He’s way ahead of the dust and the crowd now, totally ignored by everyone ... but Jesus. So what happens when Jesus shows up? Jesus stops, looks up and calls to Zacchaeus ... by name. Jesus gets personal, even friendly! The crowd is greatly disappointed, but Jesus doesn’t care what people think. He’s focused on the harvest ... picking ripe fruit ... and witnessing spiritual transformation. Jesus’ bold, unexpected attention absolutely delights this notorious sinner, and Zacchaeus is transformed that day.
The lesson is simple: when we have opportunity to do something good, to grab someone’s attention, reach their heart and witness God’s transforming power, we must not hesitate. The harvest is too important. Stop. Do the bold thing ... and see life as you’ve never seen it before!
Father, grant that we may see and boldly take advantage of these opportunities. Give us a part in your harvest, and may many be transformed. Amen.
posted by Craig Soderquist at 9:38 AM
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