Yesterday I was late...but today I am LATE! Thanks for you patience.
Chapter Nineteen Thursday, December 16, 2010
When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
Luke 19:5-6
Don’t you just love Zacchaeus? Do you know that “wee little man” song from Sunday School? There he is, high overhead in the sycamore tree. Jesus is passing by so Zacchaeus climbs the tree to gain a better line of sight. He doesn’t want to miss a thing. He has heard about Jesus but now he has the chance of a lifetime to catch a glimpse of the teacher.
We know that Jesus and the disciples are on the way to Jerusalem. They pass through Jericho and draw quite a crowd. It won’t be long before they arrive at the edge of the holy city at Bethphage and prepare to enter Jerusalem. But now, all eyes are on Zacchaeus because Jesus has just invited himself for a meal. Here’s the rub…Zach was a well-known sinner! What in the world is the famous rabbi doing with a man like that?
I mean, who was going to really believe that Zacchaeus the cheating tax collector was really serious when he repented of his sin? So what if he says he will pay everything (and more!) back to the people! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice…!
We don’t know all the follow-up details but we do know this: Jesus has a reputation for changing lives! And it isn’t limited to folks outside of Jerusalem in the first century! Jesus loves to transform lives from night to day. You have seen it happen. You may even hold tight to a testimony of how your life was changed. Here is the Good News, it still happens today. And it happens because people prepare, are open, and sometimes they even climb a tree!
Have you been out on a limb lately? Watch and wait because Jesus is coming your way.
No comments:
Post a Comment