Wednesday
So how many of the “lost and outcast” have you noticed Jesus talking to over the last several chapters?
Here’s a quick rundown (just in case you were curious). A stray sheep (15:3-7), A lost coin (15:8-9), A lost son (15:11-32), A sick beggar (16:19-31), A Samaritan man with leprosy (17:11-19), A mistreated widow (18:1-8), A despised tax collector (18:9-14), A blind beggar (18:35-43) and a chief tax collector (19:1-10). These outcast were all found or saved.
Now, Jesus is traveling through Jericho always with the goal of reaching Jerusalem for the Passover. I am sure that the events that will transpire over the next few days are weighing heavy on His heart, yet he always has time to talk with those around him. Today, we find him in the “city of palm trees”. Jericho was noted for its beautiful gardens and amazing stone palaces and Jesus is invited to the home of a chief tax collector. Jericho is a great business center with caravans crossing the area headed for markets all around the world.
You can imagine the high taxes that would be collected and the wealth and power of this “little man” known as Zacchaeus. Being a chief tax collector, he would have had a group of tax collectors under his authority. He so desperately wants to see Jesus that he climbs a tree. (I don’t think that I had ever taken this story very seriously, because of the children’s song we always sing. But think about the difference between his attitude and that of the rich young ruler.) More than anything else, Zacchaeus wants to be a follower of Jesus. He gives up much of his wealth without ever being told to. Half of his large estate he promises to the poor and he vows to give back to anyone he has cheated four times what he stole. This is some serious restitution going on here. I wonder what Zacchaeus will think of the upcoming events?
He just gives his life to follow Jesus and then in just a few days, Jesus will be hanging on a cross. I wonder if Zacchaeus’ wealth and his faithfulness to Christ will help the early Christians through some very rough days. Was Zacchaeus one of the 500 people who saw Jesus after the resurrection? (1 Corinthians 15:6). Hmmm guess we’ll have to wait til we get to heaven to learn that.
Jesus is now entering Jerusalem. It is Palm Sunday the beginning of Christ’s final time before the crucifixion and resurrection and Jesus declares to all that God has appointed him to be the Messiah, the Savior. Up until this point, Jesus has been downplaying the times when people have acknowledged him as the Messiah, but now He is saying that even the stones would cry out (vs 40).
Are we crying out to the world that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior? If not, why not?
I think we need to be shouting like the Angels in Luke 2 and the crowds here in Luke 19,
“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”
Blessings to you in the name of the Lord!
Pastor Kathy