Jesus is Having Dinner at Your House

Something really struck me the other day when I was listening to a bible story that I’ve heard many times before. I remember as a child colouring in a depiction of the story. The story of Zacchaeus. A tax collector, actually a senior tax collector, who collected taxes for the Romans from the Jewish people. He was a Jew himself but used to skim an amount of money over and above the tax amount for himself.  He had become very wealthy due to this dishonest act. So hence no one liked him.

Now Zacchaeus had heard that Jesus was coming through his town Jericho. Something about Zacchaeus’ behaviour surprised me. Being in a high position, in a government department – TAX that is, he could have, I guess, asked to have a good position to see this Jesus. He could have asked for a front row seat. But maybe he wanted to see him quietly, without anyone really knowing it? Maybe he had decided at the last minute to check out who this Jesus was – what/who all this commotion was for? What this crowd gathering for this man was all about?

It stated in scripture:

He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature.

Luke 19:3 NRSV

Being short in height, Zacchaeus could have just shrugged his shoulders and thought, ‘oh well, too hard!’ But something pushed him to try. Something propelled him to do something that generally he would NOT do. It was undignified for a man in his position. To RUN and CLIMB a tree.

He was not a child anymore. Carefree, exploring the world and all trees in it.

NO, He was a grown man with a high-ranking official title.

But this did not stop him. He had to SEE this Jesus.

Something within his spirit spurred him on, and so he climbed up.

Imagine the surprise when Jesus stopped under the tree and looked up directly at Zacchaeus!

When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.”

Luke 19:5 NRSV

Woah, what if that was YOU Jesus was looking up at while you hid amongst the branches?

While you tried to live your life hidden, on the fringe, not wanting people to notice you. Maybe not even wanting God to notice you.

Because of what Jesus said to Zacchaeus, Jesus told him that he is interested to getting to know him, (in spite of his lifestyle) to be intimate with him, to come over to his house and sup with him. This act of love broke through the barriers of Zacchaeus’ heart. This act of acceptance transformed him. He knew what people thought about him but more importantly NOW his heart had started to change.  This encounter with Jesus had affected him. He was different. He wanted Jesus to think well of him, he wanted to do the right thing.  

Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”

 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:8-10 NRSV

For that is what Jesus has done once again – SAVED THIS LOST MAN. And HE, JESUS, SOUGHT OUT THE LOST!

He CAN and WILL SAVE YOU TOO!

Knowing that Jesus SEEKS us out is such a consolation.

I can have confidence in this! This truth will set me free.

When I am lost. When I feel hidden, not wanted, not accepted…….

Know that Jesus, the son of the King, the Living God came upon the earth for ME.

He was beaten, tortured, died an undignified death for ME. For US.

Would we be so undignified, at our age, in our positions, to climb a tree if it meant we would see Jesus, be noticed by Him, be told that He was coming to our house?

It makes you think doesn’t it?

May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’

Love

Rosemary

Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups. If you would like more information please click HERE.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

How would you feel if Jesus was visiting your house? Would you be ready for Him if He made an unexpected visit?

How does it make you feel when someone loves you and appreciates you despite some of your choices in life? Do you do the same for others?