Saturday: Read today:
Pages 139-142 - The
Way-40 Days of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
Way-40 Days of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
Why He Came
“He entered and was
passing through Jericho. There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax
collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn’t
because of the crowd, because he was short. He ran on ahead, and climbed up
into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way. 5 When
Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus,
hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’ He hurried, came
down, and received him joyfully. When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, ‘He
has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner.’ Zacchaeus stood and said to
the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have
wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much.’ Jesus
said to him, ‘Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son
of Abraham, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.’”(Luke
19:1-10)
passing through Jericho. There was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax
collector, and he was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn’t
because of the crowd, because he was short. He ran on ahead, and climbed up
into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was going to pass that way. 5 When
Jesus came to the place, he looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus,
hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’ He hurried, came
down, and received him joyfully. When they saw it, they all murmured, saying, ‘He
has gone in to lodge with a man who is a sinner.’ Zacchaeus stood and said to
the Lord, ‘Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have
wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much.’ Jesus
said to him, ‘Today, salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son
of Abraham, for the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.’”(Luke
19:1-10)
On his way to Jerusalem,
where crucifixion awaited him, Jesus stopped in Jericho for a divine
appointment. As he walked past a sycamore tree, he looked up a saw a man named
Zacchaeus in the branches, where he had climbed to get a glimpse of Jesus.
Jesus called to Zacchaeus and asked to stay at his home. The request was
shocking to the townspeople, for Zacchaeus was well known in the region, not
merely as a tax collector but as a chief tax collector. He was wealthy, and his
wealth had come by collecting more taxes than was due. Watching Jesus, the
people grumbled and said, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner” (Luke
19:7).
where crucifixion awaited him, Jesus stopped in Jericho for a divine
appointment. As he walked past a sycamore tree, he looked up a saw a man named
Zacchaeus in the branches, where he had climbed to get a glimpse of Jesus.
Jesus called to Zacchaeus and asked to stay at his home. The request was
shocking to the townspeople, for Zacchaeus was well known in the region, not
merely as a tax collector but as a chief tax collector. He was wealthy, and his
wealth had come by collecting more taxes than was due. Watching Jesus, the
people grumbled and said, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner” (Luke
19:7).
But notice the response
of Zacchaeus. Dumbfounded by Jesus request, he decided on the spot to give half
his possessions to the poor and promised to return anything he had wrongfully
taken from others. And note what Jesus said to the crowd that day: “The son of
Man came to seek out and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
of Zacchaeus. Dumbfounded by Jesus request, he decided on the spot to give half
his possessions to the poor and promised to return anything he had wrongfully
taken from others. And note what Jesus said to the crowd that day: “The son of
Man came to seek out and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
I have asked my
congregation to memorize that verse. It captures the heart and ministry of
Jesus the way few other words do. He said that the reason he came—his
purpose—was to look for and offer deliverance to people who have strayed from
God’s path.
congregation to memorize that verse. It captures the heart and ministry of
Jesus the way few other words do. He said that the reason he came—his
purpose—was to look for and offer deliverance to people who have strayed from
God’s path.
We in the church
sometimes forget this; if the church is the body of Christ, as Paul taught,
than its primary purpose must be to “seek out and save the lost!” Jesus did not
do that by preaching at Zacchaeus. He did not share a gospel tract. Instead
Jesus asked Zacchaeus if he could have supper at his house. He befriended
Zacchaeus, in spite of knowing that the townsfolk would consider it a scandal.
sometimes forget this; if the church is the body of Christ, as Paul taught,
than its primary purpose must be to “seek out and save the lost!” Jesus did not
do that by preaching at Zacchaeus. He did not share a gospel tract. Instead
Jesus asked Zacchaeus if he could have supper at his house. He befriended
Zacchaeus, in spite of knowing that the townsfolk would consider it a scandal.
How would your church
do things differently if its primary mission was to “seek out and save the
lost?”
do things differently if its primary mission was to “seek out and save the
lost?”
Who are the people you
are building friendships with who are non-Christian or nominally Christian? Is
there anyone you believe God wishes to invite for worship in the next few days?
are building friendships with who are non-Christian or nominally Christian? Is
there anyone you believe God wishes to invite for worship in the next few days?
Lord, help me find ways to befriend and share my
faith with people like Zacchaeus, and to be used by you to help others see your
light and love. Amen.
faith with people like Zacchaeus, and to be used by you to help others see your
light and love. Amen.
Sunday: Read today:
Pages - The Way-40 Days
of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
of Reflection (Daily Devotion Guide)
Week Six
The Final Week
Jerusalem
“They brought the young
donkey to Jesus, and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. Many
spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from
the trees, and spreading them on the road. Those who went in front, and those who
followed, cried out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the
Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’”(Mark 11:7-10)
donkey to Jesus, and threw their garments on it, and Jesus sat on it. Many
spread their garments on the way, and others were cutting down branches from
the trees, and spreading them on the road. Those who went in front, and those who
followed, cried out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the
Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’”(Mark 11:7-10)
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