A Wee Little Man and a Great Big Question

Below is an encounter Jesus had with Zacchaeus. As I read it today, I thought about all the other "Zacchaeus people" I've known over the years. I've tried to put myself in the shoes of one of his neighbors. Maybe you can too.

Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. 2There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. 3He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way--he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd. 4So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home."

Zacchaeus would have been someone who lived down the street from us. We worked hard, paid our bills, tried to raise our kids the right way, and went to church. We were good people. But people like Zacchaeus - we couldn't understand them - or really, what God was up to.

While we were doing all the right things, Zacchaeus wasn't. But far from being punished by God, he prospered. Even when we had to scrape by to make ends meet, or borrow money to pay our taxes, Zacchaeus had money. He had it all it seemed, and that made it harder.

6Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. 7Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, "What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?"

"That's right!", we would have said. "Who does he think he is? Doesn't he know who he's getting mixed up with? He should be spending his time with us church folks." After all, that's what a rabbi is supposed to do.

But instead, Jesus not only noticed that the guy everyone thought had it all was empty inside, but he made Zacchaeus feel something he hadn't felt for a long time - love. You see Zacchaeus had been playing the game too. If he couldn't be respected, if he couldn't be loved for who he was, he'd be feared for how much he owned and what his power could do. It had been a long time since he'd let his guard down for a moment. But this man... Jesus made him remember how it felt not to measure his life by coins and gold and silver bars. Jesus stood there in a simple robe, and was everything Zacchaeus in his rich silks and gold jewelry wanted to be.

8Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, "Master, I give away half my income to the poor--and if I'm caught cheating, I pay four times the damages." 9Jesus said, "Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! 10For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost."

Now the Great Big Question - would you have loved Zacchaeus?

Could you have seen past the riches to the bankrupt soul?

Whatever means or method you use to share your faith must begin with love. It is that "Jesus-love" that will cause you to look for people like Zacchaeus, and it is that "Jesus-love" that will help you look past their present to their Christ-following future.

Take a look around your neighborhood.

Grace!

David

This devotional is written by David Wilson, pastor of New Hope Baptist church in Valparaiso, FL. If you find you have received this via a forward and would like to receive it regularly, or find you no longer wish to receive it, drop me an email at dwilsonfl@earthlink.net and I'll make the change to the list. If you'd like to know more about New Hope, visit our website at www.newhopevalp.org . May God bless you.