LOOK WHO’S COMING TO DINNER
Opening Prayer
Holy God, thank you for making a way for sinners like me to come to you, to know what it is to be your child, to experience your loving faithfulness each day.
Read LUKE 19:1–10
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Where did Jesus first find you? Were you seeking him, or did he take the initiative?Today we encounter another outsider who desperately wanted to see. Zacchaeus would have looked so foolish and ‘out there’ as he climbed that tree (v. 4). Like the rich ruler of Luke 18:18, he actively sought to engage with Jesus, but like the tax collector of Luke 18:13, he decided to keep his distance. It was Jesus who took hold of Zacchaeus, a short, morally compromised outsider, with the words, ‘I must stay at your house today’ (v. 5).
The rich ruler walked away despondent because he realized that his possessions were more important than he thought. Zacchaeus spontaneously realized that his possessions were getting in the way of what he really wanted, so he let them go (v. 8). The ruler had high social standing. Zacchaeus was held in contempt (v. 7). The ruler refused Jesus’ invitation. Zacchaeus was overjoyed by the privilege (v. 6). The contrast between these two could not be greater.
Luke has been weaving the fabric of his message for several chapters. In this upside-down kingdom, the blind see, the rich turn away, and the sons of Abraham include the least likely because of the deep, loving truth of verse 10. This King is like no other.
Apply
Reflect on Revelation 3:20 afresh. Jesus longs for fellowship with you. What would it mean for you to welcome him as gladly as Zacchaeus did?
Closing prayer
Lord Jesus, show me where I can tangibly express my faith in you, inviting others to enjoy the riches I find in my relationship with you.
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