DAY #126: Luke 18:35-19:10

Continuing on their journey toward Jerusalem, Jesus and the disciples approached Jericho. The Old Testament city of Jericho had been destroyed by the Israelites (Joshua 6:20), but during his rule over Palestine, Herod the Great had rebuilt the city as a site for his winter palace.

They came upon a blind beggar who was sitting beside the road. When the blind man heard that Jesus of Nazareth was going by, he shamelessly cried out for Jesus’ attention. He called “Son of David,” a title for the Messiah. The crowds tried to hush the man, perhaps trying to keep Jesus from being harassed by beggars. But that only made the blind man more persistent.

Any normal human being, heading toward certain death, would be extremely preoccupied and probably not necessarily in the mood to help others. But Jesus did not reject the man as the crowd had done. He ordered that the man be brought to him, then asked him to voice his request. The man replied unhesitatingly, “I want to see!”

Jesus recognized the man’s faith. As a result of such faith, Jesus healed him. A poor and blind beggar could see that Jesus was the Messiah, and the crowds understood that God was to be praised for such miracles. But the religious leaders who saw his miracles were blinded to his identity and refused to recognize him as the Messiah.

After healing a blind man outside the city, Jesus entered Jericho. Zacchaeus was a tax collector, influential and very rich. Zacchaeus, like the rest of the people in Jericho, was curious to see this man whose healings and teachings had been astounding people all over the country. Zacchaeus wanted to get a look at Jesus. Zacchaeus was so short that he could not see over the people in the crowd, so he climbed a sycamore tree.

Up in the tree, Zacchaeus watched the approaching crowd. He wanted to see Jesus, and apparently Jesus wanted to see him. The crowd reacted with great displeasure that Jesus would have chosen him out of everyone. No one else in the crowd could have known that Jesus’ visit would change this tax collector’s life. Jesus knew that Zacchaeus was ready for a change in his life.

After Jesus took the initiative with him, Zacchaeus took the initiative to follow wherever the path of obedience to Jesus might lead. The rich young man had come asking and had gone away empty, unable to give up his money and possessions. Zacchaeus, however, was able to give away his wealth in order to follow Jesus. This is the heart attitude that Jesus was looking for.

To the grumblers, detractors, and self-righteous who thought they were saved simply because they were descendants of Abraham, Jesus explained his mission—he came to seek and save those like Zacchaeus who are lost.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

The mission of Jesus was simple -

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." Luke 19:10 (ESV)

Lord, may this be my primary mission as well. May it be the primary mission of my family and of COV. Lord, break our heart with the reality of hell. Drive the apathy and indifference from our lives. Give us boldness and courage to share our faith. Like Zacchaeus, give us a heart to abandon all in pursuit of Your will for our life.

Lord, make COV into a church where people come to know You. Place a burden on the hearts of our people to reach out to their friends, neighbors, co-workers and family and invite them to hear the message of Good News that You offer.

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he who is wise wins souls."

Proverbs 11:30 (NASB)