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Jesus Disappoints The Crowd… As Usual
Jesus enters Jericho and Zacchaeus wants to see him. He was vertically-challenged (read short), and got into a tree so he could Jesus as he passed by. Zacchaeus was an important man, and he may have been able to muscle his way through the crowd, but he decides to climb a tree. As Jesus reaches the spot where Zacchaeus is sitting in the tree, Jesus calls him by name and tells him that he was going to stay at Zacchaeus’ house. Zacchaeus gets out of the tree, happy because this man that he was so curious about knew him by name and wants to spend time with him. The crowd mutters, as crowds tend to do, and complains that Jesus is keeping company with sinners.
Basically, four things are happening in this passage:
- A sinful tax-collector is curious about Jesus enough to climb a tree to see him.
- Jesus knows him and calls him by name.
- Jesus invites himself to Zacchaeus’ house
- The crowd doesn’t like Jesus consorting with a “sinner.”
To me, it’s hard to figure who is more interesting in this episode, Zacchaeus, Jesus, or the crowd. The first two do not act as you would expect. Zacchaeus, a tax-collector, is interested in this famous prophet so much so that he literally goes out on a limb to get a look at Jesus. Jesus doesn’t ignore him, but calls him by name and invites himself over to Zacchaeus’ house. Why would this rising spiritual leader want to hang out with a sinful tax collector? The crowd, however, is extremely predictable. They have an idea of how things should be, and when their expectations aren’t met, they get upset and begin to mutter. When God does the unexpected, we often rebel against Him because we don’t understand what He doing, but we figure we know what He SHOULD be doing. This attitude ignores God’s omniscience, robs us of exercising our faith, and causes us to miss how God can work in the life of those who don’t know Him.
I must remember that as a faithful follower of Christ, I am also an example. I have been challendged to take the good and the bad, praise God, learn from example, and spread my story around so that those around me can learn. I pray that I always remember to respond in a way that glorifies God and increases my faith.
I love to tell a good story but what is even better, is a God story.
I love it! Mainly because God is not doing what I expect right now. I’m in limbo – not knowing what will be next in my life and I don’t understand why God doesn’t just do something about it – AND RIGHT NOW.
Like He could find me another job – in Smyrna, a perfect job.
Like He could tell me what’s up with my furniture in storage?
Just why is it that the house in Savannah that I’ve been living in suddenly sold and my townhouse in Smyrna is still occupied by renters and I’m living in a hotel room !!! That’s just not what I expect should be happening to me. (Am I muttering?)
Do you suppose I should exercise my faith and look around for what I’m missing? Maybe some sinners to hang out with? Could this the making of a God story?
Thanks, Terence. You write, you pray. And it is good.
To My Sister Nancy:
I am so sorry to hear about what going through. I don’t know what God is up to, but I do a few things: That He loves you with a perfect love, that He has plans for you, to prosper and not to harm you, and to give you a hope and a future.
My prayers for you are that not only will you receive speedy deliverance from your circumstances, but that you WILL see what God is up to. You already know Him, and that’s puts you in a better position to see and hear from Him. Take care. I love you, my sister.
Lessons to me.
1. Sometimes it’s the “sinners” with the most responsive hearts to God.
2. Jesus does not see like Man sees. Will He give me discernment to look past skin and crusty facades, to see the heart?
3. Usually, the crowd is wrong. Look through from the other side. Ask questions in reverse. Challenge the assumptions. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you do.