Joyous Faith

May 29, 2016 Background Scripture: Luke 19:1 – 10 Lesson Passage: Luke 19:1 – 10 Nothing is more joyous than inviting Jesus to come into one’s heart for the first time. Experiencing his presence for the first time is incomparable to anything imaginable. To know that the one and only living God is now alive in one’s heart brings an unspeakable joy. This experience gives assurance that he will be with us forever. It is so uniquely personal that we must share it with others. Others might notice subtle changes in us but they cannot possibly know the fullness we are experiencing on the inside. Perhaps this joyous experience is similar to the contact people had with Jesus when he ministered in the flesh here in this world. Luke’s account of the gospel highlights some of Jesus’ ministries to the outcasts and rejects of society. How exciting it must have been for those who Jesus openly acknowledged and welcomed into his fellowship who were previously shunned by society. For the Savior to publically invite himself into a shunned person’s home would have been even more of a privilege. And to know that the public who witnesses the invitation happens to despise you, then it’s an even more joyous occasion. You will go from being a hated reject to a wonder before all because of that amazing invitation. This is exactly what took place in our lesson text. In the text, we are introduced to a man named Zaccheus. Zaccheus was a member of a group despised by the Jews. He was a publican. The publicans were employed by the Roman Empire to collect tributes or taxes from the Jews. They did not have a good reputation because some of them were considered unethical because they took more than necessary or required from the people and kept the extra for themselves. As a result of this practice, some of them became wealthy at the expense of the people. Not only was Zaccheus a despised publican, he was also described as being short of stature or perhaps a dwarf. His physical height might have caused some other self esteem issues. When the word went out that Jesus was passing through town, the crowd gathered by the side of the road to catch a glimpse. Zaccheus ran ahead of the crowd and climbed into a tree so he could look over the crowd and see Jesus. Not only did this vantage point give Zaccheus a good view of Jesus, it also gave Jesus a good view of Zaccheus. When Jesus came to the place where Zaccheus was, he looked up and called Zaccheus by name and announced that he needed to go to Zaccheus’ house. The despised dwarf in the tree suddenly became a person of pubic curiosity. Jesus acknowledged him and invited himself to his house—and both were done publically! None of this was wasted on Zaccheus. Zaccheus knew that he was privileged to have Jesus invite himself into his home. Prior to Jesus’ invitation, the only ones who were likely to visit Zaccheus would have been other tax collectors and non-religious people. Zaccheus’ response indicates that he was prepared to receive Jesus into his house and into his heart. Jesus’ invitation engenders faith in the one whose heart is prepared to receive him. It is always a joyous faith. Robert C. Hudson May 11, 2016