Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost November 4, 2007
Scripture	Luke 19:1-10 19 He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” 9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”
Devotional	What would you do if Jesus invited himself to stay at your house? Jesus often dropped in at unexpected times. He often visited the uninvited, the poor, the lame, and the tax collectors. The Zacchaeus story is the favorite of many people, especially children. Do children relate to Zacchaeus because they are smaller than adults therefore a short little man identifies with them? Short people sometimes have to create opportunities for themselves. Zacchaeus did just that. He had the best seat in town a perfect place to see but also a perfect place to not become involved. “He was trying to see who Jesus was.” If this was Zacchaeus’ strategy, it did not work. Jesus saw him and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” Zacchaeus had only wanted to see Jesus but Jesus offers the opportunity to become totally involved. He is completely transformed, offering to give half of his possessions to the poor and repay four times anyone he had defrauded. Zacchaeus follows the instructions of John the Baptist. “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” “Collect no more than prescribed for you.” (Luke 3: 11b, 13b) Had Zacchaeus heard John preach before or was this an ethical decision that would correct his past behavior. Regardless of which, Zacchaeus was transformed. A short time before, Jesus told the rich ruler to sell everything and give it to the poor and come and follow him. How does Zacchaeus get to keep half his possessions and also gets to stay home? Luke leaves us with these questions! What would be your response if Jesus dropped in on you unexpectedly? What happens when we see Jesus and Jesus sees us? Do we change?