Articles
On the Jericho Road to Jerusalem
“ON THE JERICHO ROAD TO JERUSALEM”
Luke 18:31-34; 19:1-9
After giving sight to a blind beggar outside Jericho, Jesus entered and passed through to continue His fulfilling “all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man.” The crowd following Jesus was so numerous that the press around Him created no room for a certain small man to see Him or draw close. He, noting the path of the crowd, ran ahead before them and climbed a tree so he could see Jesus.
As Jesus drew near, He looked up and saw Zacchaeus, and said, “Make haste and come down from there; for today I must abide in thy house.” Zacchaeus made haste and came down and received Jesus joyfully.
The crowd, knowing Zacchaeus was a tax collector, chief of the Publicans, and rich, and therefore hated as a reported corrupt man, began murmuring about Jesus consorting with a sinner.
Accused before the Lord to be one of a hated position in the collecting (and suspected stealing taxes for himself,) the crowd had to be surprised by Zacchaeus’ reaction to this. He stood and said to the man who was the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”
Jesus then said to him, “This day salvation has come to this house, for as much as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and save that which was lost.”
APPLICATION: Jesus is aware of the thoughts and actions of mankind. We often mistake the same in others. Zacchaeus’ action was courageous as he knew he was faithful to the Law and the Lord.
Written by CW Brown
