"And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Today's lesson, just like most, could be directly aimed at modern "Christianity", since the behavior of most modern "Christians' exactly mimics the behavior of those claiming to be God's people who were present with Jesus as He approached Zaccheaus.
Publicans, or tax collectors, were hated among the common Jews and were considered to be among the vilest of sinners.
Zaccheaus was a publican and therefore his Jewish countrymen would not associate with him, and as is noted in today's quote, became angry when Jesus said He would join Zaccheaus for supper.
Today, if someone who professes to be a Christian is seen in the company of "sinners", instead of being praised for his/her effort, it is immediately assumed that he/she is participating in, or condoning sin.
The example Jesus set in today's quote, as well as during His entire ministry, demonstrates to us that we should go among sinners to teach the gospel. As Jesus said; "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:17 in part.)
There is not much to gain by preaching to those who are already saved. The good news of God's saving grace, through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, should be taken directly to those who are lost, the "sinners", wherever they are.
We, as TRUE Christian people, should never sit and wait for the lost to appear at our doorstep or in the pew next to us, we are to "go" and preach the gospel.
We must never forget that those of us whom have accepted the saving grace of God, by placing our faith in Jesus Christ, are immune to sin; "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." (1 John 3:9).
Whatever we might do, that to others appear to be sin, is "Justified"; "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him."
Therefore, as we travel through this very short life, it behooves us to GO WHEREVER THE "SINNERS ARE and teach the word of God to all who are willing to listen. That is exactly what Jesus did when He dined with Zaccheaus, and it should most certainly be the way we do it as well~.
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