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While Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem he passed through Jericho. Obviously Jesus' coming would have been announced before he arrived. The reason for this is that many recognised him as the son of David who would be the King of Israel. Besides this the news of people who were blind seeing along with all the other mighty works of God following him would have attracted large crowds as these things had never been seen in Israel before.. It is no wonder that Jesus movements would be well published much like front page news in our time. But most of all, when a king came to a town or city his coming was always announced in that place beforehand, so that when he came the people would have been expecting him. In the same way the coming of the King of Israel was announced in all the villages,towns and cities that Jesus entered. This is why when Jesus entered Jericho, the people were expecting him and the roads were crowded with people. Indeed this is why Zachaeus who was short had to climb up a sycamore tree to see Jesus. When Jesus saw him up in the tree, he told him to come down, for Jesus said to him that he must stay in his home that day. We must take note that Zachaeus was the chief tax collector and also he was rich, so he would have been a well known figure in Jericho. He was a man already unpopular for doing the will of the Romans to get money out of the Jews hard earned cash. Also many tax collectors were known to extort extra money out of the tax payers and so making themselves rich. Indeed such men for these reasons were outcasts and were greatly disliked in Israel. So when Jesus said he was to stay at Zachaeus's home,we can only imagine the amazement when they all complained that he'd gone to be the guest in the house of a sinner. However Zachaeus joyfully received Jesus. In fact Zachaeus's response was quite miraculous and amazing. He immediatly offered to give half his goods to the poor and if I've taken anything from anyone by false accusation I will restore it fourfold he says. Jesus responds by giving salvation to Zachaeus when he says today salvation has come to this house, because he is also a son Of Abraham.
So whats happening here? Firstly this is indeed a divine appointment. Jesus meeting Zachaeus was ordained of God and was in no way by chance. Jesus even knew his name and that he was to stay in His home. This is quite clearly a powerful move of God upon Zachaeus. Zachaeus knows what is expected of him from the scriptures in Leviticus 6.Here God demands that restitution be made in all cases of extortion ,robbery etc. The person is to replace what has been taken by extortion etc, and then add to its value a 1/5 to the person who has suffered loss. Only when restitution had been made could the wrong doer offer the spotless sacrice and be forgiven his trespass by God. So Zachaeus is displaying true repentance, and is offering restitution way beyond what was required of him. He is offering to replace what he has extorted by four times as much when all that was required was the value plus a 1/5. This is true repentance for what value would his repentance be if he held to the ill gotten gain. It would have shown his repentance was with words alone. Jesus is fully endorsing Yhws requirement of restitution for trespasses. Jesus says this response to Gods grace shows he is indeed a son of Abraham .For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost. Here Jesus is indeed turning the hearts of many in Israel back to their God. What wonderful grace that sinners are sought out and saved. The undeserving been shown mercy. Those who have been outcasts now find that they belong, even to God himself. Yes sinners are outside and enemies of God, but when they repent and come to faith in Jesus they are fully accepted by God and us. Those who were out are now in and many who thought they were in the Kingdom of God are out. The true sons of Abraham are those who respond in faith and true repentance to Gods King, Jesus the Christ. |
