'Jesus wasn’t on some rogue mission from the Father, but instead was perfectly intentional about what was happening. He Himself would go on to say: 'The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost' (Luke 19:10).' _MichaelKelley
The tax collector took a tentative step forward. Then another. Then he grabbed hold of the low branches and swung a leg up. He looked around briefly. The crowd was coming, the noise growing louder. Up and up and up. His heart beat faster and faster and faster. Still he climbed. He was sweating now through the weight of his clothes.
Can you imagine what went through his mind at that moment? Can you fathom the insecurity of suddenly seeing not only Jesus, but every face in the crowd turn upward? Can you see his face start to turn red as the mouths of that crowd started to turn upward in jeering laughter?“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because today I must stay at your house” .
I suppose you could look at that must as an imposition both on the Son of God as well as the tax collector – that Jesus was saying that much as He would like to stay in the home of someone more reputable, He simply can’t. He has His orders, and like it or not, He’s going to that house to stay. Yes, He’s going to that house to stay. You could look at it like that, or you could see the beauty in that must.
He must do this, and He must do it whether we like it or not. Indeed, most of us do not like it. At least not at first. We don’t like Jesus’ intrusion into our lives. We don’t like His outlandish claim of Lordship and dominion over our habits and thoughts. We don’t like His calls to complete trust and obedience. He forces His way into our houses, and it’s a bit uncomfortable. At least at first. But then, in retrospect, we find that this is an invasion of grace. Of love. Of mercy.
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