Sanctuary - Moments In His presenceSample

 As we explore some aspects of adversity and seek to make sense of them, we might think about a man who climbed a tree one day simply because he was short and there were too many crowds flocking around Jesus for him to see this teacher walk by, (Luke 19 vs 3). Some say there were other reasons; Zacchaeus was an outcast, formally excommunicated from the temple because of his association with the Romans. As a tax collector, he wasn’t appreciated by anyone because he had become rich at the locals’ expense. He was despised. He may have had everything in one sense but in another he had lost his way socially, spiritually and morally. His adversity was largely of his own making; the lure of wealth, a series of bad choices and poor judgements – and then Jesus broke in.

Jesus, ever seeing, looked up at him hiding in the tree (Luke 19 v 5) and told him to hurry down because, he said, ‘Today I must stay at your house.’ Jesus has a habit of turning everything up-side down; He does it frequently. His words are powerfully creative, and these particular words changed Zacchaeus’ life in a way it is difficult for us to understand. To invite someone to our supper tables is quite special but not over much. In Jesus’ day it was more; it was saying, ‘I wish to be your friend. I really want to be with you’. Transforming adversity with every breath! Jesus invited Himself, of course; that’s what you have to do when someone longs for that intimacy but is so beaten up that to ask would be to risk blunt refusal once more.

Such is the transforming power of Jesus that this man is falling over himself to put things right; ‘Half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.’ (v 8) Glory! I can never quite do the sums, but I think Zacchaeus bankrupted himself that day. No wonder Jesus declared, ‘Today, salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.’ (vs 9 and 10).

Never fear if you have messed up and want to get right. This Savior saves.