The story of Zacchaeus is well known and was first taught to me in Sunday School. When I first heard the story of how Jesus called Zacchaeus down from his tree and they became friends, it was one of the beautiful, happy ending kinds of stories we all love. While it is certainly true that Jesus offers “good news” to Zacchaeus by proclaiming “today salvation has come to this house,” there is more to this story than meets the eye.
Tax collectors in Jesus’ time where considered liars and cheats, and were a branch of the Roman Empire. Zacchaeus is said to be the “chief tax collector” and as a Jewish man collecting taxes for the Romans from his fellow Jews, he was public enemy number one. This is why the crowd was so shocked and disturbed when Jesus calls him down and goes to Zacchaeus’ house. It wasn’t that Zacchaeus was just a sinner, he was actively exploiting and cheating his own people.
Jesus however comes to each of us with a radical gift of grace. Grace is given to all people and is a gift none of us deserve. The story of Zacchaeus demonstrates that Jesus’ love extends to all people and that no one is forgotten or written off. God does not give up on people and neither should we.
We can take this story even deeper when we think of how Jesus offered grace to Zacchaeus. When Zacchaeus saw Jesus coming he went up in a Sycamore tree, presumably to get a better look. Zacchaeus certainly could see more from his tree but he also was a safe distance away. Perhaps Zacchaeus knew in his heart that Jesus was coming to change his life, perhaps he knew he wasn’t worthy of being loved, perhaps he was not wanting to personally engage his faith.
For me this story has a lot to do with evangelism and how we can be God’s agents of grace. Jesus consistently went to the people in society who were considered lesser and offers grace. He consistently seeks out the lost and invites them to experience God’s love. I also find when Jesus actually went to Zacchaeus’ house to be significant in this story. Jesus goes to where people are to offer grace. Jesus doesn’t wait for us to come to him, he comes to us. By coming to Zacchaeus' he also forms a relationship of trust.
To GO! for God we have to find ways to demonstrate God's love in our actions and form relationships that are built on trust and mutuality. As agents of God’s grace we are called to meet people where they are and invite them to experience God’s love, mercy, and grace. So get out there, meet people where they are, and maybe invite yourself over for dinner!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
GO! MAKE! a Vision for the Church
Central Scripture for GO! MAKE!
Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.' Matthew 28:18-20
Scriptural Reflection
The Great Commission is Jesus’ last words to his disciples. After his death and resurrection, Jesus appears one final time to the disciples. He offers words of encouragement and a command. He commands the disciples to “go, make disciples of all nations.” This is not a request, this is not a suggestion, this not a word of advice, it is a command to go and make. In the original Greek, go and make are imperative verbs, commanding the disciples. To carry out the mission and ministry of Jesus, the disciples are called to go into the world and proclaim the good news to all people. To carry out the mission and ministry of Jesus, the disciples are called to make disciples of all people. It is often interpreted that going and making is one action, but scripture and Jesus’ life and ministry suggest otherwise. It is one thing to go and it is another to make, and we are called to do both.
Time and time again, Jesus goes to people where they are and demonstrates God’s love, mercy, and grace. Jesus intentionally goes to all people with the good news, including those who had been excluded by society. Jesus does not confront people by preaching at them, he shares a message with them. Jesus’ ministry is based on forming relationships with people, and meeting them where they are. Jesus intentionally seeks out the lost, the sick, and the forgotten. He goes to them and does not wait for them to come to him. We are called to follow Jesus model, we are called to GO!
Not surprisingly, the vast majority of people Jesus called to follow him responded positively. The good news of Christ is life-changing, liberating, and contagious. When people heard Jesus’ message and were encouraged to participate, it was deeply compelling. After people responded to the invitation to follow Jesus, the discipling process began. Jesus spent a great deal of time teaching the disciples and modeling faithful living for them. The process of becoming a disciple was also relational for Jesus. Each person had different needs and required different approaches. The constant for all was that Jesus spent countless hours mentoring and coaching the disciples. To MAKE! means to be committed to helping people grow in their faith, to MAKE! means helping people become disciples of Jesus Christ, while also becoming one ourselves.
What do you think it means to GO! in your life?
What would church become if we were able to implement MAKE! for our people?
Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.' Matthew 28:18-20
Scriptural Reflection
The Great Commission is Jesus’ last words to his disciples. After his death and resurrection, Jesus appears one final time to the disciples. He offers words of encouragement and a command. He commands the disciples to “go, make disciples of all nations.” This is not a request, this is not a suggestion, this not a word of advice, it is a command to go and make. In the original Greek, go and make are imperative verbs, commanding the disciples. To carry out the mission and ministry of Jesus, the disciples are called to go into the world and proclaim the good news to all people. To carry out the mission and ministry of Jesus, the disciples are called to make disciples of all people. It is often interpreted that going and making is one action, but scripture and Jesus’ life and ministry suggest otherwise. It is one thing to go and it is another to make, and we are called to do both.
Time and time again, Jesus goes to people where they are and demonstrates God’s love, mercy, and grace. Jesus intentionally goes to all people with the good news, including those who had been excluded by society. Jesus does not confront people by preaching at them, he shares a message with them. Jesus’ ministry is based on forming relationships with people, and meeting them where they are. Jesus intentionally seeks out the lost, the sick, and the forgotten. He goes to them and does not wait for them to come to him. We are called to follow Jesus model, we are called to GO!
Not surprisingly, the vast majority of people Jesus called to follow him responded positively. The good news of Christ is life-changing, liberating, and contagious. When people heard Jesus’ message and were encouraged to participate, it was deeply compelling. After people responded to the invitation to follow Jesus, the discipling process began. Jesus spent a great deal of time teaching the disciples and modeling faithful living for them. The process of becoming a disciple was also relational for Jesus. Each person had different needs and required different approaches. The constant for all was that Jesus spent countless hours mentoring and coaching the disciples. To MAKE! means to be committed to helping people grow in their faith, to MAKE! means helping people become disciples of Jesus Christ, while also becoming one ourselves.
What do you think it means to GO! in your life?
What would church become if we were able to implement MAKE! for our people?
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