Title: Those Who Seek Jesus
Contents
▒▒▒ Luke 19:1~10
Jericho is the gateway to Israel, just as Joshua crossed the Jordan and entered Jericho. There was a man named Zacchaeus in Jericho. Zacchaeus was a publican. Rome dominated the world, not only forcibly brought Roman civilization to its subordinate countries, but also took the lead in gaining economic benefits from the colonial state, Rome's greatest goal. As part of that work, Rome selected a tax collector from among the Israelites and instead of giving them a fixed monthly salary, they set a fixed target amount and gave the same amount as their monthly salary. Then, the tax collectors rushed to take care of each other's interests, and relentlessly collected taxes from their own people in order to collect more taxes than the Roman government had set. For that reason, the publican was hated by his people. Also, in the Bible, tax collectors and sinners and sinners and tax collectors appear together, indicating that tax collectors were treated as sinners at that time.
When Jesus entered Jericho, his eyes stayed on Zacchaeus among many people. He turned to Zacchaeus on the mulberry tree and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly. I must stay at your house today.” Says. There is no reason for Jesus to meet Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was not even a person who did a holy thing. Rather, he was the one who stole the blood of the poor people of Israel. Nevertheless, Jesus met Zacchaeus. There is only one reason. Because Zacchaeus was looking for Jesus. As the saying goes, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened.” Jesus met Zacchaeus because Zacchaeus asked, sought, and knocked.
When you meet Jesus, change happens. A new history arises. When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he said that when Jesus came to his house. “Jesus, I will take half of what I have and give it to the poor. And if I have stolen anything from anyone, I will pay back fourfold.” When Zacchaeus said that he would give half of his possessions to the poor, the chaebols said, “I will give back 800 billion won to society. I will return the first trillion.” It is qualitatively different from what is said and presented. After meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus said, “Lord, I have only you. I have no will to give, so I raise my hand.” said and put it out. He was giving up half of his possessions with a heart that fully raised his hands before the Lord. Then Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “You are a descendant of Abraham. Salvation has come to this house.” Before meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus was a publican and a sinner. Then, after meeting Jesus, he hears from Jesus, “You are a descendant of Abraham.” As a sinner, he became a holy man, the people of God.
What I regret the most is going to church without seeing Jesus. Time doesn't stop. I'm getting older, and you're getting older too. For those who met Jesus, that time is renewed day by day. However, those who do not meet Jesus die day by day in spirit and body. It's like losing important time. Today, at this hour, the members of Hanshin Church pray in the name of the Lord that they will meet Jesus and receive the blessings of heaven like Zacchaeus.
2008-08-26 15:01:32