I have often wondered what it would have been like to be with Jesus when he walked the earth.
I think of a snapshot from the Bible about Zacchaeus, from Luke 19:5-6. It says:
When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. ‘’Zacchaeus!’’ he said. ‘’Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.’’ Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy.
I wonder what that evening would have looked like. I imagine hot food with delicious smells filling the room while Jesus and Zacchaeus’ family and friends are at the table talking and getting to know each other. Maybe they would have laughed at the same jokes, or would have already jumped into a deep discussion over life and God. Perhaps to be together with him that evening would have had similarities to the picture I have of family dinners or summer BBQs.
It was a great honor for someone like Jesus to be a guest at a person’s home. But even more shocking is that this man was no one important. In fact, not only was he not important, he would have been a pariah in the community due to his occupation as a tax collector. But Jesus decides to stay with Zacchaeus anyways and through that, Zacchaeus was changed.
The story continues, and Zacchaeus turns to Jesus and says,
I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!
– Luke 19:8b
The opportunity to be with Jesus was not only an honor for Zacchaeus, it also changed him.
Rachel Fou
Northwest Field Director
Inspirational