Daily Message 23rd April 2020

Jesus in our homes
This week we are looking at scenes in the gospels where Jesus is in someone’s house as an invited guest. We find him teaching, healing, but most of all eating and drinking. Wouldn’t you love to have been at one of those dinner parties.

The one thrown by Mary and Martha with their recently raised-from-death brother Lazarus – imagine the conversations.

The one at the house of Levi – later known as Matthew – where Jesus was accused of keeping bad company. The onlookers thought Jesus would be ‘infected’ by their sin, but rather – like a frontline doctor – he was the one that brings healing and forgiveness.

The posh dinners at the houses of Pharisees, like the one at Simon’s house where a ‘sinful’ woman – probably a prostitute – poured perfume over Jesus’ feet and wept tears of gratitude. Imagine the men’s discomfort. Maybe some of them knew her in the ‘wrong’ sort of way.

And the ultimate – literally the last – dinner with his disciples.

And then there’s Jesus at the house of Zacchaeus, which is described in Luke 19.

We’re familiar with the details: Zacchaeus a short man who casts dignity aside in order to see Jesus.  He was a chief tax collector - I wonder if Levi had worked for him? – collecting taxes for the hated Roman occupying power. But there is something about Jesus that captivates him more strongly than the love of money, and unlike the rich young man who wanted to add one more good thing to his portfolio of goodness, Zacchaeus is prepared to give away most of his wealth: half to the poor and four times what he cheated people out of.

It’s not the act of giving his wealth away that ‘buys’ him salvation – rather salvation comes to him and his generosity is the result of a changed life.  Jesus comes to his house.  When was the last time he had such a famous guest? Imagine his delight, imagine him running back to get things ready. And you can hear the muttering starting already.  If Facebook had existed back then the neighbourhood group would probably been posting: ‘Just seen Jesus going to that scumbag’s house. Thought he’d have known better!!!!! Expect Zak is trying to buy a favour.’

But Jesus replies: Today salvation has come to this house.  He is the one who saves.  It’s not by our own good works.  ‘For this man is a son of Abraham.’  Jesus saves and he restores Zacchaeus to his place among God’s people.

And that’s what Jesus does today: he saves and restores.   The friends of the paralysed man made a hole in the roof; Zacchaeus climbed a tree.  What will we do to meet Jesus today?