Day 26 - Luke 19

Read Luke 19 (find it here)

Of all the people Jesus could've have chosen to hang out with, not only does he choose a short guy he chooses a tax collector. Not just any tax collector but the CHIEF collector of the region!  He's the boss of all the corrupt, selfish tax collectors! So, of course, Zacchaeus (Zack-key-yus) is ecstatic and the people were ticked! (vs. 6-7)

Just having Jesus in his presence changes Zacchaeus' perspective. He vows to give away half his wealth to the poor and to repay four times whatever he ripped off someone. That's huge.  Remember the rich man in yesterday's post wouldn't give away any!  Its like saying the church-goer refuses to give while the "sinner" repays AND gives away!  Who has got it right now?

Obviously, it is Zacchaeus, the sinful chief tax collector! Jesus pronounces not only him but his household saved! (v. 9)

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Jesus may have been outside when he was speaking with Zacchaeus because in verse 11 the crowd was listening in to everything that he was saying.

He gave another parable. A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. (v. 12) Pay attention to those italics, reread that last sentence if you have to. 

He divides ten pounds of silver between ten men and tells them to "invest it" while he's gone (v. 13) 

But, for some reason, his own people hated him and didn't want him to be king. (v. 14)

He was crowned king and returned to see how the servants had done in investing his silver. (v. 15)

All we know is the report from three servants.  The first doubled the king's money and was greatly praised for it and promised him riches for doing so!

The next made a 50% profit, was praised and promised riches, as well.

But another servant came to the king and admitted that he was afraid of him.  Worse yet, he accuses the king of being a thief and unworthy of recognition by saying that he "takes what isn't [his]" and "harvests crop [he] didn't plant." (v. 21)

Do you remember what the unforgivable sin was? Well the third servant commits it.  He calls the noble king a thief and a fraud.  In other words, Jesus, who is comparing himself to the noble king, knows the feeling of being called evil.

The noble king has every thing taken away from this servant, even his life. For what is life worth if even the most holiest of things seems evil? What kind of twisted hell would that be?

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Remember verses 36-38 because the same people who spread their garments for the colt to walk on, who shouted and sang Jesus' praises, who revered God for His greatest gift to earth would not only be singing a different tune but a complete opposite one.

But it was meant to be this way because Jesus says that even if everyone was quiet "the stones would burst into cheers!" (v. 40)

Jesus knew the future hypocrisy that would take place over the people in the very near future.  When he got close to Jerusalem, he couldn't help but to cry. He knows that they don't really understand who he is.  They are expecting a warrior king to overthrow the Romans. Oh no, he's much more than that, he's the ultimate warrior king and Son of the Creator who has come to overthrow the power of evil and death!

Jesus even foretells severe pain in the Jewish people's future; crushed walls of the cities, being surrounded by enemies and entire families slaughtered. He is pretty much describing the tumultuous history of the Jewish people as we know it. If they knew the true meaning and purpose of the Son of God their (the Jews) course of history would've been different. But without salvation, without Christ, there is no peace, there is only the self to treat as god.

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Jesus goes from tears to anger very quickly at the sight of people making money within the temple.  Its not that animals are being sold, its that the men selling them are thieves. (v. 46) People racked with guilt would come to the temple to offer a sacrifice of an animal's life.  At the temple, the animals would be grossly overpriced, kind of like refreshments in a movie theater.  Profit has its place, but not within the temple!

Jesus throws them out with righteous anger coursing through his veins! That's the final straw for the leading priests. Luke is clear now. It isn't scheming or wondering what to do with Jesus, the leaders began to plan how to kill him. (v. 47)  It wouldn't be easy though because Jesus was popular...for now.


 Questions

1.) Read verse 12 with all the italics again.  What is Jesus foretelling about himself in this verse?

2.) If the parable of the noble king and the servants is just a symbol, then what does the silver represent? What is it that we have to invest or we will lose it and suffer dire consequences for it?

3.) Hypocrisy is rampant, even among Christ-followers.  In what situations are you most likely to disassociate yourself with Jesus?  What could give you the courage to stand for him no matter what?