FAITHFUL ENCOUNTERS – Part 043

ZACCHAEUS THE LITTLE PUBLICAN
32 AD – Guess Who’s Coming For Lunch – Jericho, Jordan River Valley

The luncheon was a grand one. Food and drinks were served in every open courtyard of Zacchaeus’ vast villa. Though his house had the distinction of being the home of the hated tax collector, it did not deter many of the town folk to eat his food which was openly provided. Jesus and his entourage with their host had finished their meal under a covered raised pavillion facing the already overcrowded courtyard. Zacchaeus, Jesus and three others were huddled together listening to a confessed story told by their host.

When Jesus smiled and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, the people began to mutter among themselves. Then a young Pharisee among the crowd, spoke out loud, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” [Luke 19:7]

Zacchaeus stood up looking at the grumbling crowd, then he looked down at Jesus who was smiling encouragingly. He came to a decision that had suddenly unburdened his heart.

“Look, Lord!,” He excitedly announced. “Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor.”

The people were stunned to silence. But Zacchaeus felt that he had to do more. He saw among the crowd the man that had bullied him and he took revenge on him by cheating him greatly out of his land. Zacchaeus went to him and said out loud, “If I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” [Luke 19:8] Then he reached out a hand. The man’s lofty demeanor softened and slowly he took his hand and shook it.

There was a smatter of clapping among the crowd still stunned by the tax collector’s declaration. But the clapping increased as Jesus himself came down happily laughing and clapping.

Jesus said out loud, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” [Luke 19:9,10]

But then the young Pharisee who boldly stood up among his peers challenged Jesus by saying, “Teacher, your teachings are inconsistent!”

Jesus faced him calmly. Emboldened, the Pharisee continued. “I heard you speak to a young rich man. He came to you and asked if he could enter eternal life. You replied to him, ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’ He declared he had kept them all since he was a boy. Then you said that he lacked one thing; told him to go sell everything and give to the poor; and then follow you. After which he walked away sad. You concluded with, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’ Such were your words.” [Mark 10:17-23]

“It is not my teaching that is inconsistent. It is your conclusion that is in error.” Jesus offers no other explanation to the Pharisee who returned to his companions unsatisfied.

Jesus led Zacchaeus into the house with the disciples close behind.

“Master?” It was the disciple Philip asking, “What is the difference between the young rich man and our friend, Zacchaeus?”

“The young rich man’s problem was always his riches. His money was his idol… his god. And most importantly, he was without faith.” Then Jesus took Zacchaeus to the side.

“Zacchaeus, my friend, I must go,” Jesus said.

“Lord, I will follow you,” Zacchaeus begged.

“A time will come when you will. Stay here and be strong in your faith. Soon all things will be made clear.”

“Where will you go, Lord?”

“To see a young girl under a tree.”

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Greeting friends…

I hope you are enjoying the 43rd segment of my ebook, FAITHFUL ENCOUNTERS.

Feel free to leave your comments below. I look forward to read your comments and constructive inputs that will help me direct my creative thoughts.

Thank you.

Until the next post.

Johann Q.

PS… If you want to support my writing, there are two options:

1. Donate $2-$5 to my PAYPAL account [click below]

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2. Purchase my ebook, THE CENTURION’S GOSPEL, in Amazon.com for only $1.99. The Centurion’s Gospel is the story of Cornelius Metellus, the Roman Centurion who almost saved Jesus Christ from the cross. Just click the link below.

FAITHFUL ENCOUNTERS – Part 042

ZACCHAEUS THE LITTLE PUBLICAN
32 AD – Guess Who’s Coming For Lunch – Jericho, Jordan River Valley

Zacchaeus saw that the crowd was working their way away from the north gate. Apparently, Jesus and his followers decided not to enter Jericho and instead go around it. He so wanted to get a closer look at him. He had an idea. He with his bodyguard sprinted back into the city. He ran straight to the city’s western gate where he hoped to get ahead of the procession. Fortunately, he got there before Jesus got there. However, there was even a larger crowd waiting for him. There was no way he’d be able to look over the crowd’s shoulders. Then he spotted a sycamore-fig tree where it overlooked the road. He quickly went over to it. With a leg up by his companion, Zacchaeus managed to climb up to a large branch where he had a good vantage point over the road and an ever growing crowd.

As his feet dangled, he realized that he probably looked ridiculous and by the snickering glances of many of those that recognized him, they were thinking it too. He heard a few snide remarks but then their attention was diverted by the shouts of excitement coming their way. Zacchaeus saw a large body of people coming from the north. People were jumping up and had their hands up in the air clapping to celebratious music. Then, he saw him and knew right away that it was Jesus. He was in the middle of twelve or so men keeping the crowd from swamping him. Many of the crowd were gleefully shouting to him and many were calling him, ‘Son of David’. It was so catching, that even Zacchaeus was chanting the Messiah title at the top of his voice.

When Jesus and his companions were just below him, he stopped quite abruptly so much so that those behind him were bumping to each other. Zacchaeus then stopped his chanting guiltily thinking that he did something wrong.

He started whispering to himself, “Please don’t look up! Please don’t look up!”

Then, to his shock, Jesus turned to look straight up at him and laughed. But it was not a laugh of cruelty and ridicule, but instead like someone laughing with a long lost friend. Then Jesus happily called up to him by name.

“Zacchaeus,” laughed Jesus. “Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” [Luke 19:5]

Zacchaeus’ heart burst with joy. With the help of Jesus’ followers, he scrambled down the tree as quick as he could, jumping the last three feet. Jesus greeted him with a fond hand on his shoulder.

“Come, my friend, show us the way to your home,” said Jesus smiling.

“Gladly… Lord,” Zacchaeus said gratefully.
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Greeting friends…

I hope you are enjoying the 42th segment of my ebook, FAITHFUL ENCOUNTERS.

Feel free to leave your comments below. I look forward to read your comments and constructive inputs that will help me direct my creative thoughts.

Thank you.

Until the next post.

Johann Q.

PS… If you want to support my writing, there are two options:

1. Donate $2-$5 to my PAYPAL account [click on icon below]

FAITHFUL ENCOUNTERS – Part 041

ZACCHAEUS THE LITTLE PUBLICAN
32 AD – Guess Who’s Coming For Lunch – Jericho, Jordan River Valley

At the banks of the Jordan River, the Baptist spoke of the Messiah and the promise of forgiveness. After the reported death of the Baptist, stories of a wandering rabbi and healer trickled down from the north. A particular story of a tax collector becoming one of the rabbi’s closest disciples, intrigued Zacchaeus to a point that he almost went to Galilee himself. But his business life kept delaying his departure until it finally drove it out of his mind.

Zacchaeus’ carriage entered through the gates of his home, one of three villas on a small hill of several hills within the city. There were two other carriages and their slaves lounging around the outer courtyard. He cringed a little for he knew he had visitors.
The next day, the city was awake early with the buzz of news that Jesus of Nazareth, the healing rabbi from the north was close to the city. Even in the aloof neighborhood of the rich, the news had stirred interest. Zacchaeus was so elated, he left his villa in a rush and on foot with only one bodyguard to accompany him. He quickly worked his way through the rich neighborhood until he saw a small crowd and followed them to the city square where they joined an even larger throng of milling city folk. His bodyguard was concerned that the people would recognize Zacchaeus and turn on them. He was noticed many times but the people were so focused at the imminent closeness of the miracle worker, they paid him no mind, at least, for the moment.

Then, there was excitement coming from outside the city. Zacchaeus and some of crowd worked their way out the gates. The crowd outside was watching something happening, but he could not see over the shoulders of the people. Then he heard some of the people calling over the crowd.

“What is happening? What is going on?”

“The Nazarene… he called over a beggar to him.”

“It’s Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus!”

“Who is he?”

“It’s the blind beggar that always sat by the north road.”

“What was the shouting?”

“It was Bartimaeus… he was calling out to the Nazarene. He was shouting, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ He kept shouting it over and over until the Nazarene called him over.” [Mark 10:46-52]

Then there were shouts of excitement.

“He can see! The blind man can see. He healed him!” The story was spreading like wild fire and speculations of who he is was spreading even more.

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Greeting friends…

I hope you are enjoying the 41th segment of my ebook, FAITHFUL ENCOUNTERS.

Feel free to leave your comments below. I look forward to read your comments and constructive inputs that will help me direct my creative thoughts.

Thank you.

Until the next post.

Johann Q.

PS… If you want to support my writing, please purchase my ebook, THE CENTURION’S GOSPEL, in Amazon.com for only $1.99. The Centurion’s Gospel is the story of Cornelius Metellus, the Roman Centurion who almost saved Jesus Christ from the cross. Just click the link below.

FAITHFUL ENCOUNTERS – Part 040

ZACCHAEUS THE LITTLE PUBLICAN
32 AD – Guess Who’s Coming For Lunch – Jericho, Jordan River Valley

Zacchaeus was always hated. Even as a child, he was the subject to ridicule and childish abuse because he was unusually short. They would call him, the Dwarf. By his appearance, he looked normal, just shorter. He is now a man. The ways of children had past but the hatred is still there.

“Yo, Dwarf!”, came a shout from the streets. “You have cheated me again!”

Zacchaeus again peered out the curtain of the carriage he was riding. He knew the man that was shouting. He laughed out loud enough for him in the streets to hear. When he peered again, he was gratified to see that the man moved away in a huff. He savored the thought that he achieved ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ [Deuteronomy 19:21] Of course, he was pleased to take more than an eye.

“He deserved it, that big bully,” Zacchaeus said to himself remembering a childhood recollection of being tormented by him.

His satisfaction was short-lived. He sighed and looked out the carriage window to watch the people going about their business. The people were socializing and looked happy. A family came out of one of the public structures of the city. The father picked up his daughter, whispered something and the little girl was giggling happily. Zacchaeus smiled longingly. Then he noticed those that watched his carriage go by, they had utmost disdain written on their faces. He knew most of them and he remembered only too well how he cheated and profited from them over the years.

He may have been short in stature, lacking strength and skill to be any use in mostly an agrarian society, but he was quite good with numbers. He learned to keep books when he apprenticed under a shrewd merchantman and eventually became adept in the business of trading. He became rich and hoped that he would gain respect from those that treated him so badly. But the hatred was still there. So, Zacchaeus left Jericho for Jerusalem, where he befriended a man who also was ostracised by society because he was a tax collector.

Zacchaeus felt that since the people already hated him, he might as well profit from it. And there was much to profit from. He learned the ways of the publicans. This was done to take every opportunity by collecting more than required and kept the extra for themselves. The success of this practice was quite easy especially when you had a squad of Roman soldiers backing you. Zacchaeus quickly became rich and rose within the tight knit publican circle. But when he was noticed by the Romans, they made him a chief tax collector and gave him a choice for his own posting. He chose to pack up his lavish lifestyle, servants, his wife and moved back to the city that hated him. The people of Jericho were shocked to see him riding at the head of an extended wagon train that rolled through the rolling city streets. It was not long after, during tax collection that the people especially those that picked on him before felt his avenging ire. This happened year after year. He was the richest man in the district and yet, he was not happy.

Loneliness was not the problem, his money had always attracted a number of sycophants. No, Zacchaeus was unhappy because he was not liking what he had become. He had become like those who treated him badly because he was different. He had become a bully. He made some effort to change by showing some mercy to the poorest in the district, but true happiness eluded him until the Baptist came.

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Greeting friends…

I hope you are enjoying the 40th segment of my ebook, FAITHFUL ENCOUNTERS.

Feel free to leave your comments below. I look forward to read your comments and constructive inputs that will help me direct my creative thoughts.

Thank you.

Until the next post.

Johann Q.