There are many jokes built around the situation of a pastor visiting someone’s home. Mother quickly becomes a military commander ordering kids to pick up their socks, remove their stuff, and help get the house in order. Dad is reminded to watch his tongue, and kids are given a quick refresher course in politeness. The family wants to present its best self to the pastor to give him the impression that all is well in their home.
Today we read the story of Jesus making a surprise visit to someone’s home. The host had no time to think about or prepare for Jesus’ visit (Luke 19:1-10).
“At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man named Zacchaeus, who was the chief tax collector…was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus look up and said, ‘Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay in your house.’”
We notice that Zacchaeus was not in Jesus’ plans—he “intended to pass through the town.” This whole incident was a surprise of God. Zacchaeus in his wildest dreams could not imagine any fellow Jew, in particular a holy rabbi, to step foot on his property. He must have been shocked to hear Jesus invite himself not only to visit his house, but to stay there.
“When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, ‘He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.’ But Zacchaeus stood there and said, ‘Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.’”
Interesting the reaction of the people. Anyone of them would have felt honored and somewhat deserving of Jesus visiting their homes. They were good, righteous people and their homes were somewhat in order. Zacchaeus was obviously undeserving of a holy man’s visit. He was clearly a sinner, at odds with God, and his inner “house” was a mess, even if his physical house was relatively clean. How could Jesus step foot on the property much less stay at a house that was occupied by a sinner?
“Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.’”
Jesus gave Zacchaeus, not the others, salvation. This man’s sin did not repel Jesus, but in a way “attracted” Jesus. It was his mission to set free those who were in bondage to sin. He wanted to penetrate the strongholds of sin, more than receive hospitality from the righteous. Jesus was not afraid of the sin nor of the sinner. He concluded with the words:
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
It is the “sinner” who lives inside us that attracts the mercy of God and prompts Jesus to want to visit and stay in our houses. He is not looking for the houses that appear to be in good order, ready for the “pastor’s” visit. It is the sinful part of ourselves that cries out for Jesus to stop in. It is in our admitted “lostness” that qualifies us for salvation.
Jesus is walking through our towns today. We hope he will notice us sitting on a branch of the sycamore tree and invite himself into our houses—not because we want to impress him with our sin-free lives, but because we need his saving touch. There is a place in each of us that cries out for Jesus. He is knocking at the door of our hearts. Will we welcome him?
“Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him” (Revelation 3:20).
