The season of Lent is essential in Christian tradition, and is made up of the forty days (not including Sundays) that lead up to Easter Sunday. This Lent, we focus on the Gospel of Luke, and are guided by the book Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws by Rev. Adam Hamilton.
While Palm Sunday is still a week away, this Sunday we focus on Jesus’ final week and final teachings. At the conclusion of this week’s text, Jesus tells Zacchaeus in Jericho that his focus is “to seek and save the lost.” Then he leaves Jericho and enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey, perhaps in solidarity with the lowly and the lost. Jesus teaches during the week, continuing to lift up the lowly like the widow whose small offering is a profound example. We are nearing the pinnacle of his ministry, and these teachings are essential.
Luke 17:11-19 (CEB)
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through town. 2 A man there named Zacchaeus, a ruler among tax collectors, was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but, being a short man, he couldn’t because of the crowd.4 So he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to that spot, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay in your home today.” 6 So Zacchaeus came down at once, happy to welcome Jesus.
7 Everyone who saw this grumbled, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this household because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 The Human One came to seek and save the lost.”
Consider these questions:
- As a tax collector, Zaccaeus was understandably disliked. In the context of the 1st century Jewish people, tax collectors were seen as collaborators with the Roman occupiers, making them even more despised. If you were to re-tell the story of Zaccaeus today, what occupation do you think he would have?
- Why do you think Zaccaeus wanted to see Jesus?
- Why do you think the crowd grumbled when Jesus asked to stay in Zachaeus’ home?
- When Jesus leaves Jericho and enters Jerusalem, he rides on a donkey and is cheered by a crowd who clearly resonate with his humble entry. Who do you think may have been most touched by this?
- Why do you think the Pharisees called for the crowd to be quiet?