Luke 19:1-9 (New International Version)
Luke 19
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector 1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' "
8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."
9Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.
Familiar story? I must say that every time I read this story, I break into song. "Zacchaeus was a wee little man....". I know that you probably feel the urge to finish it so feel free.....ok, let's move on. This episode in scripture is much more than a kids story. It is a lesson that can be used by all of us. It is the lesson of calling and response. Jesus called Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus said..."maybe later Lord, I'm enjoying this tree". Did he? Of course not. Jesus called Zacchaeus and Zacchaeus CAME DOWN! Not only did he come down but he responded even further by inviting Jesus to his house. Not only did he come down, invite Jesus to his , but Zacchaeus transformed his whole life. No longer did he live the way he was. Zacchaeus was different after being "marked" by Jesus. How about you? Are your different after being "marked" by Jesus?
Friday, March 13, 2009
WEDNESDAY--"Marked-Ten Lepers"
Today, we look at another example in scripture of someone being "Marked" by Jesus.
Luke 17:11-19 (New International Version)
Ten Healed of Leprosy 11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a]met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
This passage gives shows us some different responses to being "marked" by Jesus. If this section, we see ten men that had leprosy. It is a terrible disease. Basically, think about all of your skin erupting into scabs and sores over. Every inch...covered. What I want you to think about today is their response to their encounter with Jesus. Jesus healed all ten men. All of them would forever be free from the terrible condition of leprosy. No longer would they have to deal with the embarrassment, sores, and shame associated with their condition. They were free from the single biggest tragedy in their life. FREE! But what was the response? Nine went on their way without giving Jesus His due thanks. Only one came back. What does that mean to us? We have the opportunity to be healed from a far worse disease than leprosy. Jesus has given us a the opportunity to live life eternally with Him in Heaven? He has "marked" us. What is your response? Do you give God praise and thanks on a regular basis? Do you understand the great thing that He has done for you? Sometimes we don't. We tend to act like "the other nine lepers." Healed by Jesus without another though.
Talk to God about it.
Luke 17:11-19 (New International Version)
Ten Healed of Leprosy 11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a]met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
This passage gives shows us some different responses to being "marked" by Jesus. If this section, we see ten men that had leprosy. It is a terrible disease. Basically, think about all of your skin erupting into scabs and sores over. Every inch...covered. What I want you to think about today is their response to their encounter with Jesus. Jesus healed all ten men. All of them would forever be free from the terrible condition of leprosy. No longer would they have to deal with the embarrassment, sores, and shame associated with their condition. They were free from the single biggest tragedy in their life. FREE! But what was the response? Nine went on their way without giving Jesus His due thanks. Only one came back. What does that mean to us? We have the opportunity to be healed from a far worse disease than leprosy. Jesus has given us a the opportunity to live life eternally with Him in Heaven? He has "marked" us. What is your response? Do you give God praise and thanks on a regular basis? Do you understand the great thing that He has done for you? Sometimes we don't. We tend to act like "the other nine lepers." Healed by Jesus without another though.
Talk to God about it.
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