One thing I love about my Redeemer Bible study is the way it's made classic, almost cliche passages fresh for me! Tonight we read the story of Zacchaeus, and what newly struck me is the difference in Zacchaeus once Jesus noticed him. Zacchaeus went to all this trouble to see Christ, and that's huge. But what if Jesus had ignored the outcast up a tree? What if, like it seems so natural to do, He had just kept going wherever he was going, with the same people following Him? Zacchaeus would probably have enjoyed what he saw, but eventually climbed down from that tree, gone home, and continued, albeit a little guiltily, with his life. He would have seen God, and that would have been great, but he probably wouldn't have ever MET God, let alone His grace. This honestly astounds me: Jesus sought this man out, and, just by accepting him, changed his entire life. Not only did Zacchaeus completely turn his life around, he made amends for his past sins. All because Jesus spoke to him, publically sought his company. He said nothing about money or transgression or redemption, but things changed anyway, because of who He is and what He's done.
I think what really hits me is the conscious interaction Jesus instigated. With all these Sunday school changes proposed, I've been thinking a lot lately about the point of our ministry. Thanks to Francis Chan, I'd come to the conclusion that we want to show others God - create a space for them to see and meet Him themselves. But I thought that giving kids - and adults - a glimpse was enough. I thought sharing a Bible verse or warm smile was enough to let them see Christ in me. And in some cases it might be, but, in others, maybe MOST, just seeing God from a distance isn't enough; it wasn't, I'd argue, for Zacchaeus, and it probably isn't for those Sunday school kids either. In order to truly change lives people have to MEET Jesus. And I've got to interact. I bear Christ's name and, hopefully, His spirit. My love, in action, is the fruit by which I am - He is - to be recognized.
