Spending Time With Jesus

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. -Luke 19: 5-6 (NIV)

Last November, my family went to Disney World with some dear friends. One of the things we were most looking forward to seeing was the Main Street Electrical Parade. Our son Nicolas loves anything that glows, spins, and glides and the parade promised floats that would do all of those things.

On the night we decided to watch the parade, we were certain that we'd allotted enough time to find a place to view the parade. Disney has handicap-accessible seating for people in wheelchairs so we made our way to those designated areas only to discover that they were already full. We kept racing ahead to the next observation point only to learn that those places were also full. Finally we found a place where, though not on the front row, Nicolas could perhaps see the very tops of the floats as they passed by us. Eventually someone invited Nicolas to join the front row of spectators but the person right next to Nicolas often blocked his view while trying to call out to the parade participants and trying to get the best angle to record the parade with her video camera.

For me, the best moment of the Main Street Electrical Parade was when the parade participants would come over and greet Nicolas, hardly acknowledging (if at all) the woman who was often blocking Nicolas' view. She was obviously not happy that Nicolas was getting the attention that she desired. After all, she was the one videoing it, right?

I couldn't help but recall that night at Disney as I read the suggested scripture reading for today. Like my son Nicolas, Zacchaeus was unable to see over the crowd. Like Nicolas, Zacchaeus ran (wheeled) ahead in search of an observation point. Like Nicolas, Zacchaeus didn't call out to those walking by but was instead singled out and approached by the One walking by him. Like the woman blocking Nicolas' view of the parade, the people around Zacchaeus didn't like the fact that he was getting the special attention of Jesus...attention that they desired.

Upon meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus clearly makes the case that either he already gives half of everything he makes to the poor or will do so from this point forward. If he has wronged anyone, Zacchaeus vows to go far beyond the biblical mandate for restitution because he wants to make things right. The story concludes with Jesus restoring Zacchaeus' standing in the community and assuring him that salvation has come to his house.

Have you been judged by the crowd to not be worthy? Or have you been like the crowd and passed judgment on someone else? Have you been searching for Jesus but have been unable to see him? The good news is that Jesus is seeking you too and he wants to come into your home and life.

May God grant you the grace to see Christ, hear his invitation to spend time together, and experience his salvation and restoration today.


Tomorrow's Reading: Luke 20

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