Jesus Wept Over the City of Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-44)

A long-awaited promise of God is now about to be fulfilled, the Messiah’s coming into the Zion, the city of Jerusalem to die for the sin of all nations including the nation Israel. Earlier, Prophet Zechariah saw a great vision, the coming of the Messiah, and prophesied that he would come riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of donkey. “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9) It was loudly foretold and taught the Messiah’s coming repeatedly and faithfully to their ears and minds to take heed to it. But they are not yet ready to receive the blessed Son of God but rather completely ignorant and even resistant against their Messiah Jesus Christ. Those who do not pay attention to the words of God will never be ready. The Scripture says this is the year of the Lord’s favor now. “For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) Otherwise, the word of God says that the dreadful time will come swiftly and suddenly (Hebrews 10:31). The Lord Jesus is entering the city to die but he is not filled with self-pity but with full of compassion and mercy of God that he weeps over the city of Jerusalem where the stubborn children are rebelliously resisting and opposing to the coming the blessed King of Israel. But this must move on despite of their rejection of the king as told in the parable of ten minas. This is what is going on right now to all people. Are we welcoming the king or rejecting him?  

“After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.” They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.  When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.  The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.  They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (Luke 19:28-44)

Jesus has arrived at the hill called the Mount of Olives and sends two of his disciples to bring a colt tied in the village ahead. It must have been prearranged during one of previous visits to Jerusalem by Jesus who zealously fulfills all Scriptures, even unto death. The disciples obey and bring the colt to Jesus and throw their cloaks on that colt and put Jesus on it. People spread their cloaks on the road where the Lord Jesus is going along. This is the exact fulfillment of the word of God prophesied by Zechariah. It sets the tone of his kingship that he does not reign and rule with the iron hand like military power but with humility and peace as Prince of Peace. Jesus says to his disciples, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)  Apostle Peter reports the kingship of Christ in his Epistle to the saints, saying “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 2:23)

As Jesus arrives at the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowds of his disciples begin joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they have seen, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” The coming of Christ brings pure joy and peace into the core of humans who believe and welcome him. God the Father is lavishly pouring out eternal life to those who believe in him (John 3:16). Why is it said, “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest?” Because it is the moment of reconciliation with God who forgives their sins through the Son’s blood and accepts them as his beloved children. That’s what our Father God is after, deliverance from the bondage of sin and death and adoption as his sons. Eternal peace has been restored in the hearts of the redeemed through the blood of Christ. It is exactly the moment of revealing the glory of God in the highest! Because it is the moment of revelation what God is as he is. Jesus says in the parable of the lost sheep that when one sinner repents the whole heaven is greatly rejoicing with the Father God. The whole crowd of Jesus’ disciples are praising God without no reason. They have witnessed all the good works and miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have heard all the teachings on the kingdom spoken out of his own mouth. The words of God have fallen on their hearts and minds and healed and cured in their hearings. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Hearing the word of God is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. How much more time may we make laboriously and tirelessly to read the Scriptures!

But there are some folks out there who do not like the loud voice of praising God by the crowd of Jesus’ disciples. They are the Pharisees and the religious leaders and officials. They demand Jesus to rebuke his disciples for making such a loud noise. To their eyes, it is completely nonsense because they are blinded and darkened, not understanding the Scripture at all. It was all written by the Law and the Prophets. The Pharisees have given their great deal of time in studying the Law and the Prophets, but they do not understand why the crowd of people are joyfully praising God. Jesus says to them, “And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John 5:37-40) They have seen and witnessed with their own eyes but refuse to believe in Jesus Christ because they belong to the devil. Jesus replies to them, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." The stones do not cry and Jesus knows it better than anyone else because he is the Creator. evil. e e ying the Law  in thier ioEven if the stones cry out it would not be clearly recognized. To the unbelieving people, the clear voices made by the disciples and the vague voices by the stones do not make any difference. But Jesus is saying here either men or the nature cannot keep quiet for the coming of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.  They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.” (Luke 19:41-44)

Jesus is full of compassion and pity for the nation who is blindly and stubbornly rejecting the Promised One to come and weeps over the city which is going to go through a terrible time. The judgment days will come upon them when their enemies will build an embankment against them and encircle them and hem them in on every side. They will dash them to the ground, them and the children within their walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because they do not recognize the time of God’s coming to them. This had exactly been fulfilled in A.D. 70 by the Roman Armies led by General Titus. This is the picture of the last judgment which our Lord Jesus Christ says to his disciples during the Olivet Discourse recorded in Matthew Gospel Chapter 24 and 25. “For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.” (Matthew 24:21) The human history is speedily moving on toward the Day of the Lord. The prince of this world will eventually be punished and hurled down into the fiery furnace forever. When the Lord God calls up the elect into heaven from all corners of the earth, he will release the constrain of evil power and the man of lawlessness manifests his full power, creating great a havoc on the earth. “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8)

The Lord God wants everyone to be saved and is very reluctant to judge them. The judgment of God is said a strange work by Prophet Isaiah. Jesus is weeping over the great city which God himself will dwell forever because these people are not softening their hearts but hardening and inviting the heavy hand of God upon themselves. How much compassionately and mercifully has our Lord Jesus Christ been inviting them to come in and take peace and rest under the mighty wings of God like a shepherd who goes after a lost sheep until he finds it. Prophet Isaiah cried out to the people of Israel to return to the master. “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 1:18-20)

February 28, 2017

© 2015-2017 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Making the Most Of Every Opportunity, Because the Days Are Evil (Luke 19:11-27)

Our Lord Jesus Christ is approaching to Jerusalem where he would be swallowed up by the bloody death through the terrible crucifixion on a cross. This is the most crucial moment for Jesus Christ who is poised to fulfill all the Scriptures even the death on a cross! The Son of God is full of compassion and mercy on his people and the world instead of being filled with self-pity and sorrow. So, he teaches them a parable, revealing the mystery of the kingdom of God. This is called the parable of the ten minas. What’s the significance of this parable? Why is our Lord Jesus telling this parable at this moment? Jesus is telling this parable because he is near Jerusalem and the people think that the kingdom of God is going to appear at once. In this parable, Jesus even tells of his return as King and Judge beyond his death and resurrection. Despite of scientific and technological advancements and a tremendous amount of studies and human experiences in history, one thing that remains stubbornly and persistently the sheer same is the evilness of humanity. Contrary to our wishes and desires to make the world peaceable and comfortable, we’re struggling with the same magnitude and dynamics as the people of ancient days did. Every corner of this earth is filled with misery and wounds and scars and cries. This will go through all the way to the end. “Then he told me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.’” (Revelation 22:10-11) But one thing is sure that the end will come and is near, even nearer. In this parable Jesus teaches what he will see on the great evaluation day of humanity.

“While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. “Put this money to work,” he said, “until I come back.” But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, “We don’t want this man to be our king.” He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. The first one came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.” “Well done, my good servant!” his master replied. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.” The second came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.” His master answered, “You take charge of five cities.” Then another servant came and said, “Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.” His master replied, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?” Then he said to those standing by, “Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.” “Sir,” they said, “he already has ten!” He replied, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.”’” (Luke 19:11-27)

First, in this parable the man of noble birth indicates Jesus Christ and the servants are humanity, maybe the redeemed one or Israel. Jesus Christ was King and is now and will be forever. He knew that he was going to be crucified and buried and resurrected from the dead. Furthermore, Jesus knew that he would be back to the Father and appointed as King over all nations. Just as he would be ascended into heaven, so would he return to the earth, coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory and sending his angels with a loud trumpet call (Matthew 24:30-31). He also knew that it would take a while until his return. In fact, it is almost twenty centuries have been passed since the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is called a great parenthesis between the first visitation to the earth and the second coming. The Scripture calls it the last days. So, Jesus reveals the very important truth in our lives, that is, ‘how to live till his coming’. In this parable, the man of noble birth calls ten of his servants and gives them ten minas, saying “Put this money to work until I come back.” It tells there will be a time for evaluation how we have spent our time on this earth. Life on earth for humanity is not like playing a game, doing whatever we wanted to do and being disappeared like wind with death. There is the second death at the end of this earthly life to those who do not take heed to all the evidence and fact that God exists and rewards to those earnestly seek him, nor fear him (Hebrews 11:6).

Second, the examination time has come despite their hateful opposition. The man’s subjects did not like him to be their king, so they sent a delegation after him to say, “We don’t want this man to be our king.” However, regardless of the rebellious men’s wishes, the man was made king and returned home. This is the weightiest and the most trembling moment for all mankind. No one can escape from standing alone before the judgment seat of the Holy and Almighty God. The Scripture calls it the Day of the Lord. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31) The king sent for the servants to whom he has given money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. The first servant comes and says, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.” And the second servant comes and says, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.” Then the master says, “Well done, my good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities,” and “Take charge of five cities.” It strongly indicates that there will be duties and responsibilities in the ages to come. Some imagine that in heaven infinite idling lasts. That’s not true at all. Life on this earth is school time to learn how to live not only for this age but for the ages to come. It’s a small thing like a wild flower and mist. They are commended as good and faithful servants and rewarded to take charge of number of cities. It is written in the Book of Hebrews, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) This is what they have done by faith while the master was away from home, being aware of the presence of the master and his commandment and authority and having the respectful fear of the Lord.

However, the third servant comes and says, “Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.” Then, the master says, “I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?” He is wicked and unfaithful and judged by his own words. He has been resentful and bitter and ungrateful to the master. He knew that the master wanted to gain by putting the money to work but didn’t want to return anything to the owner. The master is greatly concerned about the attitude of the servant whether to honor or despise him. Further, the master says, “Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.” When the other servants say that he already has ten, the master replies, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” It tells the more we obey, making the most of opportunities, the more opportunities will be given. Practically, it means when we obey one truth God will teach another and another, forever.

Putting all together, what is mina? It does not indicate man’s achievements. Rather, it indicates the opportunities from God. Opportunity for doing good by the power of God is mina. Opportunity for loving one another is mina. Opportunity for giving thanks to God is mina. Opportunity for forgiving the unforgivable is mina. Opportunity for offering our body as a living sacrifice is mina. Opportunity for participating in the sufferings of Christ with rejoicing is mina. Opportunity for saying a kind word to the unpleasant is mina. Opportunity for sharing pains and joys with brothers and sisters in Christ is mina. Opportunity for sharing the word of God with others is mina. Opportunity for reading and meditating the word of God day and night is mina. Opportunity for doing chores at home for Christ is mina. Opportunity for praying for the leaders of nation, refugees around the world, families and neighbors who are going through troubles and heartaches is our mina. In fact, mina is found in the midst of routine and ordinary lives everyday. Mina comes almost likely though through sufferings and difficulties in lives. Grief and sorrow are God’s chosen vehicles to work out in humanity for breaking the barrier of darkness and foolishness of man. It is said that even the Son of Man learned obedience from what he suffered (Hebrews 5:8). There is no servant who is greater than the master. Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered much to the point of death in obedience to the Father God. The Son offered his body as a sin offering in our place in order to redeem the fallen humanity with a price. That’s our mina to participate in the sufferings of Christ. Apostle Paul says, “Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.” (Colossians 1:24)

How can we offer our body as a living sacrifice in the midst of mundane lives? It is a two-step process. First, put off our old self by denying ourselves and taking up our cross, then put on the new self in Christ. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) Without taking the first step it is impossible to offer our body to God. Why must we put off our old self? It’s because our flesh desires what is contrary to what the Spirit desires. It does not and cannot please God. “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” (Galatians 5:17) Practically, it means to die with Christ by denying ourselves and taking up our cross because our sin must be put to death in order to be made alive with the power of resurrection. It is the power of God which enables us to endure and make the most of every opportunity God opens in our midst. “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)

To those who do not want the master to be king over them will be killed in front of him. “But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.” (Luke 19:27) Despite of repeated and faithful plea and beseech from the throne of grace, they remain stubborn and resistant against the extended offer of God. This is the second death. “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) It is called a complete waste of life. It will be tested by fire.

“If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) How are you living now?

February 20, 2017

© 2015-2017 David Lee Ministries – All Rights Reserved.

Jesus Came to Seek and to Save the Lost (Luke 19:1-10)

This is the gospel of God that he sent his Son to seek and to save the lost. Who is the lost? In fact, all is lost, but not all the lost are found and saved. The lost who are found and saved are the ones who know that they are lost and fallen. Our God is the God of the fatherless and widows. James tells bluntly what is a religion God our Father accepts. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27) The Mosaic Law also pays a great attention on the poor and the foreigner. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 23:22) There is no doubt that orphans and widows are used as the symbol of the needy. In fact, our humanity is just like that. Before the eyes of God the Father in heaven, everyone is like an orphan and widow. So, God the Father has been seeking and saving the lost since the fall of Adam. Millions have been found and saved and millions have not. Here is one example in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 19. Jesus has found a man named Zacchaeus who is a chief tax collector and has climbed a tree to see him passing. God the Father in heaven is looking for such a man like Zacchaeus all time and space regardless of their occupation, status, race, color, or social standings. This is the way God answers the inwardly groaning prayers of the lost even though they do not know what they ought to pray for.

“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 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. All the people saw this and began to mutter, ‘He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.’ But 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.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.’” (Luke 19:1-10)

Christ Jesus is heading toward Jerusalem where he would be offered as the ransom sacrifice to God the Father for the sin of the world. Entering into a historic city of Jericho, Jesus spots a man who has climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him passing because he is short. It tells of the significance of story which indicates what kind of ministry Jesus has been doing on the earth.  It is the most crucial moment for him. He made the visitation to the city of Jerusalem every Passover, but it is the last one and no more on the earth. Our Lord knows what would be coming, the death on a cross through the crucifixion. Jesus said, “I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." (Matthew 26:29) Among many things Jesus can do on the way to the city of death, he peculiarly chooses to have dine with Zacchaeus who is known as a publican or traitor. He is a chief tax man in Jericho, one of the busiest cities in the nation.

Why is the man interested and even desperate to see Jesus that he even climbs a tree? Because he has been drawn by God the Father all along his lives way before he started his tax career for fortune. Maybe his parents objected him not to take that course. Maybe some of his friends gave him an honest advise not to take it. Maybe his rabbi counseled him, giving a serous warning shot to be branded as a traitor. Despite of all odds, he chose to take it and promoted a chief tax man in Jericho. Zacchaeus must have been heard of Jesus Christ who has been ministering the nation over three year period of time. Maybe he might have witnessed Jesus of Nazareth speaking or healing. We do not know. However, it is not difficult to see the fact that the Nazarene’s rumors have made a significant impact and impression to the people of the land including Zacchaeus. Why so? I believe he has probably been searching for an escape from the mundane and routine work of taxing every day. He might not have no idea why he is not filled and untasteful and depressing in living. He must have been struggling to beat the feelings of emptiness and hollowness, so are we. He would have been more disturbed and bothered by the fact that he does not know why. His wealth would not do anything helpful except feeding him three meals a day. But the rumors of the Nazarene might have awakened his urge to see him teaching and healing. And the time has come. He jumps out from the tax booth to the street to see Jesus of Nazarene. Amazingly, he is called by his name by the man he has longed to see. God the Father knows everyone by name.

It is significant to note how God the Father has drawn a man like Zacchaeus. Is it not through the unbeatable and unquenchable emptiness and hollowness in the man’s heart? Things in the world are temporal and fleeting away like wind and mist. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away,” says our Lord Jesus. (Matthew 24:35) Money is an inevitable commodity in our daily living. But money cannot beat the boredom of life at all. As long as we hope for the fulfillment of life from the earthly things of the world, we cannot get over from the terrible feelings of emptiness and boredom. All things are from the hand of God including wealth. Some get more and some little. But both the rich and the poor are equally thirsty and hungry to get something more, desiring to be fulfilled and filled in the fullest possible. This missing piece of our lives is a mystery which only God the Father can give the answer.

Why are we not able to get over from boredom and emptiness? The answer is found in the Epistle to the Romans Chapter 1 Verse 18 and 19 which say, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.” Here the wrath of God doesn’t mean the burning sulfur and fireball coming down from heaven. It means God allows whatever of the choice of man. God is constraining the evil force till the departure of the church of Christ as Paul says, “For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7) When man insists on doing things wicked and godless, suppressing the truth by their evilness, God allows them to take it but they cannot escape from the consequences of their choice. For example, no matter what we cannot escape from the crushing guilty feelings when we commit sins. As long as we rely on the earthly things to soothe down the worries of life, we are doomed to persistent boredom and hollowness because we are under the wrath of God. God is holy, which means he cannot change like shifting shadows, compromise, or lie from what he is.

This unchanging God’s character is the means to reach out to the lost in darkness. In fact, God is painfully and patiently waiting for man to realize the fact that they cannot get out of the frustration and bewilderment of lives no matter what, allowing them to take all the courses of action whether foolish or wicked and evil. One thing God cannot do is to force man to choose certain things. God has bestowed man the complete freedom of choice. Although the tax profession in those days is a really bad choice because the job demands to squeeze his own people and eventually pay to the Romans whom Israel considers as the Gentiles, it is not bound to the curse of boredom and emptiness. It is the mind of reliance on the earthly things, hoping to be delivered and fulfilled in life. Even if the career is religious, it would not matter. All job is job. Relying on the things below is the thing blocking the flow of infinite grace and mercy from the throne of grace. Apostle Paul says to set our hearts on things above, not on earthly things. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4)

When the time comes, God has sent the Servant to teach the truth. Jesus spots Zacchaeus on a tree and says something remarkable, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:5b) It seems a coincidence, but it is not. When the time is ripe, God speaks to him through the Son, saying “I must enter into your life and be the Lord and Advocate and Helper.” His act of climbing a tree is the expression of his genuine heart of searching for God who can answer all the questions he has including the unbreakable and unbeatable agony of emptiness and hollowness inside. He expresses his plea for an answer to the inner turmoil and unrest by making a tremendous effort to climb a tree. He wants to see who Jesus is. Our Lord Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) So has he been answered by the thundering and yet the kindest voice of God, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” The answer of God has swiftly and unexpectedly come to his ears. Jesus is saying to him, “I must be your Master and Lord today and forevermore!” Notice that Jesus is not asking the man’s permission to stay in his house. Zacchaeus was lost but has been now found by God the Father and become his beloved child.

Jericho is a historic place where Joshua led his people to a great victory some 1,300 years before Christ. On the day of victory, there was a great shout of joy and praise, powerfully shaking the land, shattering the mind of the enemies, and swiftly spreading the fear of the Lord God throughout the neighboring countries. However, when Jesus is entering this great city, there is no one who shouts for joy and praise for the coming of the true Messiah of Israel. But there is one man named Zacchaeus who is welcoming the coming of the King and the Lord, inwardly groaning for not knowing what he ought to pray for. Apostle Paul says the Holy Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans when we do not know what we ought to pray for (Romans 8:26). When Zacchaeus hears of Jesus’ calling by his name, he comes down at once and welcomes him gladly. People who see this begin to complain that Jesus has gone to be the guest of a sinner. But Zacchaeus makes an important statement to the Lord, saying “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.” (Luke 19:8) Now, to him Jesus Christ is the Lord, not money. Then, the Lord Jesus has blessed him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 9:9-10)

What a beautiful moment of life to Zacchaeus and all humanity for Christ the Lord has come in his possession that he has purchased with a price! (1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a)

February 11, 2017

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