37. Zacchaeus

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The story of Zacchaeus is not only a story we probably know, it resembles some of what we have just reflected on recently in the life of Matthew. (Levi)

Remember how Jesus’ acceptance of Levi literally transformed his life?  Well the story of Zacchaeus is a similar one.

Idea 1: Hospitality I wouldn’t say that I am a very hospitable person to be honest, I am a bit embarrassed to admit it and it is certainly an area I want to change. What about you? 

Jesus seemed to love being amongst people and enjoying their hospitality and there is a real pattern of seeing eating within the Jewish traditions as a form of acceptance, interest and value. I like this stuff. 

What does this look like for you, to be someone who has outrageous hospitality? 

Do you invite lots of people in? Provide meals, give your time, resources, energy, effort to show various forms of hospitality?  The Bedouin tribes still have and nurture a culture of hospitality that refuses to see any traveller pass by without offering food, water and a place to rest. This has been alive well past even Moses’ time when he experienced this heart of hospitality. 

Idea 2: Selective Perhaps then, the trouble is we like to operate with a process of selection. Those who look ‘ok’ or are not too messed up and needing ‘stuff’ will be shown the welcome of hospitality. Jesus certainly stood on the other side of that line and welcomed the scum and notorious sinners. 

You can see Christian people doing this around the world, inspiring stories of people unwilling to let stigmas and society define who they will be hospitable to, and it matters. I remember eating lunch for a week with a group of men who were recovering from drug addiction, they remarked to me at the end of the week that the pastor who visits with the church bring their own food, they don’t eat with us. It bothered them and they noticed that I was chewing the same chicken necks they were. Interesting that. 

Are you selective in your hospitality?

Idea 3: Being Jesus So, I think what we have reduced this down to is this, let’s be a people who seek opportunities to be hospitable and in doing so perhaps we are in some way ‘being Jesus’ in our actions. To love those who don’t love us, who don’t look like us or think as we do, would be a clear message that we walk a different road. 

We don’t do this stuff because we are ‘good’ people, rather we look to lead lives that serve Jesus in radical, practical and loving ways, as he did. 

Action

As a group or on your own, what does this look like for you?

Are you able to plan some way, thing or moment that you will be able to put this hospitality stuff into practice this week? 

If you can’t think of any situations why not pray that God sends you some, and see what happens.