A Word Of Assurance

It’s the eve of the final day in this week of ensuring that our preparations are up to mark and complete. We are receiving this with the understanding given by Paul, regarding those of whom he has spoken with confidence, about them being ready for the service to be provided. As already stated, Paul has sent some of his team to Corinth to ensure that the believers there are in no way unprepared. Here’s our working text. For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we – not to say anything about you – would be ashamed of having been so confident. 2 Corinthians 9:  4.

We have already received, by faith and only by faith, through a final Word of Jesus, to a sinful woman, His final words - Words of Comfort. Your faith has saved you; go in peace.  Luke 7: 50b. Clothed with the Peace of our Jesus, now we are to receive His Words of Assurance. We turn to a man, a tax collector, who is totally scorned by the Jewish people.  

Jesus has come to Jericho and is only passing through, but a crowd is following Him. We know this because it was that very crowd which blocked Zacchaeus from seeing this Man from Galilee.  He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. Luke 19: 3. Who is this man called Zacchaeus? He is described by his profession and his possession. He was a chief tax collector and he was wealthy. Luke 19: 2b.

When Zacchaeus could not see Jesus, so adamant and determined was he to see this Galilean, who was passing through his town, he climbed a sycamore-fig tree to give him vantage view. Safely perched on that hiding tree, he could look down on all the proceedings and see Jesus clearly. However, as Jesus passed by that huge, sprawling tree, He stopped and the crowd stopped with Him. Can’t you just see the curious, puzzled crowd, as they want to know what’s happening? More stunned and absolutely aghast, must be that tax collector, for all eyes are now lifted up to him. With joy and calm authority in His voice, Jesus calls him down. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today. Luke 19: 5. Boy! How that crowd, following Jesus, became like Simon the Pharisee, in thought and mind. They immediately began to think ugly thoughts about the Man of God. You see, Zacchaeus heard Jesus’ voice deep within his sad, sin-sick soul and immediately responded. He came down and at once and welcomed him gladly. Luke 19: 6.

Hey! This tax collector only hears Jesus’ Words to him and he is already delighted with joy. Right there and then he welcomes Jesus to come home with him. Can you hear? Can you see? Preparation for salvation has already begun in the heart and mind of Zacchaeus. On the other hand, the crowd is totally against Jesus. All the people saw this and began to mutter, He has gone to be the guest of a sinner. Luke 19: 7. Jesus has not spoken one single word about Zacchaeus’ sins, his evil practices and cheating nature. Jesus never told Zacchaeus that he had to repay people what he had stolen from them, or to repent, in so many words. Nevertheless, the Love Jesus openly shows to that tax collector breaks him down and in a healthy, true spirit of repentance, he confesses to Jesus about his sins.

Even before they, Zacchaeus and Jesus, begin the journey to Zacchaeus’ house, he tells Jesus, with all the sincerity of a penitent heart, these words.  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: 8b. Jesus assures him that salvation is his and we know that it means that his sins have all been forgiven. Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. Luke 19: 9

This man, now completely forgiven of his sins, is made fully prepared, as it were, for life and service in the Lord. You see, it is not just being called by Jesus, receiving His Love and repenting of one’s sins. It is to have the faith to receive and know that you are indeed a child of Abraham. It is to have the faith to accept and to be resolved to live as a child of Abraham, a child of faith.

The final word Jesus speaks to Zacchaeus is the word which seals it for him. Salvation is not just given to Zacchaeus, but to his entire household and he would have had a large household, because he was a very rich man. O the joy that must have filled this changed man and his family.

What is all this saying to you and to me? It is that we are only fully prepared, with the complete joy and peace of the Lord, when we know His perfect pardon abiding within us. It is the pardon which, by faith, allows us to be and do as our Master desires of us. It is shown in our changed lives that the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost. Luke 19: 10.