Daily Devotion for Lent - Day 32

Scripture Reading: Luke 19:1-28

As we approach Palm Sunday this week, we are getting close in Luke's Gospel as well.  It is interesting to see today's scripture passages in context of Jesus entering Jerusalem as the Messiah (which we'll get to tomorrow).  

The Messiah was seen by the Jewish people as someone in the line of King David who would channel the military might of his ancestor.  And so, we have here a passage where Jesus enters the home of a tax collector.  Tax collectors were sell-outs working for the Roman empire.  They knew who to collect from and how much people were worth because they were locals.  You can imagine their popularity!

So, how would a Messiah act in accordance with the populism of the day?  He

It's easier to welcome this kitten
down than it would be someone
like Zacchaeus.

would have knocked Zacchaeus to the ground and ridiculed him for his betrayal.  Maybe the crowd surrounding Jesus would have been stirred to violence.  It wouldn't have been hard.

Is it any wonder that people grumbled at the surprising response of Jesus?

This is where Luke interjects the parable of the pounds.  This is a fantastical tale with astronomical sums for slaves to trade in.  They are rewarded with entire cities to rule so it has a bit of an eschatological air to it.  How does this relate to the grace Jesus shows Zacchaeus?  

Is the money they are dealing with a symbol for the forgiveness they should be offering?  The one who sits on the grace of God and does not multiply it is the one who ends up with nothing.  The violence does come in the story with the people who are unwilling to be led by grace.  It may be that they reap what they sow.

Jesus is giving us clues that he will be a different kind of Messiah.  But his influence is even more transformative than military rebellion.  When a new king comes to power, very often, the systems remain in place and not a lot changes.

As The Who once said, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

But we see the transformation come to Zacchaeus without doing him any harm.  He's not even removed from his position but the way he conducts himself will be with a fair hand to his neighbors from this point on.  So in this way, Jesus brings transformation to the whole community.

Can Jesus be something new for us?  Breaking down our systems?  That would be a Messiah we could follow!

Prayer for the day:

Almighty God, we know that you hold all things in the palm of your hand.  There are many we know with which we would like to see you tighten your grip into a fist!  Yet, we know that our ways are not your ways.  Help us to open our hand to our neighbors as well.  May our touch be gentle with them - like the caress of God.  We pray these things in Jesus' name.  Amen.  

Photo by Wall Boat via Flickr.com.  Used under the Creative Commons License.