March 24, 2021 (Wednesday
The blogs this week have been following Jesus and his disciples as they made their way toward Jerusalem. This is the last time Jesus will travel to Jerusalem and this time after His arrival He will be crucified, but will rise from death. As they cross the Jordan River headed west, they come to the city of Jericho, where Jesus, always finding people to help, encounters Zaccheus, a tax collector. Luke introduces us to him as a rich man of small stature.
Because Zaccheus was short, he climbed into a tree to see Jesus as He and His disciples passed by. Zaccheus must have been shocked when Jesus stopped, looked up into the tree at him, face to face, and invited Himself to dinner at the home of Zaccheus.
Even today, you can almost hear the gasps in the crowd as they were saying, “This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner!” Luke tells us that Zaccheus welcomed Jesus “with great joy!”
No doubt a meal was served and after the meal, Zaccheus stood before his famous guest to say, “Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much.” Evidence of repentance, right? Jesus replied, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also, is a descendant of Abraham. The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” These words summarize the mission of Jesus when He came from Heaven to earth. On another occasion He said, “As the Father has sent me, so send I you.” If we take His words seriously, we will take up where He left off, spreading the gospel everywhere.
After His encounter with Zaccheus, Jesus resumed His journey toward Jerusalem. Jesus knew what awaited Him there. His disciples did not accept what had told them about it all.
MY SAVIOR’S LOVE
Words: Charles H. Gabriel
Music: Charles H. Gabriel
1905
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
Refrain:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous! How wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!
For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.
Refrain
In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.
Refrain
He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry,
And suffered and died alone.
Refrain
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me.>
Refrain