Worship Wednesday today and the two youngest children were excited to do some Bible action songs.
Some true favourites & oldies: Father Abraham, I’m in the Lords Army, His Banner over me and This Little Light of Mine.
One that hit me though: Zacchaeus…
🎶 “Zacchaeus was a wee little man, a wee little man was he…” 🎶
If you haven’t heard it: it’s a bubbly happy fun sort of song. But one line in it broke my voice & hit me like a knife…
Jesus said: “Zacchaeus come down, for I’m coming to your house today!!”
What a baby – are you crazy??!! Crying at that song?
Probably crazy – but I’ve been Zacchaeus:
- Notorious Sinner – yep
- Ripping off own family – yep
- Thief – yep
- Deserving of being abandoned / imprisoned – yep
- Worthy of being ignored by or judged & rejected by the Creator – ABSOLUTELY!
But Jesus doesn’t ignore him. Doesn’t condemn him. The rest of the crowd did – they didn’t make a way, had no concern for this oxygen thief who had turned on them…they block him out – literally.
So Zacchaeus climbs up the tree, hoping to get a glimpse of Jesus from afar…
But Jesus wasn’t content with that…He ignores the surging crowd & all those ‘good’ people. He doesn’t keep walking past:
He looks up at Zacchaeus & He gives him the biggest honour available: He wants to go & eat with Zacchaeus in his home! The most distinguished and powerful man on the planet, wanted to honour that rascal so calls him by name publicly! 1Mind blowing! 🤯
And so it is with us.
Jesus knows you by name & wants the same with you. Sure, He knows what you have done. He knows your sin – including all the hidden stuff. (And the stuff you have tried to reason away or ‘justify’) He could and should condemn you…
But instead He wants to know you. He wants to forgive you. He wants to give you life! He wants to come in & dine with you. Crazy…
Undeserved, unmerited, unlimited, unending His love and His grace is only available because of His great sacrifice.
Maybe, just maybe, when you have experienced it, you will understand the tears.
#thankYouJesus
#crybaby
Footnotes:
- 1Mind blowing! 🤯