April 6, 2024

“I must be a guest in your home today.” Have you ever wondered how much that statement must have freaked Zacchaeus out? I wonder as Zacchaeus scrambled down out of the tree, if he was starting to sweat a bit. I wonder if he thought about what might be lying around the house that he wouldn’t want Jesus to see, or who might be coming by that he wouldn’t want Jesus to know about. It’s one thing to see Jesus and talk to Him out there on the street, in the synagogue, or at the temple. But Jesus at my HOUSE? Now that’s a scary thought.
But Jesus didn’t want to simply have an “acquaintance” relationship with Zacchaeus. He wanted an intimate one. Jesus wanted closeness. He wanted involvement. Jesus wanted more than just an introduction. He wanted transformation. To REALLY get to know someone, you have to go to their home.
“I must be a guest in your home today.” How would you feel if Jesus said that to YOU? If you knew He was on His way, what would you want to run home and throw out before He got there? What would you want to clear out of your refrigerator, out of your magazine rack, or off of your computer? Would you want Jesus to hear how you speak to your spouse? Would you want Jesus to see how you treat your kids? Would you want Jesus there when you let down your filters and act the way you do when you’re at home?
Just like with Zacchaeus, Jesus doesn’t want to simply be an acquaintance with you. He wants to be close, connected, and with you wherever you go. Jesus doesn’t want to simply meet you at church, your small group, or the Christian coffee shop. He wants His relationship to be transformational with you. He can’t do that at a distance. He wants to go home with you. That’s God’s Word for you today.