Christ Our Savior

Matthew 20:25-28; Luke 19:1-10

GOLDEN TEXT: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”—John 3:16

IN THE first section of our lesson the Master is pointing out to His disciples the importance of a humble disposition. He reminds them that among the nations the princes exercised dominion over common people, and then He continues, “This shall not be so among you; but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” And then follows a manner of expression which the Master alone could freely use, namely that in His own life He was exhibiting and illustrating the very lesson which He desired to inculcate. He continues, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

The second section of our lesson taken from Luke 19, records another incident on the same journey of the Lord from Jericho to Jerusalem, just a week or so before His crucifixion. The incident illustrates how Jesus is able to save all that come unto Him through faith. As He passed through Jericho the whole city evidently was stirred with the knowledge that this great prophet of Nazareth was in their midst, en route to Jerusalem.

Zacchaeus was apparently one of its prominent and wealthy citizens, a Publican, or collector of taxes for the Roman Government. There was much prejudice against Publicans on the part of the Jews who disliked to be taxed by the Romans, and so a Publican came to signify an irreligious, unpatriotic, unscrupulous character. The Pharisees disesteemed them as sinners, as no longer Jews, nor heirs of the covenant promises.

Zacchaeus was one of the chief Publicans, a prominent one among them, and rich. Yet apparently his heart was ill at ease. Although he had found his occupation a lucrative one, he was not satisfied. Not that he would admit that his riches were all gained by dishonesty, but he realized that some of them were not honestly and honorably attained.

As he heard of the Kingdom of God and the Prophet of Nazareth and His work of miracles, his heart was longing for relationship with God—he wanted to at least see this Prophet. Short of stature, the crowd being large, he had poor opportunity, but he ran ahead of the procession and climbed into a sycamore tree, and seated on one of its branches over the road, he got a good view of Jesus as He passed by him.

It is a hopeful sign when we find any desiring to have clearer views of the Lord or His Word or His Plan. We would exhort all such to go ahead and climb a sycamore tree, figuratively speaking, and get a good view of matters; under such circumstances the Lord will have some word of comfort and encouragement for you.

What a wonderful blessing came to Zacchaeus, as the Lord looked up, addressed him by name, and invited to come down and to become His host. Not all the conversation between Zacchaeus and our Lord is recorded, of course, but sufficient is told to indicate that the Lord invited him to become His follower, saying, “Today is salvation come to thy house.” Evidently Zacchaeus accepted and made a full surrender of his heart—that thenceforth he would not only forsake sin and evil customs and practices, but that so far as possible would make restitution for the wrong doing and injustice.

This attitude is of great importance in the Lord’s sight. It is in vain that we attempt to make use of God’s grace in forgiving our sins, while we hold on to money or property obtained from our neighbors by some dishonest practice. Zacchaeus gave evidence of a conversion when he declared, “If I have wrongly exacted aught from any man, I restore fourfold”—not I have restored fourfold, but I will restore fourfold. The intimation here given is that Zacchaeus was more than ordinarily upright as a Publican, otherwise to have restored fourfold would of itself have ruined a large fortune.

Doubtless many today make a great mistake in that they do not more fully follow the course of Zacchaeus—in that they continue to hold on to something that really, rightfully, belongs to another; and secondly, that they do not consecrate more of their wealth, of money, or property, or time or talent to the Lord.

Some have inquired, What is the reasonable obligation of a Christian? The Scriptural answer is that our reasonable service is the offering of all that we have a living sacrifice, even as the Apostle Paul expresses it. The hymn also expresses these sentiments: “All my little life I give Thee, use it, Lord, in ways of Thine.”

These questions must be promptly settled by all who grow in grace, in knowledge, in love, and character-likeness of the Lord—Have I forsaken sin, and the ways of sin and dishonesty? Have I made ample restitution so far as possible for every injury done to fellow creatures? What have I sacrificed, half of my goods or all of my goods to the Lord and His cause?

If, as a Christian I have sacrificed all, how am I keeping that engagement, that covenant, that sacrifice? Will I have joy in rendering my account, or will I with sorrow he obliged to admit that as a steward I have been unfaithful, and have buried my talents in earthly aims and objects and ambitions and services, or will I be able to present to the Lord the fruit of my labor and sacrifice, and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joys of thy Lord”?

QUESTIONS:

What is one of the outstanding manifestations of greatness among true Christians?

In seeking divine forgiveness what course must one take toward those he has wronged?

What portion of a Christian’s wealth belongs to the Lord?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |