Sorry for the blunt and cocky introduction, but really, here I am. I've been wanting to start blogging for a while now, so as a result of a boring night, I finally went for it.
What will be the intentions/purpose of this blog? I dont know. God, the Bible, Rock climbing, Worship, Guitar, friends, family, God and even suggestions from what ever measure of audience I might get. I'm new to this, so I am open to it. So we will see where it goes.
I thought I would try today to write about God, my personal favorite topic. My friend Malcolm and I organize a bible study called "The Jug of Life". I realize, very weird name for a Bible study, but if you want me to explain the spiritual implications and connections it makes to climbing I will gladly explain it to you. That being said, it is a Bible study meant for people who are climbers to come together and talk about the Bible. Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, purple, blue, or whatever else you are, we welcome you.
Tonight we were reading though Luke 19:1-9,
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him,“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Thats right everyone, "Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he". Many of us grew up hearing this song and it is indeed fun to sing and do the motions. But don't you think its really missing to bigger point of what Jesus is showing us here?
Zaccheaus was the crook! He cheated people out of their money and became very wealthy doing it, but it wasn't enough. Zaccheaus, the wee little man, climbed up into a tree just to see Jesus. His only intentions were to see Jesus, and he would never expect what would happen next. Jesus asks to share a meal with him.
I feel like the people of that time viewed Zaccheaus similar to how we would view a serial killer today. Would you have a serial killer over for dinner? Would you talk to a serial killer? Would you even touch a serial killer witha ten ft. pole? I don't think so, and thats why it is beautiful the way Jesus reacts to this "sinner". He tells Zaccheaus he is coming over to his house for dinner. No one loves Zaccheaus, no ones wants to talk to him, and no one wants to be associated with him any way. Except Jesus. Jesus reaches out to him and says, "I love you no matter how you are seen on this world by other people". This message and emotion Jesus has for Zacchaeus is the same for all of us today.
Romans 5:8 says, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"
We are all sinners, and Jesus didn't die on the cross because we were already righteous, but rather he died while we were still sinners so that we may have life.
I hope you enjoyed this, I know I did. Talk to me if you wanna know more about the message Jesus offered Zaccheaus and that he offers you too. And if you wanna talk about anything else, don't hesistate.
More to come,
Jake
