08/25/2025
Such A Rich Passage (Luke 19:1-10)
I reflected a lot on the passage about Zacchaeus because it has been written off as “been there, read that, little guy in a tree.” But it is so rich in getting to the heart of what it means to be saved by grace through faith—to live our lives out of gratitude rather than obligation. The following is a reflection that I didn’t use, but if we’d had more time, I might have.
“Zacchaeus’ story makes it clear that grace always comes first. Jesus doesn’t tell him, “Clean up your act, then I’ll come to your house.” He says, “I’m coming over today.” Acceptance before repentance. Grace before change. And that grace does something to Zacchaeus. He doesn’t just feel bad about what he’s done—he encounters the living Christ. Repentance isn’t simply remorse; it’s a turning toward Someone, a reorienting of life in light of Jesus’ presence.
“And notice the scale of what Zacchaeus promises: half of his wealth given away, fourfold restitution to anyone he’s cheated. That’s the maximum repayment required by the Law, and for a man who has made his fortune by skimming and extorting, it could have left him broke. But that no longer matters to him. Wealth is no longer his god. Meeting Jesus has set him free from clinging to it.
“And so something remarkable happens: Zacchaeus is restored not only to God, but to his community. Jesus declares him a “son of Abraham”—brought back into covenant family. His neighbors, who once despised him, now witness the very real fruit of repentance and restitution. Grace didn’t excuse Zacchaeus; it transformed him. Forgiveness was free, but it wasn’t fruitless.”
Archived Posts
Such A Rich Passage (Luke 19:1-10)
I reflected a lot on the passage about Zacchaeus because it has been written off as “been there, read that, little guy in a tree.” But it is so rich in getting to the heart of what it means to be saved by grace through faith—to live our lives out of gratitude rather than obligation.
The Power of Presence
This last Sunday I had so much more to share than time to share it. The last Emotional Management Technique was to stay present in the process. Just as Jesus stayed with the woman who was judged and found guilty by the angry crowd, we stay by our children and our friends, especially when they need us the most. Here a couple of examples...
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It was inspired by a saying from about ten years ago:
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
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The death today of Pope Francis was particularly poignant, falling as it did on the day after Easter. As Protestant Christians we have a once removed interest in the leader of the Roman Catholic church. Yet the pope is the authoritative leader of 1.4 billion women and men around the world. It is worth our time to pause and consider what kind of man and what kind of legacy Pope Francis left behind.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Judas Iscariot
(Drawn from online sources)