Daily life journal entry continued: Zacchaeus.
Jesus and I led the way to my home. I had joy that I could not put into words. Jesus had chosen to stay at my house, though many Levite priests, important rabbis, and the synagogue ruler lived in my elite Jericho neighborhood. The synagogue ruler lived next door. Some were gathering on his home’s roof.
When we arrived, my family warmly welcomed me and wanted to know who all the people were with me. I introduced Jesus and instructed them to prepare a meal for him, his disciples, and everyone willing to enter my house. Many would not enter the home of a tax collector. They joined those on the synagogue’s ruler’s roof. Some muttered the slander I had become used to, though I did not want my children to hear it.
I instructed them to sit on the roof my wife had prepared for such occasions and placed Jesus at the head of the table. Jesus gave thanks for the provisions and blessed my family. At this, someone on the roof next door said, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner’ (7)”. I looked to see who said that so loudly. One of Jesus’ disciples, Matthew, who was a tax collector like me, told me, “That rich man approached Jesus at the city gates asking how to inherit eternal life (18:18-30)”.
“He is Jericho’s synagogue ruler,” I replied. I knew why he said this. He was correct. Seeing Jesus still eating at the table, I was grateful for his grace and sorrowful for my life choices. He looked at me. I stood up and said to Jesus, the Son of David, “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.” I made sure those on the roof next door could hear me.
Conclusion in the next BDBD.
