I must stay at your house today.
The story of Zacchaeus always left me confused. Not the fact that Jesus would eat with a tax collector, or even the fact that Zacchaeus was in a tree. I was confused by Jesus. The fact that Jesus looks up at Zacchaeus (who was in a tree) and said “Zacchaeus come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
I mean how weird is that? And Zacchaeus welcomes him gladly! I would definitely not be welcoming someone as gladly as Zacchaeus if someone invited themselves to my house like that. Even if it was Jesus if I’m being honest.
Obviously believers are called to live like Jesus but I never understood how I could live like Jesus in this story. I could never invite myself over to someone’s house like that! It just seems rude…
That is until today.
I was walking home from the grocery store with bags in my hands when two young, kinda scrawny boys run up to me from behind and start walking with me. I realize I know one of the boys, Muhammad. He and the other boy are both around 10 years old. Muhammad tells me I saw you and so we ran to you.
I know Muhammad because he and his siblings often beg on the street and I have taken them to the store a few times to get some food for their family.
Muhammad and his family (from what I can tell) belong to a group of people known for being beggars. The first time I tried to take the kids to the store I could feel their hesitation to come with me and could see the employees watching us closely. At other times people on the street yell at the kids to leave me alone or to stop asking for money. I’ve heard some people believe they sell the bread they beg for and because of this are actually very wealthy so you shouldn’t give them money.
The disdain is palpable.
Now a cultural note about where I live: people bleed hospitality. I often say goodbye in conversations with locals and they’ll say “alright come to my house.” True story a month ago I said hello to a random woman I passed on my street, as I tend to do, she stopped wanting to chat, and in a conversation less than 3 minutes long I got her phone number and she got mine and the next day she called me telling me to come to her home. It’s wild to me!! Sure, sometimes the invitation is just graciousness and custom but it’s also very real.
So. As I was walking with the boys to buy them some bread, I was asking about Muhammad’s family, and then it hit me. Jesus and Zacchaeus. Totally out of the blue.
Jesus stopped to be with Zacchaeus. He looked up at the despised man in the tree, called him down, and spent time with him. Ignored the people saying “Do you know who he is??? A tax collector! Bleh!” Canceled his plans for the day to be with him. Whatever else was on the agenda took second place to showing Zaccheaus he was worth knowing.
Zaccheaus come down from there, I must stay at your house today.
It hit me. Jesus and Zacchaeus. Evelyn and Muhammad.
Muhammad come over here, I must visit your house today.
I’ll take time to pray and ask other my believing local friends if I can appropriately invite myself to Muhammad’s house or not. But regardless, I will do my grace fueled best to show Muhammad what Jesus showed Zacchaeus.
Lord help me be interruptible. Help me to see people like you do. To look up in trees and to see those outcast by their communities. Help me to be bold in showing people they are worth dropping my responsibilities. Help me to dine in peoples homes, so they might know how deeply they are loved. For your glory Jesus.
Come down from there, I must stay at your house today.