February 22, 2014

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

 

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.  A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” 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.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost"." (Luke 19:1-10)

 

Jericho was a cursed city. The Bible doesn´t talk about many people of Jericho being converted. But the Bible talks about Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus was a tax collector and the people who work in this profession are not very well seen by others. Even though he was rich, Zacchaeus probably did not have many friends. Anyway, Zacchaeus Drew Jesus´ attention to himself. And Zacchaeus had the privilege of being so close to Jesus. Can you imagine how Zacchaeus felt? Can you imagine how was the heart of Zacchaeus?
Jesus came to save!
There is an urgency about it!

 

"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately.  I must stay at your house today" (Luke 19:5)

 

"For,  "In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay"."

(Hebrews 10:37)

 

"Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring." (Proverbs 27:1)

 

"So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh."(Genesis 41:14)

 

"As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly".” (John 13:27)

 

"And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away,

calling on his name.’." (Acts 22:16)

 

 

There is the same urgency these days!

Jesus is waiting for you to reach this generation!

 

 

^{Judgement and The Ten Plagues}

^{God challenges the Egyptians´ gods}

“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord." (Exodus 12:12)

 

 

1. The plague of blood - the transformation of the waters dishonored Hapi.
2. Frogs - taken as a symbol of fertility. Dishonored Heqt.
3. Lice - dishonored Thoth who was considered the inventor of magic and secret arts.
4. Flies - Ptath was defeated as he was considered the creator of the universe
5. Death of the oxen and cows - Humiliated Apis (Seraphis) considered the god of Memphis cattle, Hathor, the cow-goddess and Nut, the sky-goddess, imagined as a cow with a star posted on her belly
6. Wounds - Dishonored Neite. Neite was the goddess of sky and was humiliated when Moses threw dust into the sky.
7. Rain of stones - Humiliated Iris, the controller of natural elements and Osíris, the god of fire.
8. Locusts - Dishonored the gods that guaranteed bountiful harvest: Xu (god of air) and Sebeque (god insect)
9. Darkness - God overthrew the chief god Ra, the sun god.
10. Death of the firstborn  - it was the greater humiliation for the rulers of Egypt. They used to call themselves gods, sons of Ra or Amon-Ra.

 

 Pastor Rafael Lopes