Luke 19 reminds me of the Good Humor Man. He used to drive through neighborhoods, ringing his bell, and everyone ran to get ice cream. I remember he had a cool silver gadget on his belt to quickly make change with the flick of a finger. Today’s chapter looks at change from many perspectives. First we read that Jesus was passing through Jericho. A wealthy “chief tax collector” named Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but “He was short”, so he climbed a tree to get a better view. Jesus saw him and said “Come down immediately. I must stay at your house today”. It says Zach “welcomed Him gladly”. I wonder if he anticipated getting a treat from Jesus? Some whispered, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner”. This holier-than-thou attitude is the reason some today will not set foot inside of a church. Jesus sought out those that felt unworthy; not to condemn them, but to offer them hope. We do not know what they discussed, but we do see an immediate change. Zach publically declared, “I will 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”. Hope motivates. We know this much, “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost”. And yes, I am sure He did it with good humor.
Jesus then told a parable about “A man of noble birth” that went to a foreign land to take possession as king. We read, the nobleman “called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas”. He gave them instruction to “Put this money to work until I come back”. This was not a lesson on money, but on faithfulness. All of us (Jew and Gentile) are called to be faithful with God’s Word. Sometime later the king sent for those servants “to find out what they had gained”. We are to give out and live out God’s wisdom. The first servant answered, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more”. The king responded, “Well done, my good servant! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities”. This was a reward for being faithful to the king’s request. Pay attention to the servant that returned exactly what he was given. He explained that he had “kept it laid away” because he was afraid. Friend, what’s keeping you from sharing God’s Word? The king pronounced judgement, “you wicked servant! Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten”. The story concludes, “to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away”. God’s Word has the power to change lives; we just need to faithfully deliver it to those in need.
The chapter ends with a powerful picture of Jesus entering Jerusalem for the last time. We see Him approaching the city riding on a colt as the people spread their own cloaks and palm branches on the road before Him. They sang “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” The people expected a Messiah to defeat the enemy occupiers, but Jesus did not enter on a war horse. He rode a humble colt. “As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it” knowing they were going to miss out on salvation. “If you… had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes”. Instead, within thirty-eight years Rome would crush the capital city, “They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you”. During Passover week, Jesus taught in the Temple daily. He also drove out the money changers and cheaters with authority: “My house will be a house of prayer; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers”. In the end, there were those that worshipped Him and those that hated Him. My friend, He knows what you need and He is able to help you make change!