Day 24 – GRACE EXPRESSIONS – Hospitality #1 

Luke 19:1-10

PAUSE –
Take a deep breath, offer this time and your focus to the Lord with the Psalmist

      Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
      Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.   Psalm 90:1-2

REJOICE in his goodness with Psalm 90:17

      May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
      Establish the work of our hands for us -
      Yes, establish the work of our hands.

 In his book, “Practicing the Way”, John Mark Comer outlines a simple 3 step approach to becoming Disciples/Apprentices of Jesus: 

1.    Be with Jesus – abiding in Him, relationship with the master teacher

2.    Become Like Jesus – spiritual formation (sanctification) process through life

3.    Do what Jesus Did – carry on the work of the Master, think WWJD or as Comer redefines it, WWJDIHWM – What
      Would Jesus Do If He Was Me.  We are not first century disciples living in Palestine.  We are farmers, teachers, pastors,         nurses, plumbers… living in North America in 2026.

 As Comer addresses Goal # 3 “Do as He did” he unwraps rhythms for following the example of Jesus.  The first rhythm is making space for the gospel, i.e. HOSPITALITY. Under the theme of hospitality Comer focuses on the “sharing of meals” together.  In the Gospels people paid attention to who Jesus was willing to eat with - because sharing a meal was an act of affirmation, welcome, community and belonging. 

In Luke’s Gospel alone there are over fifty references to food. Lukan scholar Robert Karris wrote, “In Luke’s Gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal.”

Read and REFLECT –
on this meal Jesus shares with a tax collector in Luke 19:1-10

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.”

This story is unique in the Gospels because it is not centered on what Jesus says, or even a dialogue between Jesus and the crowd or disciples.  This story is primarily centered on what Jesus does. He stops at the tree and looks up. He invites himself to dinner at Zacchaeus’ home. And he declares salvation for Zacchaeus and the mission which motivates him. 

Today salvation has come to this house

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

And the response of the crowds who witnessed this was gossip and accusation (verse 7)

REREAD AND REFLECT –
Read the passage again and imagine the energy of the crowd, the sounds, the sights, and the responses of the people. 

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.”

I imagine a crowd hustling about, like people jockeying for position at a 4th of July parade. They’ve got their lawn chairs lined up in advance for a front row view. Some arriving late are trying to push their way to the front with mixed results.  Then the despised little tax collector begins to push his way in… and everyone knows who he is.  They elbow him out… they push him away… they mutter under their breath – “dirty tax collector – get away”

And then Jesus picks Zacchaeus out of the crowd and they walk away together to share a meal… 

• Who are the outcasts in your community? 

• Who are the people “pushed away” in our culture today? 

• Who does not feel welcome at the table?

• Am I one of the members of the crowd – elbowing the offensive people away? 

• Who is it I wouldn’t invite to lunch, or wouldn’t be willing to go to their home? 

ASK –
Lord, who have I excluded?  Who do I assume doesn’t deserve a place at the table? Forgive me, Lord, for my attitudes which exclude people from your grace and freedom. Help me, Lord, to love and welcome the ignored, alienated, and/or forgotten people.  Identify a specific person or group who needs God’s grace in their lives today.  

YIELD –
This is a difficult yield today. This may require moments of repentance. Possibly surrendering a spirit of pride and self-righteousness. Who do you despise? What group makes you angry? Lord, please heal my heart. 

Lord, help us as we join in your mission to proclaim and provide…

• Freedom – of those held captive, imprisoned

• Recovery – of sight for the blind (restoration of what once was)

• Release – of those held in bondage, trapped, with no rights or resource

• Favor – Jubilee, the year/season of forgiveness of debts and new beginnings