City On A Hill

Luke 19:1-10
Remember earlier in Luke there was the rich man who wouldn't give up his riches to follow Jesus and he went away sorry. And Jesus talked about how difficult it was for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and then the disciples basically said, then who is going to get into the Kingdom, and Jesus said with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible - here's the example of the possibility. We should be careful not to misunderstand, for example if we say that if we give half or more of what we have then we get in - but that misses the story of Zacchaeus completely, why? Did you see how Zacchaeus received Jesus
he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. I really think that's the crux of the matter, how we receive Jesus. Remember the disciples left all as well, why? Because Jesus is worth more than everything else, so will we be able to leave everything when He ask us to, yes but only if we first joyfully receive Him. Now maybe one could argue that Zacchaeus had given half of his money before he met Jesus - but that would beg the question why would Zacchaeus receive Jesus joyfully if he didn't believe in the person of Jesus, I think clearly Zacchaeus had been previously regenerated by the holy-spirit hence the reason he could give half his money (remember with God all things are possible) away but even more so, receive Jesus joyfully.

Brian