Salvation for a Wee Little Man

Rev. Carl Roth, pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Elgin, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Luke 19:1-10.

Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem takes Him through Jericho, the home of Zacchaeus. As a tax collector, Zacchaeus is among those who have been welcomed by Jesus, yet as a rich man, Zacchaeus has been living a life of woe. His desire to see Jesus is well-placed, but he is too short to see over the crowd. He climbs a sycamore tree for just a glimpse of Jesus. The Lord calls to Zacchaeus with great urgency; he must go to this tax collector’s house. Zacchaeus receives the Lord with great joy, despite the grumbling of the crowd. Zacchaeus responds to the Lord’s mercy with the fruit of repentance, and Jesus reiterates the absolution that Zacchaeus has already received. Jesus’ mission is to seek and save lost sinners; that is why He had to come to Zacchaeus, and that is why He has to finish His journey to Jerusalem.

“The Beloved Physician’s Orderly Account” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. Luke. The Evangelist wrote his well-researched account of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection so that Theophilus would have certainty concerning the things he had been taught. As we still read the Word of God recorded by St. Luke, our gracious Lord gives us that same certainty that Jesus is our Savior.