Day 20 Advent Reading -- Luke Chapter 19

The familiar Zacchaeus story.  A tax collector pursues Jesus, who in turn tells Zacchaeus he wants to go into his home.  Another example of how Jesus associated with sinner and tax collectors (in this case both) and expands his circle to include Zacchaeus.

An interesting note -- the Greek phrase in which Zacchaeus says he will give half of his possession to the poor and pay back those he had defrauded (19:8) can be translated as future (like the NRSV) which would indicate that Zacchaeus is repenting from his behavior; or it could be translated in the present tense, which would indicate that Zacchaeus is describing how he acted normally.  If the latter is correct, the story is less about Zacchaeus repenting, and more about Jesus restoring to the fold someone like Zacchaeus, who had been excluded based on his occupation, not on his actions.  In either instance, Jesus is the one who offers new life to Zacchaeus.

Jesus finally arrives in Jerusalem, and he is welcomed by the crowds (19: 28-39).  When the crowds started to shout, "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord," the Pharisees try to get Jesus to stop their shouting.  Jesus refuses by noting that "if these were silent, the stones would shout out."

The triumphant mood shifts as Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (19:41).  Notice that Jersusalem's problem was that they did not recognize the things that make for peace, not their inability to recognize Christ (19:42).  Or perhaps those two are tied intimately together.  Does that mean if we recognize Christ, we become peacemakers?

Jesus completes his entry into Jerusalem by cleaning out the temple (19: 45-48). Again, his dissatisfaction with the religious authorities is clear.