being seen by Jesus

Imagine making a movie of the gospel story we have heard this morning. Who might play Jesus??? Danny de Vito could play Zaccheus,  just imagine him in long flowing robes running, and climbing a tree. [picture] a sycamore tree.

People of high status did not run,  in the story of the prodigal son, the father ran to meet the retuning younger son, here we have Zaccheus running to get  ahead of Jesus, and looking for a vantage point. Both men were acting inappropriately for their status.   Today we might suggest they act their age!

 

What would you do to see  Jesus?

There were obstacles for Zaccheus, he was not able to see Jesus because of the crowd, and the crowd was not letting him in front to see better.  

What are the obstacles that make it hard for you to see Jesus? to recognise Jesus as you go about your daily tasks? Is it workload? Responsibilities? Tiredness? Preoccupation?  Or is that you don’t expect Jesus to be part of your day?

What do you need to do to be able to see Jesus?  Zac climbed a tree. What do you need to do, to be able to see Jesus?

Zac was transformed by his time with Jesus.

This is a story about seeing and being seen. Zac was wanting to see Jesus, to catch a glimpse of the travelling teacher, and Jesus saw Zac. Jesus saw Zaccheus as a person, as a child of God.  

No matter how other people see you, or how you see yourself, Jesus sees you as precious, as lovable, Jesus wants to eat  with you, and spend time with you. whatever image you try and project to people around you, whatever mask you wear, Jesus sees you for who you are, a precious child of God.

In the passage form Ephesians, we heard  “You’ll certainly be a shining testimony to God’s glory then!” 

Friday was All Saints Day, that means remembering those who have died, it also means remembering that we are each saints, that we are joined with all of God’s people, and all of creation, past, present and future. All Saints is one of those days when I can feel really tiny, a tiny speck within time and space.

But All Saints is also a reminder that each one of us is a saint, not because of anything spectacular that we have done, but because we are part of the people of God.

“I once worked with a pastor who made it practice in worship after baptisms (infant baptism was the norm in this congregation) to walk down the aisle holding the child and introducing him or her to the people with the title “saint” before the baptized’s name. It was a little jarring to hear “saint” applied to the name of a baby but this pastor was on to something. In Paul’s understanding the title “saint” belongs to those who have been united with Christ. He routinely calls the members of his churches “saints” (Ephesians 1:1 and 1:15) because of who they are in Christ and not because of what they have accomplished.

…Our designation as saints comes from our rich inheritance of Christ’s righteousness” [Mark Tranvik working preacher]

We are saints, saint.. and .. and …. . [name some people]

We are saints, our lives a testimony of God’s grace, forgiveness and love

In what way is your life a testimony, a witness, to God’s grace, welcome, …..