As Jesus headed from Galilee to Jerusalem for His final journey to fulfill His destiny, He chooses to pass through Jericho. Jericho was one of the wealthiest areas. Furthermore, the road to Jericho was one He had mentioned in the story of the Good Samaritan, as it was known for the thieves and robbers along its path. Although fully aware of His own destiny at calvary, Jesus stopped along His way. He had come to seek and save that which was lost. There on the road to Jericho, amongst a crowd of people also going to Jerusalem for Passover was our Lord and Savior. Ever mindful of those who genuinely believed and sought Him. He saw the Broken Hearts in need of a Savior. Those whom He knew did willingly seek Him and cry out to Jesus, He answered their heart’s desire.
He had not come to establish His earthly Kingdom, yet He had come to bring salvation to the world. That is all those who recognized their own sin. Those who had broken hearts made contrite recognizing their need of a Savior. They were the ones who would seek Him and Cry out to Jesus for mercy. From the worst of sinners, the rich and the poor, He came to provide hope and life. Yet, to those who believed themselves righteous, He wept for their blindness for He knew that as a nation, Israel was about to face judgement. Judgement for their own hardness of heart, pride, and determination to worship the creature more than the creator. Much like the world today as well.
But for the blind man who cries out to Jesus and for Zacchaeus, it was a day of hope and salvation as Jesus passed through Jericho on His way to the cross.
The Road through Jericho
It was not the easiest route to take from Galilee to Jerusalem. Furthermore, it was known for robbers and thieves. Yet, this was His road to Jerusalem despite it being an arduous climb from the 800 feet below sea level to 3000 feet above sea level at the summit of the Mount of Olives. Yet, the Samaritans had disallowed His journey through Samaria only a few months prior.
Luke 9: 51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.
Then there were the Jewish leaders who wanted Him dead.
John 10:22-33 (BSB)
At that time, the Feast of Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple courtsin Solomon’s Colonnade. So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf. But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
At this, the Jews again picked up stones to stone Him. But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?” “We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God.”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
Jesus then came to Bethany when Lazarus had died, although He waited three days to ascertain the miracle. No one could have remained in the tomb three days and come out unless it truly was a miracle from the hand of God. So, to prove that He was the resurrection and the life, He waited and then He came. Of course, this miracle outraged the Sanhedrin. They met to plot His death.
John 11: 53-57 (BSB) So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. As a result, Jesus no longer went about publicly among the Jews, but He withdrew to a town called Ephraim in an area near the wilderness. And He stayed there with the disciples. Now the Jewish Passover was near, and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courts, “What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?” But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He was must report it, so that they could arrest Him.
Broken Hearts in Search of a Savior
Perhaps it was out of curiosity that many lined the roads outside Jericho. Some were there by tradition watching the travelers to Jerusalem for Passover. Still, did they wonder about this Jesus? When He was approaching with many disciples, what did they think? Had they heard about Lazarus or the people He had healed. Were they curious as to why He was wanted by the Jewish Leaders? Had they heard He dined with sinners? Perhaps, at least had Zacchaeus heard. Who remembered the rich young ruler and Christ’s statement?
Luke 18: 24-25 “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Cry Out to Him
Although it appears there were many skeptics in this crowd, there were at least two who rejoiced at the chance to see Him. These two could not have been more different. Yet both men had broken hearts. One a blind beggar and another a Wealthy Chief Tax Collector. There are some questions raised by the timing of the blind beggar in the gospel accounts; but perhaps there were two—one as Jesus arrived and one as He left Jericho. Either way, the story is the same. The beggar cried out to Jesus, declaring “Son of David, have mercy on me!” This proclamation declared before all that He believed that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God. His faith gained Him sight and much more. It provided for him the promise of salvation to come.
Luke 19:
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, ]make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he [made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, becausehe also isa son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Seek Jesus
So, let us look for a moment more at this scene. Zacchaeus was hated. After all look at their response as they complained. Furthermore, he was not able to pass through the crowd to get near to Jesus. But he was willing to humiliate himself, just to get a glimpse of the Savior. His heart already prepared and ready for even the slightest hope. He ran ahead and climbed a tree to seek Jesus. A broken heart, seeing his own riches as worthless compared to seeing Jesus. His response was a transformed heart who desired to give it all away.
Two men vastly different. Each with a broken heart, one cries out to Jesus and the other seeks Him. Both knew they were unworthy of His grace.
And Jesus
On the road to cross, He took the time to meet these men right where they were. That is the Grace of God. Though the time was running out for the Jewish nation. Judgement would come. Yet, the remnant would be saved once more. Where are you along this journey? Will you cry out to Him? Will you seek Jesus with your broken heart, knowing that you deserve His wrath? Yet, believing and claiming His Gift. If so, know this. Those who come to Him, are sealed for eternity. Clothed in His Righteousness, so that they have access to the throne of God. What a wondrous gift. He took upon Himself our sins and all the wrath they deserved to provide for us the righteousness we could never earn. Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound. That saved a wretch like me.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Disclosures
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2021
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)