The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-14
INTERNATIONAL S. S. LESSON
zaccheus the Publican.

December 16, 1900. Luke XIX, Ito.
Jericho.-what stirring scenes the
name recalls Rahab and the spies. all
saved by rope of significant color:
Joshua meeting the angel with drawn
sword: Israel's march about the city 10
rams horn accompaniment; Achan's
troublesome wedge OF gold and Baby
lonish garments: Elisha healing the
spring OF waters; the school of the
prophets: not to speak OF the Orienta!
srlendor Of Herod and his son Archie
luus. But for ethical purposes. every
other incident connected with this City
Of Palms must give place to Jesus in
tarview with Zaccheus. $50 It was q
busy day in that commercial. city, he
revenues, OF which were esteemed gift
n Roman tr!umvir might appropriately
bestow upon an Egyptian queen as Il
lore-token. a singing pilgrim cara
van from Galilee and Perca was In pas
sage for the Passover at Jerusalem.
The presence in it OF the WOnderwo.ker
who had so lately raised Lazarus gave
an unusual interest to what was other
wise familiar incident. AS 1t was.
the whole populace poured out. and
heuEed the street on either hand -
The chief collector OF revenue heard
that Jesus was passing. As he sat
there at the receipt OF customs, With
accounts spread out before him. there
was n tumult Of conflicting emotions In
his heart. We may almost hear his so.
liloquy: Jesus, who spoke the parable
OF the Pharisee and the publican, who
has eaten with publicans, who has or
dnlned one to be his apostle: Jesus, 50
near. and for the las, time, too. for the
Jews Will surely kill him on this visi.
TO JerusllcIn-I Will sec Jesus" ON that
resolution souls destiny turns. Day.
book and ledger are closed. office lock.
ed, and ZacCheus sall!es forth, - - A
less resolute soul. one less fertile In re-
source would have retreated before such
An impenetrable human
wall; nobody inclined to show the
i0dious .tlx-collector the slightest cour-
itesy: rather TO Improve the opportunity
to elbow and jostle him. But 2acchcus
remembers the Egyptian ilg-tree Gar
down and In the middle Of the thor
ouGhfare. lie runs and climbs into tic
low fork of the tree. Doing SO. he
violates the eustern notion OF decorlu,,
and makes himself more than ever the
target for jlbe and ep!thet. But what
does that amount to. so only lie sees
the Friend OF publicans? one smile
from him vii! repay all. As the
confused sounds Of the approaching
thr0nS grows more distinct. so does
holy purpose In the heart OF 2acche,Is.
II might express itself In the words: III
Jesus only calls me. will forsake all
to follow him." His master passion.
avarice. most subtle and imperious of
all, has received It's dcath-blow. 80
Before he ever left the fork OF the tree
Zaccheus was far beyond the rich
young ruler. No need of Jesus testing
him with the command: Go sell All,
and give ALL" Can this nan, whose
life has been one of social ostracIsm,
believe his ears? In defiance of popu-
lar feeling and established etiquette.
'loes Jesus invite himself to his home?
VIII the great Rabbi actually enter a
house, the threshold OF which no self
respecting Hebrew has ever crossed?
Fears he no ceremonial dehlcment? 9
II Is no mistake Jesus Is looking
on with smile of recognition and eyes
ot love. In n transport OF Joy the out
braces. In all the fcryor OF n new afrcc.
ton, his self-lnvltcd Guest. Arm In
arm they walk toward his tabOocl home
while the opprobium that once rested
or 2accheus fGlls with augmented
weight upon Jesus. Above the confused
and threatening. roar OF general disap-
prevail can be heard at times the clear
and ringing Indictment, he hath gone
TO he guest with Il man that Ia n sin
ncr." In the portal of his lordiy
manor Haccheus rauses. He Is grievcd
at the imputation cast upon his new
found Master-srlovcd that he himself
Is cause of II. lie stands forth, and
with wave Of hand. asks the attention
OF the ill-humorcd throng. In substance
he says: You call me sinner. / have
been such. Having lost all prestige
nmong you by accepting Office under an
allen government, having no longer any
reputation to support. | have yielded to
the insidionS allurements Of my odous
position, and have Mt times made false
dispositions to increase my revenue.
call YOU to witness that In every such
Instance, Will make four.fold rpstit,i-
ton. When this Is completed | will
give hnlf the remainder 10 the poor.
You say Jesus Is going to be the guest
OF n sinner. Granted! But not of IN
lnrepentant sinner. reveling In ill-got-
ten gains. A sinner, yes: but one that
brings forth fruits meet for repent
ance." AS II to seal this protest.
alton With Divine authority. Jesus lIfta
hls hands and solcmnly declares absolu-
ton: Saved! 'aaved! Both he and his
house because he Is son OF Abraham.
not only by nature. but by grace
through faith. He proves his lineage.
from the father OF MI the faithful. You
have called him sinner. We'll. the
very end and aim of my mission IS TO
seek and to save sinners. call you
TO witness my success In this instance"