The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-10-12
~ CAER MORE ADvER1sEFTs THAN Any PAPER N I'M STATE

come as q Saviour. come to seeI
ana to save the lost. Ny personal min
istry is for the circumcision. Persor
ally l am not sent but unto the LOS
sheep OF the house of Israel. There
fore in my person salvation came te
this house when ] entered 1t, for az
much as this man, as well as your.
selves, is lineal son of Abraham.
Not only, then, is there no account OF
the conversion of Zacchaeus, but Jesus
does not assert that he is converted.
He says nothing about his conversion.
Nevertheless there is a reason to be-
lieve that Zacchaeus is converted,
whether his words II give and re-
store" are to be taken literally lis
pointing to his present charitable prac-
tlcss and restitutions. or whether as q
resolve to do these things in the future.
But that the literal Interpretation is
the correct one, and that therefore Fac
chaeus is a convert prior to the visit OF
Jesus, Is Gear from the more than cor
dial reception Of his self-invited g uest.
he received him ''joyfully." A self
invited guest would not be joyfully en-
tertained by an unfriennly or by an in
different host, nor by one whose only
interest in such guest was inspired by
vulgar curiosity Jesus was joyfully
entertained by such friends as Mary
and Martha, but not by such hosts as
Simon the Pharisee. Tldings are good
only to those ;who crave them Jesus
is joyfully received only by those who
have learned to appreciate him. Only
the hungry gladly receive the bread Of
life. And Jesus, who, we are express
ly told, knew the hearts of all men,
knew that this mans heart would be
glad. Jesus recognized friend.
We learn from the narrative that
Zacchaeus was bent on seeing what
manner of man Jesus was. tits highly
improbable that Zacchaeus had not
seen John the Baptist. Jericho is but
few miles from the Jordan. Among
those who received Johns baptism of
repentance were many publicans, of
whom zacchaeus was probaly chief at
that time. The publicans asked John
what they should do to bring forth
fruit meet for repentance. He bade
them: "Extort no more than that is
appointed You."
That Zacchaeus was an earnest dis.
ciple of John is plain from the fact that
he obeyed this very injunctian, and in
his honest zeal to make restitution for
the past, exceeded far the demand of
Zacchaeus doubtless received Jesus as
the Christ-the lamb of God which
taketh away the sins of the world. |
For this reason he is eager TO see the |
Man, whom as Johns honest deciple |
he has received as the Messiah. It |
had never had been his good fortune to
meet him. When therefore Jesus SO /
graciously spoke to him, and calling |
him by name, treated him as one treats |
an old friend, the heart of Zacchaeus
bounded with joy. Joyfully he receiv-
ed the Master under This roof When |
the crowd murmured, it was natural
that he should stand forth and stoutly |
rebut the charge of extortion and op-
preston, for he would not have his |
distinguished guest to think meanly of |
His host. sit is my custom Lord to
make ample recompense for any wrong |
of the past, and the half OF my income |
give to the poor"
And Jesus seems plainly to say
make no apology for being this mans
guest. Deflement does not come to |
me, but salvation, in my person comes
to this house, for my mission is to seek |
and save the children OF Abraham, and
son of Abraham is he.
Jesus recognized in Zacchaeus an
honest disciple, who like the saints of
all ages. ionged to see his Lord, what
manner of man is.